Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Leigh Goodman
Animal lover and gardener
Leigh Barrett Goodman, a 30-year resident of Atherton, died March 6 at Stanford Medical Center. She was 66.
Mrs. Goodman was born in Temple, Texas. Her daughter, Samantha Goodman of Atherton, says: "She was a devoted mother. She had an abundance of love and compassion for animals, passion and skill for landscape and garden design. She was a woman who put others first."
An avid golfer, Mrs. Goodman was a member of the Lake Merced Golf and Tennis Club for many years. She was devoted to her animals, three dogs and a cat.
Mrs. Goodman is survived by her daughter, Samantha; sister Mary J. Bartlett of Hutto, Texas; brothers Terry Barrett of Redding and Jack Emert of Round Rock, Texas; stepsons, Stephen Goodman of Piedmont, and Peter Goodman of Canyon, California. She was the widow of the late Monroe Leon Goodman.
Services were held March 10 in the chapel of Roller, Hapgood & Tinney, Palo Alto. Interment was in Alta Mesa Cemetery, Palo Alto.
Dr. Julius Scholtz
Well-known dermatologist
Dr. Julius (Jud) R. Scholtz, a prominent research dermatologist, died January 25. He was 91. He originated an internationally respected treatment regimen that benefited many suffers of atopic dermatitis. He was also instrumental in the introduction of modern dermatologic topical steroid therapy in the 1960s.
Dr. Scholtz came to Palo Alto in 1970, after leaving medical practice and teaching in Southern California, to consult for Syntex Laboratories until his retirement in 1989. During this period, he was also a consultant in dermatology to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and Stanford Cowell Student Health Center.
Born in Cincinnati, he moved to Los Angeles as a child in 1917. He studied at UCLA, UC Berkeley, and Stanford University, where he received both a bachelor's and medical degrees. He did his internship and residency in dermatology and syphilology at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.
During World War II he was assigned to the Air Surgeon's office in the Pentagon as chief of dermatology and syphilology. After the war, he opened a private practice in Pasadena, where he worked as a consultant to the California Institute of Technology student health service.
After moving to the Bay Area, Dr. Scholtz became active in the Stanford campus community as a patron of the Music Guild, Library Associates and Stanford Museum of Art. He was also known for a keen sense of humor and a prodigious memory for anecdotes and stories.
A longtime resident of Palo Alto, Dr. Scholtz lived in Menlo Park from 1995 to 1999. His wife, Ruth, died in 1995. He is survived by his children, Judith S. Kays of Stanford, and Dr. Stephen Scholtz of Los Angeles; four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and longtime friend and recent companion, Marjorie L. Talney of Fullerton.
Memorial gifts may be sent to Planned Parenthood or the Music Department of Stanford, Braun Music Center, Stanford, 94305-3076.
Chester Baran
Explosive safety inspector
Chester "Poppy" Baran, who spent 35 years as an explosive safety inspector for the U.S. Air Force before his retirement in 1977, died at Stanford Medical Center March 4.
Mr. Baran was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. For the past 12 years, he made his home with his daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Jack Loustaunou, in Woodside. Their daughter, Marie, gave him the nickname "Poppy." He was a familiar face around the Portola Valley Schools, as he often drove Marie and her friends to school and was an enthusiastic supporter of school activities. He was active in local senior centers, and volunteered as a tax preparer at Little House for many years.
Mr. Baran is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Janet and Jack Loustaunou of Woodside; son and daughter-in-law, Robert and Betty Baran of San Diego; three grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and his friend, Patricia Rapozo of Mountain View. His wife of 54 years, Helen, died in 1990.
Services were held March 10 at St. Denis Catholic Church in Menlo Park with internment at Holy Cross Cemetery. The family prefers memorial donations to Avenida, 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto, 94301; Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Ave., Mountain View; or the Palo Alto Adult School, 50 Embarcadero Road, Palo Alto 94301.
Mary Gutknecht
Past auxiliary president
Mary Gutknecht, a past president of the Woodside Atherton Auxiliary to Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hosital at Stanford, died at her Menlo Park home March 13. She was 79.
Mrs. Gutknecht was born in Switzerland and came to San Francisco with her family when she was 3. She grew up in San Francisco, where she attended local schools. She marriage Albert "Jack" Gutknecht in 1941. The family lived in San Carlos before moving to Menlo Park in 1950.
A gracious hostess who frequently entertained, Mrs. Gutknecht was a gourmet cook who took cooking lessons in Europe. She was an avid bridge player. Along with her work for the auxiliary, she was an active member of the Red Cross and served on the entertaining committees of the Peninsula Veterinary Medical Association and the California Veterinary Medical Association.
She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Dr. Albert "Jack" Gutknecht; daughter Lynda Koval of Redwood Shores; son Greg Gutknecht of San Francisco; and sister Jean Levit of Oakland.
Services were held March 16 at Roller, Hapgood & Tinney Funeral Home, Palo Alto, with Burial at Alta Mesa Cemetery.
The family requests donations be made to Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, 725 Welch Road, Palo Alto, 94304.
Dorothy Mae Foote Pace
41-year Menlo resident
A memorial Eucharist service for Dorothy Mae Foote Pace, a 41-year resident of Menlo Park, is planned for 3 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at Holy Trinity Church, 330 Ravenswood Ave. in Menlo Park.
Mrs. Pace died March 17 in Hayward at the age of 96. She was born in Atkinson, New Hampshire, in the home her family has occupied since 1780. The family says it traces its lineage to the pilgrims who came to America on the Mayflower.
Mrs. Pace was the widow of Frederick B. Pace. She is survived by her son, Father David T. Pace.
As it is Lent, the family prefers that no flowers be sent. Memorial donations may be made to the Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital, C/O V. Applegate, 770 Welch Road, Suite 350, Palo Alto, CA 94304; or to the San Francisco Opera, C/O Marcella Bastiani, 301 Van Ness, San Francisco, CA 94304.
Betty Sebring
Menlo Park native
Betty Sebring, who was born in Menlo Park in 1904, died March 12. She was 95.
Mrs. Sebring died at Lytton Gardens in Palo Alto, the original site of the grammar school she attended as a young girl. Her family moved from Menlo Park to Palo Alto when she was 3. In 1922 she marriage Harold Sebring Sr.
During the Depression, Mr. Sebring found work with the U.S. Forest Service and the family lived a rugged existence in Trinity County. The family moved several times throughout California over the next 30 years, returning to Palo Alto in 1972. Mrs. Sebring's husband died in 1997.
Services were held March 17 at the First Baptist Church of Palo Alto where Mrs. Sebring was the oldest member.
Mildred L. Plaisted
Former Menlo Park resident
Mildred L. Plaisted, a former Menlo Park resident, died in Visalia on February 29. She was 91.
Mrs. Plaisted was born in Liberty Center, Indiana. Prior to moving to Visalia in 1968, she lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana; Schenectady, New York; and Menlo Park. She was a lifetime member of the PTA, the Eastern Star and the Daughters of the Nile. In Visalia, she was active in the Kaweah Delta Health Care District Guild and St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
Mrs. Plaisted was preceded in death by her husband Guy E. Plaisted and her son, Guy E. Plaisted Jr. She is survived by her daughters, Lynn Havard Mirviss of Visalia and Marjorie Plaisted Benson of Walnut Creek; her son, Gordon E. Plaisted of Grand Canyon, Arizona; seven grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held in Visalia, with Burial in Indiana. The family prefers that memorial contributions be made to the Cancer Care Center C/O Kaweah Delta Hospital Foundation, 400 West Mineral King, Visalia, CA 93291 or to the donor's favorite charity.
Gertrude Wolters (Trudi) Norton
Homemaker, volunteer
A memorial service was held for Gertrude Wolters (Trudi) Norton at Christ Episcopal Church in Portola Valley March 25, followed by a reception at The Sequoias, where she lived for more than 25 years.
Mrs. Norton, a homemaker, volunteer and active member of Christ Church, died March 19 at The Sequoias. She was 97.
Mrs. Norton's life spanned many years and places. Born in Hildesheim, Germany, she came to America with her parents after World War I, and settled at Marietta, Ohio. She graduated from Ohio State University and in 1927 marriage Rowland Polk Norton, a manager and engineer for Western Electric Company.
Her only son, George Norton, was a Palo Alto attorney for many years, and served as president of the Committee for Green Foothills. He lived in Ladera and Skyline until moving to Palm Springs recently. "Mom was primarily a homemaker," he recalls. "She was very active wherever she was."
Mrs. Norton taught high school English for 10 years outside of Chicago, and was always active in charitable services, particularly infant welfare and family service.
When the Nortons lived in Alexandria during World War II, they became friends with Homer and Eleanor Boushey. Mrs. Boushey, a former mayor of Portola Valley and current resident of The Sequoias, remembers how Mrs. Norton would describe the hardships in Germany during World War I, when they lived on potatoes and cabbage.
In 1960, the Nortons moved to Menlo Park, near young George and his family, when Mr. Norton Sr. opened and managed a Western Electric branch in Burlingame. He died in 1968.
Mrs. Boushey remembers Mrs. Norton as a very friendly person who was extremely sensitive to anti-German prejudice.
"She used to play bridge; she loved to go out to lunch," she says.
Besides her son, George Norton, Mrs. Norton is survived by a sister, Prof. Gisela Krebs of Germany; and two granchildren.
The family requests donations to the Friends of Allison, P.O. Box 34497, West Bethesda, MD, 20827-0497, a charity that recruits bone marrow donors, and aids recipients, like Mrs. Norton's grandson, Neil Norton of Decatur, Georgia.
J. Cyril Johnson
40-year Atherton resident
J. Cyril "Sid" Johnson, a 40-year resident of Atherton, died March 20 at Stanford Hospital. He was 93.
Mr. Johnson was born in Holladay, Utah. He marriage La Prele Lindsay in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He was a land developer and served as president of the San Francisco Home Builders' Association for two years. He was known for being generous with his talents and resources, according to family members. He served as a Stake Missionary for the Mormon Church, and he and his wife served in the Oakland Temple for 15 years. In his free time, he was an avid golfer and fisherman, and spent many happy hours fishing with his grandchildren, family members said.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his daughters, Annette Johnson and Kathleen Eyring; his son Craig Johnson; 10 grandchildren; and 24 great-grandchildren.
Suzette Lafon-Skrabo
Executive secretary
Services were held March 18 in San Mateo for Suzette Lafon-Skrabo of San Mateo, who died March 16. She was 59.
Born in San Francisco, Mrs. Lafon-Skrabo was a licensed nurse. She was employed as an executive secretary at Stanford Research Institute and later at San Mateo Union High School District. Mrs. Lafon-Skrabo marriage John F. Skrabo in 1960. They were later divorced, and she made her home with her mother, Denise Lafon in San Mateo.
She is survived by daughter Ann of Chico; John of Fortson, Georgia; son Steve of Houston, Texas; mother Denise Lafon of San Mateo; and two grandchildren. Eileen Skrabo of Portola Valley is her mother-in-law.
Donations in memory of Suzette Marie Lafon-Skrabo may be made to the San Mateo County Health Center Foundation, 222 West 39th Ave., San Mateo, CA 94403.
Roy Jerome
Southern Pacific attorney
Roy Jerome of Menlo Park, a former attorney in the Southern Pacific Railroad law department, died March 21 in Santa Clara. He was 85.
Mr. Jerome was born in Eaton, Colorado, and spent much of his early life in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and Dunsmuir, California. While attending UC Berkeley, he played clarinet in the Cal band. He worked as a locomotive fireman and engineer on the Shasta Division of Southern Pacific Railroad before serving in the U.S. Army in World War II. After the war he attended Stanford University's School of Law, graduating with a J.D. degree in 1949.
During his career, he was employed in the Southern Pacific Law Department, handling many important real estate and land matters for the company.
After retiring in 1976, Mr. Jerome joined Branch 51, Sons in Retirement, (SIRS), Palo Alto, serving as assistant treasurer and chairman of the Palo Alto lawn bowling committee. He was a member of the California State Bar Association, Commonwealth Club, Southern Pacific Retired Executives Club, and Little House.
Mr. Jerome is survived by his sister, Kay Olson of Los Altos. His wife, Marion, predeceased him. Funeral services were private.
Marion Hanley
DAR member
Marion Hanley, who could trace her ancestors in America to the 1600s, died March 22 in Menlo Park. She was 86.
Mrs. Hanley was born in Central Falls, Rhode Island. After graduating from Bryant College, she worked until she marriage her husband, William Hanley, in 1936. The family settled in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. After her two sons were grown, she returned to work with Galego Oil Company, retiring in 1978. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
The Hanleys moved to California in 1991 to live with their son, Richard A. Hanley, and his family. Survivors include her husband of 64 years, William; son Richard; daughter-in-law Ann Marie, and twin grandsons, all of Menlo Park.
Graveside services are planned for June 5. Arrangements were under the direction of John O'Connor's Menlo Colonial Chapel.
Virginia C. Kratt
Community volunteer
Virginia C. Kratt, a volunteer with several local charities, died at her Menlo Park home March 20. She was 94.
Mrs. Kratt was a founding member of First Baptist Church of Menlo Park, and was a member of the Menlo Country Club. She did volunteer work for several charities, including the the Packard Children's Hospital's charter auxiliary and the Academic Auxiliary.
Mrs. Kratt was preceded in death by her husband William E. Kratt, who was the president of Menlo School and Menlo College from 1945 to 1970.
She is survived by her sons Walter Kratt of Menlo Park and Dick Kratt of San Jose; her sister Barbara Vernon of Santa Barbara; and three grandsons.
No services were held, according to Mrs. Kratt's wishes. Arrangements were by the Menlo Park Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries.
Leo Roselyn
Architect and designer
Leo Roselyn, a longtime resident of Atherton and Menlo Park, died March 24. He was 98. A celebration of his life for family and friends will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at the Menlo Circus Club.
An earlier celebration was held April 2 at the Forum in Cupertino, where he resided for the past nine years.
A retired architect, designer and world traveler, Mr. Roselyn was the unofficial photographer for the Committee for Art at Stanford for several years. After retiring, he and his late wife Myrna went on many trips with the Committee for Art, traveling throughout the world.
As the owner of Unit-Bilt Store Equipment Company in San Francisco, Mr. Roselyn specialized in department store design, and worked on many commercial developments throughout the Bay Area.
During his residency at the Forum, Mr. Roselyn was an active member of the architectural committee and held several exhibits of his photographs, both color and black and white.
He is survived by his two daughters, Roz Wagner and Nancy Jorgensen, both of Redwood City; son-in-law Richard Jorgensen; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Midpeninsula Pathways Hospice Foundation, 201 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View, or a favorite charity.
Florence H. Rice
Atherton, Menlo Park resident
A graveside service was held March 27 for Florence H. Rice in her hometown of Bloomington, Illinois.
Mrs. Rice died March 22 at University Convalescent Hospital in Menlo Park. She was 93.
Over the course of 23 years, Mrs. Rice lived in Atherton and Menlo Park. In the last 12 years, she made her home in Menlo Park with her son. Her husband Robert Rice died in 1980.
Mrs. Rice is survived by a son, Stephen M. Rice and his wife Gloria, both of Menlo Park; a daughter, Martha Thorkilson and her husband Howard, both of Arlington, Virginia. She is also survived by four grandchildren: Robert, Tiffany and Stephen Rice Jr., all of California; and Kelly Thorkilson, of Arlington, Virginia.
