Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Suzanne Eyre:
Longtime Woodside resident
A memorial Mass celebrating the life of Suzanne de Lenclos Eyre will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 21, at the Woodside Priory in Portola Valley. Mrs. Eyre, a longtime Woodside resident, was 99.
She was born in Nancy, France, in 1902. During World War I, her family became refugees, retreating from Lorraine to Paris. The Red Cross gave them clothing donated by Californians.
Sewn into her dress was a note saying, "If you would like to have a godmother in San Francisco write to me." She wrote and was given a "war godmother" from a prominent California family. After many letters and photographs were exchanged, she decided to come to the United States, say family members.
After the war, she attended the University of Kansas on a scholarship. When Spanish influenza closed the school, she returned to live with her godmother in San Francisco, and later met her future husband, Edward Engle Eyre, a third-generation San Franciscan.
The couple marriage at Old St. Mary's Church in San Francisco in 1924, and lived for a time on the Atherton estate of Mr. Eyre's grandfather, Faxon Dean Atherton, after whom the town was named.
In 1954 the family moved to Woodside, where Mr. Eyre died in 1981.
Mrs. Eyre was a member of Woodside-Atherton Garden Club, serving twice as president. During World War II, Mrs. Eyre was active in the American Red Cross. For many years she served on the board of the Mt. St. Joseph/St. Elizabeth Infant Hospital.
She joined the Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary to the Children's Hospital at Stanford in 1930. She also headed the landscape committee at the Woodside Priory from its founding in 1957, obtaining the services of eminent landscape architect Thomas Church.
A generation of Priory students remember Mrs. Eyre in her straw hat and blue dungarees, hoe in hand, according to family members. The Priory monks, in a nod to her firm leadership, still affectionately refer to her as "The General."
Mrs. Eyre was a patron of the San Francisco Opera, San Francisco Symphony, the San Francisco Cotillion, and a member of the Town and Country Club and Menlo Country Club.
Mrs. Eyre is survived by her children, Florence Atherton Eyre and Edward Engle (Ned) Eyre; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. At the time of her death, she was residing at The Stratford in San Mateo.
Memorial donations may be sent to the Woodside Priory School, 302 Portola Road, Portola Valley 94028, or The San Francisco Opera.
David Schnebly
Aeronautical researcher
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 20, at the Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park, for F. David Schnebly of Menlo Park, who died June 14 after a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 75.
Mr. Schnebly was preceded in death by his wife, Miriam, who died of pancreatic cancer seven years ago.
Born in San Francisco, Mr. Schnebly graduated from St. Ignatius High School and the University of Southern California with a degree in aeronautical engineering.
He was involved in aeronautical research and development for 45 years. His projects ranged from developing early helicopters to unmanned aircraft. He was the author of "A Greenhouse Anthology," a book on his life experiences.
Mr. Schnebly and his wife raised their five children in Portola Valley, where the family was active in equestrian circles and boating. Mr. Schnebly was a member of the San Mateo County Mounted Patrol and the Shack Riders.
He was an active volunteer at the Hiller Aviation Institute in San Carlos. His love of life, love of people, and sense of humor will remain a legacy for his family and friends forever, say family members.
Mr. Schnebly is survived by his five children: Linda Fujimoto, Mary Schwarz, Annie Erie, David Schnebly, and Kathleen Woods; and eight grandchildren.
Arrangements were under the direction of John O'Connor's Menlo Colonial Chapel.
Benjamin H. Parkinson
Former Atherton city attorney
Benjamin H. Parkinson, a longtime resident of Atherton and Palo Alto, died June 1. He was 79.
Born in Portland, Mr. Parkinson moved with his family to San Francisco, where he attended Lowell High School.
He served as a U.S. Army officer in World War II during the occupation of Japan.
He attended Stanford Law school after leaving the service, and graduated in the class of 1949. While at Stanford, he was a founding member of the board of editors of the Stanford Law Review, was elected to the Order of the Coif, and graduated at the top of his class, according to family members.
He marriage his high school sweetheart, Ginny, from Portland, and began his law practice in San Francisco.
He again served in the Army during the Korean War, and was sent to Germany as a lawyer in the Judge Advocate's Office.
When he returned, he resumed his law practice in San Francisco, and later served as city attorney for Atherton for many years.
Mr. Parkinson is credited with achieving passage of an important coastal preservation law to protect the Big Sur area, said his family.
He had a talent for keeping friends for life, meeting some of them for lunch every week for more than half a century, and he enjoyed traveling with his wife, according to his family.
He is survived by his wife Ginny; his children, Kaley, Linda and Ben; his brother, Roger Parkinson; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A private memorial service was held. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that memorial contributions be made to Midpeninsula Pathways Hospice, 203 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View CA 94040.
Memorial service for Richard Maxwell
College instructor
A memorial service of poetry and jazz will be held during the final evening of the Foothill Writers' Conference on July 3 for Richard (Dick) Maxwell, who died of a heart attack in Mexico on June 17.
Mr. Maxwell, a former resident of Palo Alto and instructor at Foothill College, founded the writers' conference 25 years ago.
All friends, colleagues and former students are invited to attend the memorial, set for 7 p.m. in Appreciation Hall, Foothill College.
Antoine DeVos
Former maitre d' at Village Pub
Antoine DeVos, whom generations of Woodside residents knew as maitre d' of the Woodside Village Pub, died peacefully June 21 at his home in San Carlos. He was 80.
Mr. DeVos was born in Gent, Belgium, and served in the Belgian army during World War II. After the war, he worked as a chocolatier in Belgium before coming to the United States with his wife and late son, Max.
Mr. DeVos worked for several years as maitre d' and restaurant manager for the Circle Star Theatre in Redwood City. He retired after 35 years of employment as maitre d' at the Village Pub in Woodside. Many longtime patrons remember him preparing one of the house specialties, Veal Antoine, tableside.
Mr. DeVos will be remembered by family and friends as a warm, caring, generous man, say family members. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Amanda (Manja), three grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.
At his request, no funeral services will be held. Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society; for information, call 1-800-227-2345. Arrangements were under the direction of the Neptune Society of Northern California.
Weldon B. 'Hoot' Gibson
Memorial service for SRI founder
A memorial service for Dr. Weldon B. "Hoot" Gibson, who founded the Stanford Research Institute in 1946, will be held at Stanford Memorial Church at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 10.
Friends from SRI, the community and around the country and the world, are expected to honor the man who helped build the institution and its reputation over the next 55 years.
Following the service, SRI International will hold a celebration of his many contributions at 4 p.m. in the International Building auditorium, 333 Ravenswood Ave. in Menlo Park. A reception will follow.
People interested in attending should call 859-3959 by July 9.
Christian Kane Ey
Architect and builder
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, August 3, at the Valley Presbyterian Church in Portola Valley for Christian Kane Ey, an architect and builder who lived many years in Menlo Park and Woodside. Mr. Ey died July 22 in Palo Alto at the age of 63.
Mr. Ey grew up in Palo Alto and graduated with a degree in architecture from the University of California at Berkeley.
In his early work as an architect, he designed education and medical facilities in the Bay Area, including buildings at Cabrillo College in Aptos and the Letterman Army Institute of Research at the Presidio.
Mr. Ey left architecture and joined the builder L.E. Wentz Co. in 1977. He was vice-president from 1981 to 1991 and had management responsibility for several projects, including the Opus One Winery in Oakville, Metro Plaza in San Jose and the Pacific Athletic Club in Redwood Shores.
Mr. Ey is survived by his wife, Carolyn Eriksson-Ey; his mother Eleanor Hill of Menlo Park; his step-daughters Megan Moriarty of Woodside and Karen Coppock of Boston; and his stepson John Coppock of Portland, Oregon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the VA Hospice Care Center, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto 94304 or to the Alzheimer's Association, 2065 West El Camino Real, Mountain View 94040.
The Valley Presbyterian Church is located at 945 Portola Road in Portola Valley. Funeral arrangements for Mr. Ey are being managed by Roller Hapgood & Tinney.
Lum Fong Shee
Menlo Park flower grower
Lum Fong Shee, a Menlo Park resident and owner of Lum Toy Flowers in Menlo Park, died at her home on July 8 surrounded by her family. She was 99.
Mrs. Lum immigrated to the United States when she was 21, arriving at Angel Island after a 30-day journey aboard a Japanese freighter.
Mrs. Lum and her husband Lum Toy set to work in the flower industry, pioneering the cultivation of asters and chrysanthemums on the Peninsula in the 1920s, said family members.
They set up their operation in East Palo Alto and owned and operated Lum Toy Flowers in Menlo Park, shipping flowers wholesale to the East Coast. The business was later taken over by their sons, Charles and Bob Lum after Mr. Lum died in 1965.
After she retired from the flower business, Mrs. Lum traveled extensively, making nine trips to her home village in Guangdong, China, as well as traveling to Europe, Thailand, Canada, Alaska, Japan and Taiwan.
Mrs. Lum was preceded in death by her sons Tom and James Lum. She is survived by her children, Charles Lum of Atherton, Robert Lum of San Francisco, Louis Lum and Frances Koop, both of San Rafael, Mae Fong of Sacramento, and Margaret Kam and Alice Ching, both of Honolulu; 23 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Services were held under the direction of John O'Connor's Menlo Colonial Chapel.
Claus G. Goetzel
Professor
Dr. Claus G. Goetzel of Portola Valley died peacefully at home July 7 after a long illness. He was 87.
Born in Berlin on July 14, 1913, he came to the United State in 1936 and earned a Ph.D. at Columbia University in 1939. He marriage Lilo Kallmann on November 19, 1938, in New York City.
His career in powder metallurgy and materials science spanned more than 60 years, during which he made many contributions to both the academic and engineering communities.
His career included professorships at New York University and Stanford University. After many years as a senior research scientist at Lockheed Missiles and Space Co., he continued as a consulting engineer for projects around the world.
Dr. Goetzel had more than 30 patents in the materials science field. He was the author or coauthor of seven scientific volumes and many articles for professional journals.
His work in the field of high temperature materials was recognized when he received the Alexander von Humboldt U.S. Scientist Award from the Federal Republic of Germany in 1978 and was received by the president of Germany.
Dr. Goetzel is survived by his wife Lilo; his son Rodney; his daughter Vivian; and a granddaughter.
Sean Sanderson
College student
Sean "Sandy" Sanderson of Woodside was found dead inside his home on the morning of July 8. He was 20.
The cause of death has yet to be determined, family said.
Mr. Sanderson was a student at Chico State University and a member of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. He graduated from Palo Alto High School.
He is survived by his father, Jim Sanderson of Woodside; his mother, Debbie Piazza; his step parents, Dana Sanderson and Terry Pebbles; his brothers Justin and Ian; his sister Kathryn; and grandparents, Jeanne Piazza and Mike and Lucy Galullo.
Funeral services were held July 12 at the Church of Latter-day Saints in Menlo Park.
In lieu of flower, the family prefers contributions to the Sean T. Sanderson Memorial Scholarship Fund, University Foundation-0246, Chico, CA 95929.
Herbert Roth
Business salesman
Herbert Roth, a Menlo Park resident for the last 10 years, died June 29 at Stanford Hospital. He was 79.
Mr. Roth was a native of New York City and served in World War II with the Field Artillery, earning four medals, family members said.
He was a self-employed business salesman for more than 40 years in New York and a lifelong Yankees fan, according to his family.
Mr. Roth is survived by a daughter, Roberta of Redwood City; a son, Andrew of Queens, New York; his ex-wife, Grace Rubino of Queens; and one grandson.
Memorial services were held July 5 at the Menlo Colonial Chapel in Menlo Park.
Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to: Action on Smoking and Health, 2013 H. St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20006; the Guillain-Barre Syndrome Foundation International, P.O. Box 262, Wynnewood, PA 19096; the Wheelchair Foundation, P.O. Box 2973, Danville, CA 94526.
Donna Bridges LeBaron
High school teacher
Donna Bridges LeBaron died in Woodside on July 5. She was 91.
Mrs. LeBaron, was born in San Jose on March 22, 1910, and was the widow of Francis Blake LeBaron, a resident of Stockton for 61 years.
She graduated from San Jose State, attended Stanford University, and taught high school in Ukiah and Lodi. She was a member of the Phi Kappa Pi sorority.
Mrs. LeBaron is survived by her daughter Gail Reed, of Woodside; her son Blake, of Stockton; three sisters, Lois Chamberlain, of San Jose; Shirley Barber of Redding; and Wylda Mason, of Sedona, Arizona; and three grandchildren.
The family requests memorial gifts to Midpeninsula Hospice, 201 San Antonio Circle, Suite 135, Mountain View, CA, 94040.
Mary Margaret Baumstark
Glenwood Inn resident
Mary Margaret Baumstark died April 24 in Menlo Park at the age of 89.
Mrs. Baumstark was born in Los Angeles to John and Angela Panetti. She was a longtime resident of Glendale and Indian Wells. For the past 12 years, she lived at Glenwood Inn in Menlo Park.
According to family, Mrs. Baumstark was a devout Roman Catholic, active in the Catholic Social Services Auxiliary and the Eisenhower Medical Center. She was an avid golfer, said family, and a member of the Indian Wells and Oakmont Country Clubs.
The wife of Frederick Worden Baumstark, Mrs. Baumstark is survived by her daughter Freddie Angela Jackson of Menlo Park. She will buried
beside her husband at Forest Lawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations to Santa Teresita Hospital in Duarte, California.
Tillie B. Bryant
Retired teacher
Tillie Burgess Bryant of Menlo Park died at home July 5 surrounded by her family. She was 96.
Mrs. Bryant was a public school teacher in Dallas, Texas, for 22 years. She recently moved to Menlo Park to live with her son, Dr. D. Martel Bryant, and his wife, Linda.
Mrs. Bryant is survived by her sons, Dr. Martel Bryant of Menlo Park and Dr. Richard E. Bryant of Beaverton, Oregon; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
The family is planning a funeral service to be held in Dallas where Mrs. Bryant will be buried
next to late husband, Charlie.
