Search for celebrities on Ancestry.com!Nick Karkas
Longtime Mountain View resident Nick Karkas was remembered at a memorial Mass April 8 at St. Joseph Church. He passed away April 4.
Mr. Karkas, a native of Salt Lake City, resided in San Francisco for many years and in Mountain View since 1963. He was a veteran of World War II, served in the U.S. Air Force, and was also involved in many community organizations.
He was Cubmaster of Pack #86 for six years, past president of St. Joseph's Men's Club, St. Joseph's Social Club and Ignatian Council #35, YMI, and was a member of S. F. Council #1,YMI, St. Sebastian Council, Knights of Columbus and a longtime member of St. Joseph Parish.
Mr. Karkas is survived by his wife of 45 years, Shirley, of Mountain View, and children George (Marina), James (Eileen,) and Gregory (Jenny) Karkas. He was also the grandfather of Jared, Nicholas, Ryan, Jordan, Courtney and Jonah, and the brother of Dimitra Nelson and Fotini Capriotti.
Contributions in his memory may be made to the St. Joseph's building fund, 582 Hope St., Mountain View 94041, or the Better Breathers of El Camino Hospital, 2500 Grant Road, Mountain View 94040. @12subhead:Jessie Purcell
Obituary dated: Friday, May 03, 2002
Jessie Purcell
Services were held April 19 for Jessie Purcell, who passed away April 12 at the age of 83.
Mrs. Purcell, a native of California and a homemaker, was the wife of the late LeRoy O. Purcell, and the mother of Meredyth Purcell of Mountain View. She was also the sister of Bill Kirk, Jack Kirk, Earl Kirk and David Kirk.
Services were held at Mountain View Central Seventh-day Adventist Church, 1425 Springer Road. Donations in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 1 Almaden Blvd, Suite #500, San Jose, CA 95113-2214. @12subhead:Steven Stanley Bielfelt
Obituary dated: Friday, May 03, 2002
Steven Bielfelt
A Mountain View resident for 17 years, Steven Bielfelt passed away April 15 at the age of 38.
Mr. Bielfelt grew up in Sonoma, where he earned the Eagle Scout distinction and graduated in 1981 from Sonoma Valley High School.
He was also a graduate of Caltech in Pasadena, with a degree in electrical engineering, and worked in that field for 17 years in the South Bay.
He was fond of model railroading, hiking, bicycling, travel and trains.
He is survived by his parents, Louise and Sherman Bielfelt of Sonoma, as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was the brother of the late Edward Albert Fielfelt.
Memorial gifts in Mr. Bielfelt's honor may be made to the Boy Scouts of America or the American Cancer Society.
Obituary dated: Friday, May 03, 2002
Rita M. Fowlie
A native of San Francisco, Rita M. Fowlie was remembered at a Mass on May 10 at St. Joseph Church.
Mrs. Fowlie, who died
May 6 at the age of 81, was the wife of Frank Fowlie of 59 years. She was the mother of Robert Fowlie, Theresa (Ted) Bussel, and Christopher (Carol) Fowlie, and had five grandchildren. She was also the sister of Margaret Fiske and Patricia Carlino, and the sister-in-law of Ann Lydon, William Mark Fowlie, and Angela Vasquez. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 1715 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 100, Campbell CA 95008.
Obituary dated: Friday, May 24, 2002
Thomas Rondell
A service and reception celebrating the life of Thomas Rondell was held May 18 at the home of friends. Mr. Rondell passed away May 11 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 68.
A native of New York City, Mr. Rondell had lived in northern California since 1966, most recently in Mountain View. He lived in Palo Alto for 12 years prior to living in Mountain View.
He is survived by his daughters, Lexi Rhorer and Gabi Rondell, his son-in-law Trent Rhorer, and his grandson Jordan Thomas Rhorer. He is also survived by his companion Jo Chisolm of Santa Cruz, his daughters' mother Joan Sperans, and his daughter Gabi's boyfriend, Riaz Shivji.
A public relations professional for over 40 years, Mr. Rondell enjoyed spending time with his daughters, their friends and family, his girlfriend Jo and his friends. He was also a devoted fan of Stanford tennis and San Francisco Giants baseball and attended as many sporting events as possible. For the past several years, Mr. Rondell volunteered for the Stanford men's tennis team.
Donations in Mr. Rondell's memory may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Community at P.O. Box 1010, Torrance, CA 90505 (http://www.pancan.com/) or to the Stanford Tennis Team in memory of Tom Rondell (checks should be made payable to Stanford University and sent to Men's Tennis Office, Dept. of Athletics, Stanford, CA 94305).
Obituary dated: Friday, May 24, 2002
Laurie Nickle
Daphne "Laurie" Nickle, 88, entered peacefully into rest in Salinas May 31, 2002, with her family at her side. Nickle was the beloved wife of the late Ferril "Nick" Nickle, and loving mother of Patricia Carlson of Hollister and David Nickle of Honolulu. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Donna Steele, Todd Owens, Karie Nickle and Ashley Nickle, and great grandchildren Laurie and Tommy Stribling.
The Nickle family moved from Los Altos to Mountain View as the children grew and then Nick and Laurie moved to Watsonville when Nick retired. The couple enjoyed traveling, which they did extensively. Laurie accomplished her goal in life, which was "build as normal a family life as possible."
Graveside services were scheduled to be held Tuesday, June 4, 2002, at 2:00PM at the Alta Mesa Memorial Park, 694 Arastradero Rd. in Palo Alto. The family prefers donations to the Alzheimer's Fund. Arrangements were made through the Cusimano Family Colonial Mortuary in Mountain View.
Obituary dated: Friday, June 07, 2002
Arthur Carvo
Art Carvo was born
on June 9, 1919 in Hartford, Connecticut. He graduated from high school in 1936 and worked as a truck driver for United Tool and Die in Hartford before enlisting in the army.
During his service he earned many honors, including the Purple Heart, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Good Conduct medals.
His friends said he rarely talked about his time at war and at his services on July 1, he was given a salute by a color guard.
Carvo moved to Mountain View in 1959, where he would meet Alice, his wife of more than 40 years.
She said they met each other at the Farmhouse, the bar and restaurant that was known for the best music in town. They started seeing each other regularly and soon they were in love.
They both had two daughters from previous marriages and Alice said her children were never regarded as stepchildren.
"He had a full time job, with four kids and a mom to support (but) we'd always go out," Alice said. "I hope that everyone could have a marriage like I did."
Carvo worked as a designer for Tool and Die at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center until 1985 when he got cancer in a knee and lost a leg.
"Even though he was in a wheelchair, that didn't keep us from anything," Alice said. "He never complained about it. He'd always say, 'there's always somebody a lot worse than me.'"
Carvo would spend his days painting, traveling and doing yard work. According to Alice, he loved to entertain guests and was loved by everyone who knew him, young or old.
Although the two weren't well acquainted with each other Carvo, like Mancini, was also a member of the Palo Alto Elks Club.
In Los Altos, Carvo Ct. was named after the family, which purchased and developed the property.
Art Carvo died
on June 24 of complications from an infection. He is survived by his wife and his four daughters.
"Just being in the community, you meet certain people," Pear said. "Certain people stand out and Art was one of them."
Obituary dated: Friday, July 19, 2002
Ernest Mancini
Ernie Mancini was born
on April 12, 1920 in Mountain View. His family had emigrated from Italy earlier in the century, with his father fulfilling his dream of starting a car dealership in 1922.
After becoming a first lieutenant in the WWII Army Air Corps Ground Division, Mancini returned home in 1945 to become the new owner of Mancini Motors of Mountain View on El Camino and Castro.
The car dealership became a city institution with its giant tower purchased at the Chrysler Exhibit at the Treasure Island World Fair in 1939.
According to his daughter Debra Storek, his love for automobiles was evident in many of their activities -- they played 'name that car and year' on their family road trips.
"That's also how he remembered people, by the car they drove," Storek said. "He could probably be able to tell you every car you ever bought and then forget your name."
Mancini ran the dealership for 35 years, creating another one in Sunnyvale with his brothers Leo and Bob in 1971 before retiring in 1982.
He spent his free time playing cards at the Palo Alto Elks Club, fishing and traveling. He had been battling Alzheimer's and died
of pneumonia on July 7 at the age of 82. He is survived by Shirley, his wife of 52 years, and his daughter and three sons.
Storek said she will always keep the values of love and honesty instilled in her and her three other siblings by their father.
"He was the most caring, loving father anyone could have," Storek said. "An unbelievable father and friend. He was tough but for good reason to make us strong caring people."
Obituary dated: Friday, July 19, 2002
