Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Jean Livingston Wegener
Former Atherton resident
Jean Barbette Livingston Wegener, a former Sunset Magazine employee, died August 30 at her home in Woodland. She was 85.
Mrs. Wegener was born in San Francisco and later moved to Oakland. She attended the University of California at Berkeley, where she was a member of Delta Gamma sorority.
Mrs. Wegener moved to Atherton in 1954. She became a member of the Junior League of Palo Alto and worked as a hostess at Sunset magazine for 28 years. She also managed the Sunset archives and subscription department.
Mrs. Wegener was marriage to the late Sidney Allen Livingston Jr. for 41 years before his death. In 1990 she marriage Eliot B. "Bud" Wegener and moved to Woodland.
Mrs. Wegener was a member of the Emblem Club in Woodland and Holy Rosary Church. She loved to travel and spend winters in the desert, but, above all, she loved her combined families, her friends, home and garden, say family members.
She is survived by her husband, Eliot Wegener; daughters Lynne Livingston Hewitt and Sandra A. Livingston-Brady; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial Mass was held at Church of the Nativity September 5. Donations in her memory may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.
Helen Marie Baynes Bell
Longtime Menlo Park resident
Helen Marie Baynes Bell, who lived in Menlo Park more than 50 years, died September 8. She was 81.
Born in San Francisco, Mrs. Baynes Bell became one of the first female workers at Kaiser Shipyards in 1942. She was later employed at the Ricon Annex Post Office, and in 1945 marriage George James Baynes. They moved to Menlo Park in 1947. Mr. Baynes died in 1965. She continued to live in Menlo Park until last year.
Mrs. Baynes Bell worked at Macy's at the Stanford Shopping Center for 17 years, and after retirement volunteered extensively at the San Carlos Senior Center. In 2001 she moved to Lytton Gardens in Palo Alto.
Mrs. Baynes Bell is survived by six children, James Michael Baynes, Linda Baynes Chargin, Dennis John Baynes, Lynn Baynes Anderson, Kenneth George Baynes, and Lynn Baynes Papangellin; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two children, Robert Madison Baynes and Deborah Ann Baynes.
Funeral services were held at the Nativity Church in Menlo Park on September 13, followed by Burial at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos. A memorial service and wake were held at the Spangler Mortuary in Mountain View on September 12. The family prefers memorial donations be made to Little House in Menlo Park.
Margaret Cook
Longtime local resident
Margaret Cook, a resident of Atherton and Woodside for more than 50 years, died at her Woodside home on September 9. She was 85.
Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Mrs. Cook grew up in Santa Ana, and graduated magna cum laude from Stanford University in 1939. She was an avid Stanford basketball and football fan, and a devoted supporter of the university, family members said.
She met her husband, Al Cook, also a Stanford graduate, in 1938 on a blind date. They were marriage in 1939.
After World War II, Mr. and Mrs. Cook purchased the Brookdale Lodge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. She stayed busy helping to run the lodge and raising her three sons.
In the early 1950s, Mrs. Cook and her family sold the lodge and moved to a home in Atherton.
Active in her community, Mrs. Cook was a member of the Ladies Golf group at the Menlo Country Club, Friends of Filoli, Peninsula Volunteers, and the Children's Home Society of Atherton.
She and her husband traveled extensively, and were founders of "Travel Night," a 13-year tradition at the Menlo Country Club.
Mrs. Cook is survived by her husband Al; her three sons, Bob of Encino, Bill of Redwood City, and Gary of Los Altos; and her sister, Jean Smith of Boise, Idaho. Her mother died in 2001, only three months prior to her 108th birthday.
Services are private. Arrangements were made by Woodside Chapel of Crippen and Flynn in Redwood City.
Morton Mitchner
Retired Stanford professor
Morton Mitchner of Menlo Park, a retired professor of mechanical engineering at Stanford and founding member of its High Temperature Gas Dynamics Laboratory, died September 9 after a long battle with Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer. He was 76.
Dr. Mitchner was best know for his research at the boundaries of classical mechanics with physics and chemistry. He and his laboratory succeeded in converting thermal to electrical energy using a magneto-hydrodynamic process, utilizing partially ionized gases at high temperatures. In 1973, he co-authored a book, "Partially Ionized Gases," still used in many graduate schools.
Prof. Mitchner was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. He received bachelor's and master's degrees in physics from the University of British Columbia, followed by a Ph.D. in physics and mathematics from Harvard University in 1951.
Before coming to Stanford in 1964, Dr. Mitchner worked in Boston and San Francisco as a consultant for Arthur D. Little, doing early work on operations research. He was a senior staff scientist for Lockheed Research Labs for four years before becoming a visiting professor of mechanical engineering at Columbia University.
Prof. Mitchner was recruited by Stanford largely due to his unusual ability to apply science to engineering problems, his family said.
Even after retiring from Stanford in 1983, Prof. Mitchner stayed involved with his field and continued to advise graduate students. He also enjoyed building his home computer system, attending Stanford football games, riding his bicycle, and playing with grandchildren.
Prof. Mitchner is survived by his wife of 42 years, Adelle Mitchner of Menlo Park; a brother, Hyman Mitchner of Los Altos; a son, Joseph Mitchner of Mountain View; a daughter, Beth Mitchner of San Francisco; and five grandchildren.
The family suggests contributions to Sarcoma Research at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445; or to a favorite charity.
Michael Kowtko
World War II veteran
Michael Kowtko of Menlo Park died at home May 11. He was 81.
A funeral chapel service and Burial with military honors were held May 20 at the Alta Mesa Cemetery in Palo Alto.
Mr. Kowtko was born in Morgan, Pennsylvania, of Polish-Ukrainian descent.
A second-class radio man in the Communications Division in the U.S. Navy, Mr. Kowtko served on the USS Texas battleship. He was on active duty in tours of Casablanca, Pearl Harbor and Okinawa.
After military service, Mr. Kowtko moved to California. He was employed by Sears Roebuck and Co. for 31 years.
Mr. Kowtko enjoyed the outdoors, camping, sports, playing the guitar, baking, and cooking, and he loved traveling to visit family and friends in Michigan, Pennsylvania and overseas, family members said.
Mr. Kowtko is survived by his wife of 51 years, Jenne; five children; and six grandchildren.
Arrangements were by Roller, Hapgood & Tinney of Palo Alto.
Albert Uhlrich
Long-time Menlo Park resident
Albert A. Uhlrich of Menlo Park died May 15. He was 97.
Mr. Uhlrich was born in Galena, Illinois. He lived in Menlo Park for the past 65 years.
He was preceded in death by his wife Violet M. Uhlrich. Survivors are his daughter Joan Gorham; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Services were held May 17 at St. Denis Church in Menlo Park. The family prefers donations to the UCSF Foundation Cancer Center Fund, Box 0248, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143-0248.
Arrangements were by Roller, Hapgood & Tinney of Palo Alto.
Ellen Pillsbury
Junior League member
Ellen Lowen Pillsbury, a resident of Atherton, died May 7.
A native of Denver, Mrs. Pillsbury had lived in Menlo Park and Atherton since 1955, and on the Peninsula since 1945. She was a Junior League member.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Taylor Pillsbury.
Mrs. Pillsbury is survived by three daughters: Diana Bryan and Barbara Hiller, both of Atherton, and Miriam Kaegi of Novato; and by eight grandchildren.
A private memorial service has been held by the family.
William Boreysza
Hoover Institute librarian
William Boreysza of Sunnyvale, a former resident of Menlo Park, died May 14. He was 80.
A native of Poland, Mr. Boreysza was a member of the Polish Underground during World War II. As a member of the Polish Regiment of the British Armed Forces, he participated in the Battle of Monte Casino in 1944.
Mr. Boreysza received a master's degree in political science from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver. He was a librarian at the Hoover Institute at Stanford University.
He is survived by numerous nieces and nephews in Poland.
Services were held May 17 at the Polish Roman Catholic Church, 10250 Clayton Road, San Jose. Arrangements were by Spangler Mortuaries of Mountain View.
Howard J. White III
Longtime Portola Valley resident
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, August 29, at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church for Howard J. White III of Portola Valley, who died unexpectedly August 20 while on a fishing trip in Meeker, Colorado. He was 65.
Born in Evanston, Illinois, he was a graduate of Menlo-Atherton High School and the University of California at Berkeley.
Mr. White won numerous awards for landscaping projects, including at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas and Happy Hollow Park in San Jose. In the 1980s he founded a full-service real estate company.
He was a member of the Bohemian Club, Menlo Country Club, the Beach and Tennis Club of Pebble Beach and the Elks. He served as a member of the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church steering committee and was a member of the Young Life-Woodleaf of Palo Alto.
Mr. White is survived by his wife Carolee; children, Marci Coggins, Michael White and Michelle Dillabough; his mother Betty White; sisters Susan Dove and Mimi McDowell; and seven grandchildren.
Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to Young Life-Woodleaf, 3632 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94306.
Olie Low Garrett
Longtime Menlo Park resident
Olie Low Garrett died August 19 in Billings, Montana, after a short illness. She was 88.
She moved to Menlo Park with her husband George after his retirement from Bechtel Corp. in 1972, and continued to live here until 1999.
Mrs. Garrett was a member of the El Palo Alto D.A.R. She attended Los Altos Baptist Church. The joy of her life was a weekly Bible study held at the home of Christel Hopkins in Portola Valley, said Mrs. Garrett's daughter, Pat Iverson.
An excellent cook and seamstress, Mrs. Garrett was outgoing and loved entertaining others with her lively Southern wit and sayings, said Ms. Iverson.
In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Garret is survived by three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Helen J. Pearson
40-year resident
Helen J. Pearson, who lived on her La Honda ranch for the past 40 years, died August 19. She was 84.
A native of Choteau, Montana, Mrs. Pearson worked as an administrator for the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto.
After retiring she worked with the Children's Health Council Auxiliary as a volunteer, traveled and spent time with her family.
She is survived by her sons Chris of La Honda and Carl of Soquel, and three grandchildren.
Private services were held. The family prefers contributions in her memory to a charity of the donor's preference.
The Los Altos Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries provided funeral arrangements.
Kathryn Cleland
Married 70 years
Kathryn "Kay" Cleland of Menlo Park died at her home in Menlo Park on July 26, surrounded by her family. She was 89.
Mrs. Cleland was born in Sand Point, Idaho, and raised in Palo Alto. She was a graduate of Palo Alto High School.
Survivors include her husband, Al, with whom she recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary; son Donald Cleland of Montana; daughters Alyce Mae Goodman of Huntington Beach and Ann Shine of Mesa, Arizona; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
At Mrs. Cleland's request, no funeral services were held. Interment was private. Arrangements were under the direction of Roller Hapgood & Tinney of Palo Alto.
Joan A. Damm
Portola Valley teacher for 32 years
Joan A. Damm, a teacher in the Portola Valley School District for 32 years, died August 1 at her home in Hollister after a lengthy illness. She was 62.
Services for Ms. Damm will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 7, at Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home, Seventh and Monterey streets in Hollister. At her request, there will be a party after the service.
Ms. Damm had grown up in Hollister, graduated from San Benito High School and later received her bachelor's and master's degrees from San Jose State University. She taught school in Watsonville and at Kaiserlautern military base in West Germany before coming to teach in the Portola Valley School District in 1968.
"Joan was a child's advocate," said colleague and friend Earlyne Mund, who met her the first day she taught sixth grade at Portola Valley School 32 years ago. "She loved her students, had a happy attitude and walked down the halls singing," said Mrs. Mund.
Ms. Damm taught in all three Portola Valley schools -- PVS, Corte Madera and Ormondale -- before retiring from the district at the end of the 2000 school year. Most recently, she taught kindergarten at Ormondale, but earlier had taught sixth and eighth grades.
She loved to travel, spending time in Europe, Africa, India and Mexico over the years. Her plans for retirement were to travel and write children's stories.
Ms. Damm is survived by her mother May Damm, who resides at 528 A Sixth St., Hollister, CA 95023; two brothers, Bill Damm and Jerry Damm; a sister, Judy Caporgno; and six nieces and nephews.
Her family prefers that memorial contributions be made to Ronald McDonald House at Stanford, 520 Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
Albert 'Bert' Allen Coddington
49-year resident of Atherton
Albert "Bert" Coddington of Atherton died July 29. He was 82.
A native of San Francisco and a graduate of Stanford University School of Engineering, Mr. Coddington served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and later worked as an engineer for Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego and New Orleans.
From 1946 to 1969, he was a partner and principal of Coddington Company Consulting Engineers.
In 1969 he worked for the federal government's Health Education and Welfare agency, and from 1985 to 1990 he worked for the U.S. Navy as an engineer.
Mr. Coddington was a deacon of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. He enjoyed Dixieland jazz, ballroom dancing, lapidary, photography and gun collecting, said family members.
He is survived by his wife, Arleen, of Atherton, sons Kent Coddington and R. Brent Coddington; daughter Dale Ann Hisnanick; and five grandchildren.
Memorial services were held August 3 at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church.
The family prefers donations to the San Francisco Theological Seminary Scholarship Fund, 2 Kensington Way, San Anselmo, CA 94960; or to the Menlo Park Presbyterian Mission Department, 950 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park 94025.
Arrangements were provided by Spangler Mortuaries of Menlo Park.
