Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Ross Meredith
Woodside Stable founder
Ross Meredith, noted Woodside horseman, died in Redwood City May 30. He was 84.
Born in Oklahoma to a long line of horse trainers, he began riding in matched quarter horse races when he was 12. In 1950 Mr. Meredith came to Woodside with his wife and family and opened the Woodside Stable.
During his long career, he won many awards from the California State Fair, the Santa Maria Quarter Horse Show and the Cow Palace, according to family members. He was named Distinguished Horseman of 1973.
He is credited with starting the San Mateo County Horsemen's Association's Playday, organizing the Western Riding Clinic and the Woodside Livestock Committee, and he designed the trail horse courses for Tally Ho for 20 years.
Mr. Meredith was preceded in death by his wife Ruth. He is survived by his daughter Laurajane Alvis of Pioneer; his grandchildren Gary Lee Alvis of South Lake Tahoe, Jane Heavenston of Redwood City and Paula Alvis of Pioneer; and five great-grandchildren.
Services were held at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo. The family prefers memorial contributions be made to MidPeninsula Hospice, 65 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025; or to Alzheimer's Association, 330 Distal Circle #A, Los Altos, CA 94022.
Barbara Sheiry Ely
38-year Menlo Park resident
Barbara Sheiry Ely died at her Menlo Park home May 30. She was 69.
Mrs. Ely was born in Istanbul, Turkey, and grew up in Bronxville, New York. She had been a resident of Menlo Park since 1962.
Mrs. Ely is survived by her husband Paul C. Ely Jr. of Menlo Park; her sons Skip Ely of La Selva Beach and Glenn Ely of Aptos; and her granddaughters Amy Lynn Ely, Hannah Barbara Ely and Alyson Sheiry Ely.
A private memorial service will be held. The family prefers memorial donations be made to RRAD (Respite and Research for Alzheimer's Disease), 2380 Enborg Lane, San Jose, CA 95128; or to the Sensory Access Foundation, 1142 West Evelyn Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086.
Mildred Calata
Little House volunteer
A memorial Mass for Mildred Calata, a Portola Valley resident, will be held Wednesday, June 14, at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church, located at 930 Portola Road in Portola Valley.
Mrs. Calata died June 9 at her home in Portola Valley. She was 94. She was a native of Chicago and she volunteered in the Little House kitchen for 15 years.
She is survived by her children Joan Lazzara and Annette Calata, both of Portola Valley; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
The family prefers that memorial donations be made to Poplar Recare, 875 Stanton Road, Burlingame, CA 94010. Arrangements are by Spangler Mortuaries.
Agnes L. Knight
Sequoias resident
Agnes L. Knight died at her home at the Sequoias in Portola Valley on May 14. She was 90.
Mrs. Knight was born in La Porte, Indiana. She graduated from Smith College in 1931, and in 1934, marriage Harry W. Knight. During her life, Mrs. Knight lived in Menlo Park; New Canaan, Connecticut; and Vero Beach, Florida.
She was preceded in death by Mr. Knight, her husband of 60 years. Mrs. Knight is survived by her sons Kirk L. Knight of Portola Valley and Harry W. Knight Jr. of Palo Alto; and her grandchildren Rodney Knight and Kristina Knight, both of Portola Valley.
Private Interment services were held at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, with arrangements through Crippen & Flynn.
Marie Barbariol
Menlo Park resident
Marie Barbariol, a Menlo Park resident, died in Redwood City June 1. She was 72.
Mrs. Barbariol, a native of Odiarp, France, is survived by her husband, Tarcisio Barbariol of Menlo Park; her daughters, Agnes Mendelson of Atherton and Angela Barbariol of Duvall, Washington; her siblings, Jean Elichalt, Marie Louise Hastoy, Jean Baptiste Elichart, Maider Bordagaray and Marianne Larragneguy, all of France; and her cousin Roger Lilles of San Mateo.
A funeral Mass was held at St. Raymond's Catholic Church in Menlo Park. Arrangements were by Spangler Mortuaries. The family prefers memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 2065 West El Camino Real, Suite C, Mountain View, CA 94040.
William B. Hosey
Retired Commander, U.S. Navy
William B. Hosey of Menlo Park died June 4 after a lengthy battle with congestive heart failure. He was 81.
A native of Laurel, Mississippi, Commander Hosey graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1942 with a degree in marine engineering. He served as a naval aviator and his last tour of duty was as chief executive officer aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kearsarge.
His honors included the Silver Star Presidential Unit Citation, a Navy commendation, Asiatic Pacific Theatre, Japanese Occupation World War II Victory, National Defense, and Korean Service Defense.
Commander Hosey is survived by his wife of 38 years, Grace (Lynn); daughter Diane Hosey Howell; son John L. Hosey; sister Beatrice Hosey Janus; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held June 12 at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church.
Naomi June Hart
50-year Menlo resident
A memorial service will be held June 24 for Naomi June Hart, a resident of Menlo Park for more than 50 years, who died June 5. She was 73.
Mrs. Hart was born in Fairbury, Nebraska, and moved to Corvallis, Oregon, with her family as a teenager. When she was 16, she met her future husband, Frank, at a skating rink in Corvallis. They marriage after he returned from service in World War II.
Mrs. Hart became a Jehovah Witness in 1948; her husband joined her in 1950. The couple remained active in Jehovah's Witnesses for the next 50 years. Both taught Bible studies for many years.
Mrs. Hart was also known as a excellent cook and enjoyed growing flowers, fruit and vegetables in her garden.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Frank H. Hart of Menlo Park; sons, Frank J. Hart of Santa Clara and David Allan Hart of San Jose; daughter, Sandra Lynn Gustafik of Auburn; sister, Geraldine Heins of Grant's Pass, Oregon; and five grandchildren.
The memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 681 2nd St., Redwood City.
Irene M. Arms
Menlo Park homemaker
Irene M. Arms, a resident of Menlo Park since 1943, died June 2 at Menlo Park Place. She was 92.
A member of St. Raymond's Catholic Church, Mrs. Arms is survived by her son Ronald of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Services were held June 8 at the Menlo Park Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries with Interment at Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto.
Al Giannotti
Longtime Menlo commercial property developer and owner
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 21, the Church of the Nativity, Menlo Park, for Al Giannotti, who developed many commercial properties in Menlo Park. A resident of Menlo Park for 62 years, Mr. Giannotti died at home June 16 at age 92.
Mr. Giannotti was born in Schnectady, New York, and came to San Jose with his parents and nine siblings in 1921. He left school after the sixth grade to go to work, and his first job was picking prunes. He was proud of the fact that when he delivered lunch to his Dad, who was working at General Electric in San Jose, he met Thomas Edison. After he marriage his wife, Maxine, whom he met in Stockton, they moved to Menlo Park, where they lived the rest of their lives.
Mr. Giannotti worked for local building contractor Ed Mape from 1928 to 1932, then went into partnership with John Facchino (Johnny's Smoke Shop) in the amusement business (pinball and vending machines). After serving in World War II, Mr. Giannotti began developing local property, with his wife as his business partner.
The family-owned business, Giannotti/Vela Corporation, continues today in Redwood City with Mr. Giannotti's daughter, Carmen Lico, as president of marketing; and grandson Al Filice as president of development. Mr. Filice and another of Mr. Giannotti's grandsons, Robert Lico, are in charge of daily operations.
The company owns and manages property from San Carlos to San Jose. "Altogether we own about 1 million square feet of property," says Mr. Filice. Menlo Park properties include the building on Santa Cruz Avenue housing Starbucks Coffee, Una Mas and McWhorter's; partnership in the Feve building, which houses Ritz Camera and Goodwill; 585 Glenwood Avenue, formerly occupied by Cashin Realty; 1340 El Camino Real, site of the Holistic Health Center; and buildings at 985, 1001, and 1005 O'Brien Drive.
Until about a month ago Mr. Giannotti was coming into the office every day, says Mr. Filice.
In 1999 Mr. Giannotti was awarded the Golden Acorn by the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce. At that time he said he always knew property downtown would turn out to be a good investment. "I could see California growing, I talked to business people and I listened to them. I heard the things they wanted to do, and what they were looking for."
Mr. Giannotti was a past president of the Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce, past "exalted ruler" of the Redwood City Elk's Club, founding member of the Menlo Park Lions, and member of the Redwood City Chamber of Commerce.
He is survived by his daughter Carmen Lica and her husband Frank Lico of San Jose; brother William Giannotti of Reno; six grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. His wife, Maxine, and daughter, Jacqueline Maxine Bergmann died before him.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 20, from 4 to 9 p.m. at Redwood Chapel, 847 Woodside Road, Redwood City. Entombment will be at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery in Santa Clara. Donations may be made to the 5P Society (Cri-Du-Chat Society), 7108 Katella Ave., P.M.B. 502, Stanton, California 90680.
Frank Livermore
Museum of American Heritage founder
Frank Livermore, who referred to his home as "Smithsonian West," died June 9 in a Palo Alto nursing home of complications from pneumonia. He was 81.
Mr. Livermore established the Museum of American Heritage in Palo Alto in the late 1980s after running out of space in his Menlo Park home for his collection of 50 pre-World War II cameras, 200 manual typewriters, radios, adding machines, toasters, and turn-of-the-century player pianos. After several years at 275 Alma St., the museum moved into permanent quarters in the historic Rhona Williams House, Palo Alto, in 1998.
The museum, which includes permanent exhibits of everyday life before World War II, is financed through the Frank Livermore Trust. Mr. Livermore was a former bookkeeper, who became wealthy when he sold his interest in a radio broadcast network. The trust also provides scholarships for local Eagle Scouts. Mr. Livermore, who never married, was an active member of Boy Scouts for much of his life.
Mr. Livermore is survived by a sister, Margaret Thomason of Visa, California. At his request, no funeral services will be held. Inurnment will be at Alta Mesa memorial Park in Palo Alto. A memorial service will be announced later.
Martha Weber Soderman
Church leader
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 24, at First Presbyterian Church in Palo Alto for Martha Frances Quigley Weber Soderman of Menlo Park, who died June 13 at Stanford Medical Center. She was 79.
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Mrs. Soderman grew up in Denver, Colorado. She graduated from the University of Colorado, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, in 1943 and marriage Gordon M. Weber the same year. They moved to the Peninsula and lived in Atherton for 35 years.
Mrs. Soderman was active in local church and community affairs, leading a youth group at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, participating in Mothers for Equal Education, organizing an interracial day camp, and supporting the United Farm Workers. At age 64 she graduated from the Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. A lover of the arts, Mrs. Soderman directed local plays and operettas and gave community play readings.
After Gordon Weber's death, she marriage longtime family friend Robert A. Soderman in 1987. For the past 13 years they lived in Menlo Park and enjoyed family, church and social activities, and worldwide travels. Mr. Soderman cared for his wife during the last several years when she suffered from Alzheimer's disease.
Mrs. Soderman is survived by her husband, Robert; son Dave Weber of Mill Valley; daughter Meg Weber-Gil of Albany; and three grandchildren. Two sons, Steve Weber and Jon Weber, preceded her in death.
Memorials may be made in Mrs. Soderman's name to the San Francisco Waldorf School Vision Fund, 2938 Washington St., San Francisco 94115 or to a charity of choice. First Presbyterian Church is located at 1140 Cowper St. in Palo Alto.
Elsa Anderson Covell
Junior League member
Elsa Anderson Covell, who recently moved to Menlo Park, died June 12 at El Camino Hospital at age 77. She had been a resident of Los Altos Hills for 35 years.
Mrs. Covell was a member of the Menlo Country Club, Junior League of Palo Alto/Mid Peninsula, and Palo Alto Garden Club.
She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Gordon; daughters Christine Peterson of Santa Rosa and Catherine Covell of Frement; son Gordon Jr. of Los Altos Hills; brother Harry Anderson of La Mesa; sister Elin Stiegeler of Santa Rosa; and four grandchildren.
Services were held June 16 at Christ Episcopal Church, Los Altos. Memorials may be made to the Community Association for Rehabilitation, 925 East Charleston Road, Palo Alto 94306. Arrangements were under the direction of the Menlo Park Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries.
Inez Gugliemetti
Menlo Park resident since 1946
Services were held June 16 at Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park for Inez C. Gugliemetti, who died June 12 at Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City. She was 78.
Mrs. Gugliemetti was a member of the Church of the Nativity and its Thursday prayer group.
She is survived by sons Richard A. Gugliemetti of Menlo Park and Robert G. Gugliemetti of Liberty Lake, Washington; brother Al Armand of South San Francisco; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Robert and son Ronald.
Interment was in Alta Mesa Cemetery, Palo Alto. Arrangements were by John O'Connor Menlo Colonial Chapel.
Arno W. Singhoff, M.D.
Atherton resident
Arno W. Singhoff, M.D., died at his home in Atherton on June 18 of complications from Alzheimer's disease. He was 85.
Dr. Singhoff, a physician and surgeon in Redwood City for more than 40 years, was one of the original staff members at Sequoia Hospital, where he continued to practice until his retirement.
Born in Pasadena, Dr. Singhoff lived his entire life in California. He graduated from the University of Southern California Medical School and was a diplomat of the American Board of Surgery.
Dr. Singhoff served as an Army medical officer during World War II in England and Germany. In his leisure, he enjoyed traveling, stamp collecting and gardening at his home.
Dr. Singhoff is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jeanne A. Singhoff; a daughter, Heidi Brown of Woodside; and three grandchildren.
At his request, no services were held. The family asks that donations be made to a favorite charity or to the Peninsula Volunteers' Rosener House, 1060 Middle Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025.
Marie Louise Jimenez
Former Menlo resident
Marie Louise Jimenez, a one-time resident of Menlo Park and Redwood City, died peacefully in her sleep on June 19 in Stamford, Connecticut. She was 90.
Born in San Jose, Mrs. Jimenez was marriage to the late Jean-Jacques Jimenez, and she was the mother of Jacques Jimenez and the late Richard Jimenez. She was also the mother-in-law of Polly Abell Jimenez and Christine O'Sullivan; the grandmother of Ross, Jessica, Angela, Jennifer and the late Roger Jimenez; and the great-grandmother of Patrick Jimenez.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held for Mrs. Jimenez on July 3 at the Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park. She was afterward buried
at Skylawn Cemetery in San Mateo.
Arthur (Tad) Latimer Jr.
Former Merrill Lynch partner
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 13, at the Graeagle Community Church, Graeagle, California, for Arthur (Tad) Latimer Jr., who died June 29 at the Veterans Medical Center in Reno.
Mr. Latimer lived in Menlo Park and Atherton for many years before moving to Australia, and later retiring to Graeagle, where he had lived for the past seven years. He was a member of the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club.
A native of Seattle, Mr. Latimer trained ski troops during the first years of World War II. He also served in the U.S. Navy V5 officer training program at Whitman College. He graduated from the University of Washington.
Mr. Latimer was a former partner at Merrill Lynch and was on the Board of Governors of the New York Securities and Exchange Commission.
After retiring in 1990, he turned his hobby of making silver fishing lures into a small business called the Latimer Lure Company.
Survivors include his wife Kitty; daughters Leanne Troy of Los Gatos and Tara Brock of Bend, Oregon; and four grandchildren.
The family prefers memorials to the American Cancer Society, 2889 Cohasset Road, No. 6, Chico, CA 995973; or Graeagle Community Church, P.O. Box 1208, Graeagle, CA 96103.
