Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Paul John Wells
Economics professor
Paul J. Wells, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Illinois, died Friday, July 10, in Menlo Park, where he had lived since his retirement. He was 72.
Born December 19, 1925, in Seattle, he was a graduate of the University of Washington. After service in the U.S. Army, Mr. Wells attended Stanford, where he earned a doctoral degree in economics.
Mr. Wells began his career as an economist with the Rand Corporation in Santa Monica, and then joined the economics faculty at California State University, Los Angeles.
In 1957 he joined the faculty of the University of Illinois, where he was an economics professor for 36 years.
He wrote many articles and two books. The latest, "Post-Keynesian Economic Theory," was published in 1995. Mr. Wells also served as an editor of the Journal of Post-Keynesian Economics.
He was a founding member of the Illinois Alliance Against Nuclear Arms and spoke widely about arms control.
A teaching fellow at Harvard, he was also a visiting professor at Stanford, the University of Hawaii, and at Simon Fraster University in British Columbia. He lectured at the University of South Australia and at Cambridge University in England.
In the mid-1960s, he worked to establish a graduate program of economics, political science, government and accounting at Thammasat University in Bangkok, Thailand.
Mr. Wells is survived by his wife, Joanne Glander Wells of Menlo Park; two step-children, Dr. John S. Looper of Boston, Mass., and professor Susan Looper-Friedman of Columbus, Ohio; and five step-grandchildren.
Memorial services were scheduled to be held in Urbana, Illinois.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association or the Peninsula Open Space Trust.
Donald W. Doherty
Chicago native
Donald W. Doherty, a Menlo Park resident, died at Stanford Hospital on July 18. He was 82.
A native of Chicago, Mr. Doherty was co-owner of the Chicago-based Queen Manufacturing Company, which produced housewares.
The husband of the late Juanita Doherty, Mr. Doherty is survived by his daughter Kathy Catron of Menlo Park; daughter Ann Kramer of Edina, Minnesota; daughter Sharon Whitacre of Orange, California; sister Lynn Krein of Florida; brother Ralph Doherty of San Francisco; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Services were held at the Menlo Park Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries.
Memorial gifts may be made to the American Cancer Society of San Mateo County, 1720 S. Amphlett Blvd., Suite 120, San Mateo, CA 94306.
Werner B. Kretschmer
Mechanical engineer
Werner B. Kretschmer, a 56-year resident of Menlo Park, died July 23. He was 94.
Born in Closter, New Jersey, he graduated in 1925 from the Stevens Institute with a degree in mechanical engineering. He worked for United Light and Power Company for 10 years, before coming to California, where he marriage Augusta Braith in 1938.
From 1942 until his retirement in 1964, Mr. Kretschmer was employed in United Airlines' radio electric department.
Friends are invited to the memorial service at 6 p.m. Wednesday, August 5, at John D. O'Connor's Menlo Colonial Chapel, 657 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Anthony Padua Dining Room, 3500 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
Milga Lindquist
Former Woodside PTA volunteer
Milga Lindquist, a 55-year Woodside resident, died June 25. She was 85.
While living with her family in Woodside, she served as PTA president of Woodside Grammar School and worked on the local Woodside election board and on the open space committee.
Mrs. Lindquist was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Roy Lindquist; and by her daughter, Roanne Ivazes of Palo Alto.
She is survived by her daughter Judith Zaccanti of Daiby, Montana; son William Lindquist of Eugene, Oregon; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on August 2 at Woodside Village Church, 3154 Woodside Road.
The family prefers memorial contributions to PEO-Cottey College, 1000 W. Austin, Nevada, Missouri 64772; or to Oregonians for Labor Intensive Forestry Economics (OLIFE), 454 Willamette St., Suite 211, Eugene, Oregon 97401.
Helen Margaret Cinquini
20-year resident of Menlo Park
Helen Margaret Cinquini,a native of San Francisco, died in Ashland, Oregon, on July 21. She was 87.
Mrs. Cinquini was a resident of Menlo Park for 20 years, leaving in 1965.
She is survived by her husband, Bill Richard Cinquini; children Bill Richard Cinquini Jr. of Fremont and Lois Widen of Ashland; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Services were held at St. Charles Catholic Church in San Carlos. Interment was at Alta Mesa Memorial Park. Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Cinquini's name to the Children's Foundation-Native Daughters of the Golden West.
William Osmond
Local resident for 40 years
William Osmond, a resident of Menlo Park and Atherton for 40 years, died in Cupertino on Wednesday, July 22. He was 90 years old.
Mr. Osmond is survived by his wife of 67 years, Jennett Osmond of Cupertino; his daughters Lynne Crandall of Davis and Janna Shenan of Atherton; and four grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1105 Valparaiso Ave. in Menlo Park at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 28.
The family prefers donations to Midpeninsula Hospice, 201 San Antonio Circle, Mountain View, CA 94040, or to a charity of choice.
John R. Fletcher
30-year Menlo resident
John R. Fletcher, a resident of Menlo Park for more than 30 years, died August 2. He was 90.
Mr. Fletcher, a banker, was a native of Indiana, where he lived until his retirement. He was a member of Palo Alto Elks, SIRS, SAR, Civil War Round Table and Royal Legion.
He is survived by his wife Fearn Fletcher and son Robert M. Fletcher of Dannville; daughter Ann F. Griffin of Sonora; daughter Laura J. Fletcher of San Carlos; and three grandsons.
Friends are invited to attend the memorial service at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 15, at Christ Episcopal Church, 1040 Border Road, Los Altos. Interment will be at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Contributions can be made to the Children's Health Council, 700 Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94031.
Arrangements were made by John O'Connor's Menlo Colonial Chapel.
Ruth J. Bernd
20-year Woodside resident
Ruth J. Bernd, a 20-year resident of Woodside, died on July 18. She was 98.
Mrs. Bernd was a homemaker and retired school teacher.
She is survived by her daughter, Jean Edwards of Woodside; her granddaughter, Marilyn Jondle of Redwood City; her grandson, David Edwards of Sunnyvale; and three great-grandsons.
A memorial service will be held at New Richmond United Methodist Church in New Richmond, Wisconsin, at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 15. Private Burial was at New Richmond cemetery.
The family prefers contributions to a charity of the donor's choice.
Jeanne Conforti, tireless volunteer
Jeanne F. Conforti, who volunteered much of her time to local efforts purely for the pleasure of helping others, died at home on Tuesday August 4 after a short illness. She was 62.
Born in Mena, Arkansas, she came to California in 1969 and marriage John Conforti a year later. Mr. and Mrs. Conforti lived in Palo Alto for the past 22 years.
Mrs. Conforti began volunteering with Project Read-Menlo Park in 1990, tutoring students for whom English was a second language and helping others obtain a GED -- a high school level certificate of competency, said Alice Bradshaw, tutor-student coordinator at Project Read.
In addition to tutoring adults, Mrs. Conforti inspired new volunteers by speaking at tutor-training sessions, Ms. Bradshaw said.
"She stuck to business and she made everyone feel good about it," said Ms. Bradshaw. "She lit up the place every time she walked in."
For her dedication, Mrs. Conforti was chosen by the Junior League of Palo Alto-Mid Peninsula and the Volunteer Center of California as the outstanding volunteer in the field of education out of a pool of 18 other nominees in April 1997.
Mrs. Conforti also showed her commitment to the community through her volunteer efforts for the Mid-Peninsula YMCA. She served on the board of directors for the Page Mill branch, on the board of advisors for the East Palo Alto YMCA and on the Association board of directors, in addition to serving on numerous other committees.
"She was the epitome of volunteerism," said Barry Taylor, president and CEO of Mid-Peninsula YMCA. Others measured their contributions against hers, but could never measure up, he added.
As chairperson of the annual Just Say Yes! For Kids fund-raising drive, Mrs. Conforti was instrumental in raising money to support programs at the East Palo Alto YMCA, Mr. Taylor said. As the newly elected chairperson of the Page Mill branch board of directors, which oversees fund-raising for East Palo Alto YMCA, Mrs. Conforti was in a position of authority to help the cause she believed in so much, Mr. Taylor noted.
Besides holding administrative positions, Mrs. Conforti also enjoyed more hands-on volunteer work. For several years she participated in Kindergarten Fitness Training, a program which provided elementary school children with physical education classes when East Palo Alto and Belle Haven schools were unable to do so. "She taught the kids caring and teamwork in these classes, and teachers noticed the kids exhibiting this positive behavior in their independent play activities," said Mr. Taylor. She also tutored children in those schools.
In recognition of her accomplishment helping youth in East Palo Alto and east Menlo Park, she received the YMCA's Distinguished Service Award in November 1995, and in November 1997 she was honored by the Silicon Valley Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Conforti is survived by three children, John Conforti of San Mateo, Thomas Conforti of Redwood City, Kathryn Mary Shutsy of Dublin, California.; three siblings, Kay Tenney of Brentwood, Tennesse, Barbara Evans of Bella Vista, Arizona, Patrick Ferguson of Lawrenceville, Georgia; and six grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 18, at 3 p.m. near the pond at Page Mill Place in the Palo Alto Square. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that donations be made to the Mid-Peninsula YMCA, 4151 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303, or to Project Read-Menlo Park, 800 Alma St., Menlo Park, CA 94025.
Funeral arrangements were made by Roller, Hapgood and Tinney of Palo Alto.
Glen E. Leney, 40-year resident of Woodside
Glen E. Leney, 40-year resident of Woodside, died in Florida on July 17. He was 79.
Born in San Francisco, Mr. Leney met his future wife, Shirley, at age 12, and they were marriage at age 20. In 1942 Mr. Leney began working as a newspaper delivery man for the San Francisco Examiner, a job his wife took over when he left to serve in World War II.
In 1948 he purchased his first business, the Tick-Tock Ice Cream Store, on 25th Avenue in San Mateo. In 1950 he purchased the Atherton Auction Studio, which remained in his ownership in Redwood City for 32 years. Deciding to retire, he and his wife purchased and managed a gold mine in Colorado in the 1980s. In 1991 they moved to Florida, again to retire.
A longtime honorary member of the Rotary Club in San Carlos, he was one of the founders of the "Junktique Auction." For his community involvement he was awarded the Paul Harris Fellowship award. He was also a member of the Shriners in the Masonic Organization of San Francisco.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Leney is survived by his children, Sandra Lashly of Redwood City and Lee Leney of Sacramento; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at the Woodside Village Church, Friday, August 21 at 2 p.m.
Donations can be made in Mr. Leney's name to the Shriners Children's Hospital in San Francisco or the San Carlos Rotary Club.
Mathilda Prudhomme, Little House member
Mathilda C. Prudhomme of Menlo Park died August 12. She was 83 years old.
A native of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Mrs. Prudhomme lived in Menlo Park for 40 years, devoting much of her time in later years to activities at Peninsula Volunteers' Little House senior center in Menlo Park.
She is survived by her daughters, Renee Prudhomme of Menlo Park and Suzanne Pemberton of San Carlos; two grandchildren; and four sisters.
Family services have been held. Contributions may be made to the Peninsula Volunteers, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025.
Funeral arrangements were made by John O'Connor's Menlo Colonial Chapel.
Viola N. Hammer, librarian
Viola N. Hammer of Menlo Park died at Devonshire Oaks nursing facility in Redwood City on July 31. She was 83.
Mrs. Hammer received her bachelor's degree at the University of Wisconsin. She resided in Redwood City and Woodside Hills with her husband and two daughters from 1952 to 1971.
Following their retirements in 1971, Mr. and Mrs. Hammer moved to Scotts Vallley. In 1990, after the death of her husband, Mrs. Hammer moved to the Glenwood Inn in Menlo Park.
In 1953, after working as a librarian for the Redwood City Public Library, Mrs. Hammer was hired as a librarian for the Redwood City School District. As the district's first librarian, she established a centralized library system for 17 school libraries. She implemented a new volunteer program, training the volunteers herself. The success of her program brought recognition from other school districts.
In addition, she established and operated an instructional materials center for teachers. When she retired, the California Department of Education asked her to become a part-time ad hoc consultant in the field.
Mrs. Hammer is survived by two daughters, Peggy Wallace of Rancho Palos Verdes and Kristine Hoss of Redwood City; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A memorial service was held August 15 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Menlo Park.
Memorial gifts may be made in Mrs. Hammer's name to the Redwood City Public Library or the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Elaine Turkington
Community volunteer
Memorial services will be held Wednesday, August 26, at 3 p.m. for Elaine Turkington, who died in her Menlo Park home August 20. She was 94.
Born and raised in San Francisco, she attended Lowell High School and the University of California at Berkeley before moving to Menlo Park.
Mrs. Turkington was an active community leader all her life, family members said. She served as president of the San Francisco Infant Shelter and as a board member of both the San Francisco and San Mateo County Red Cross chapters. She was also a member of the Packard Children's Hospital Senior Auxiliary and of the Menlo Circus Club.
She is survived by her children, Ned Turkington and Dana Turkington-Horner; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; siblings Kathleen Kaiser and Charles Horton; and eight nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, Edward, in 1994.
The August 26 service will be held at Valley Presbyterian Church, 925 Portola Road, in Portola Valley.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Red Cross or to Stanford Children's Hospital, 725 Welch Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94025.
Funeral arrangements were made by John O'Connor's Menlo Colonial Chapel.
Laura M. McGinnis
57-year Menlo resident)
Laura Coffey McGinnis, a native of San Francisco, died August 20 at the Sharon Heights Convalescent Hospital in Menlo Park. She was 92.
Mrs. McGinnis was the daughter of Dr. Walter B. Coffey, chief surgeon and general manager of the former Southern Pacific Hospitals. Dr. Coffey also founded St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco.
Mrs. McGinnis attended the University of California at Berkeley and marriage Dr. James J. McGinnis, a former chief of medicine at St. Mary's Hospital and Medical Center. She was a homemaker and a member of the Junior League in Menlo Park.
She is survived by her daughter Laura Austin of Monterey; son James McGinnis of Belmont; two grandchildren Laura McClure and Evelyn Weimer; and great-grandchild Dylon McClure.
Mrs. McGinnis was buried
at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma. Arrangements were by Crippen & Flynn Chapel in Redwood City. Memorial donations may be made to the Religious of Sacred Heart Oakwood, 140 Valparaiso Ave., Atherton, CA 94027.
