Susan J. Levy
Aug. 21, 1941 - Sept. 19, 2023
Portola Valley, California
Susan J. Levy (Susie) died peacefully at home in Portola Valley, CA on Sept. 19, 2023, ending a four-year struggle with Lewy Body Dementia. She was born in Rutland Vermont on August 21, 1941. She received a bachelors degree from UC Berkeley and a teaching credential from San Francisco State. Susie was a high energy person who never shied from new challenges and opportunities. She was an accomplished skier, backpacker, and teacher. She served in leadership positions in Palo Alto youth baseball, animal shelters, women’s rights, care for single mothers, charities serving elders, and community colleges. She became an expert in financial planning, cooking, philanthropic activities, and navigating the computer. Susie was a humble person of impeccable ethics. She inspired family and friends to follow her example. When she made friends, they were friends for life. The longer people knew Susie, the more they loved her. She leaves behind her husband of 59 years, Dick, two sons Gray (Terri) and Carl (April),three grandchildren Danielle, Chance and Wynn, a great granddaughter Madelyn, and a brother and sister David and Robin. There will be an event to celebrate Susie within the n...
Marlene Arnold
Aug. 15, 1932 - Sept. 16, 2023
Portola Valley, California
Marlene Cummings Arnold, 91, of Portola Valley, passed away on September 16, 2023. Marlene was born in Brainerd, Minnesota, to Francis and Oveline Cummings on August 15, 1932. She attended St. Francis Elementary School and Brainerd High School. Following high school, she attended the College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota, where she received her BS in Nursing in 1954. After graduation, Marlene worked as a nurse in Brainerd, Denver, California, and at the Palo Alto Medical Clinic. She earned her Master’s Degree in nursing from UCSF in 1968. Marlene then taught nursing and was an academic counselor at the College of San Mateo for 29 years. She met her husband John Arnold on a backpacking trip in the Sierras; and they were married on August 3, 1974. She and John lived in Menlo Park until moving to The Sequoias in Portola Valley in 2019. In addition to teaching nursing, Marlene was a member of the Thomas Merton Center of Palo Alto and active in its ministry. She also volunteered cuddling infants at Packard Children’s Hospital and volunteered as a school nurse at St. Elizabeth Seton School. Marlene loved flowers and greatly enjoyed gardening and making flo...
Ferid Murad
Sept. 14, 1936 - Sept. 4, 2023
Menlo Park, California
The celebrated life and achievements of Dr. Ferid Murad, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist, pharmacologist, and physician who made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Murad passed peacefully at his home in Menlo Park on September 4, 2023. Dr. Murad was born in Whiting, Indiana, in 1936 to an Albanian immigrant father and an American mother. He grew up working in his family's restaurant, which instilled in him a strong work ethic. He was a Rector Scholar at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he graduated in 1958. He then went on to earn his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. After completing his internship and residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital, Dr. Murad joined the faculty of the University of Virginia School of Medicine remaining there until 1981.He continued his research at Stanford University where he was also the Acting Chairman of Medicine from 1986-88; and University of Texas-Houston as the Chairman of Integrative Biology, Pharmacology and Physiology, as well as the Director of the Institute of Molecular Medicine. Followed by being a faculty member at ...
Kevin George Bohannon
April 4, 1991 - Aug. 26, 2023
Fresno, California
Kevin George Bohannon unexpectedly passed away on August 26th, 2023 at the age of 32. Kevin is survived by his wife, Jordan Bohannon (Stone), his parents; David Bohannon and Carol Stewart and his 4 siblings; Abigail (Bohannon) Dunckel, Madeline (Bohannon) Johnson, Ryan Bohannon, and Stewart Silverberg (recently deceased). Also, many in laws, and nieces and nephews. Kevin was born April 4th, 1991 in Palo Alto, where he spent his childhood. He joined the Navy in 2015 and was stationed in Lemoore, California for the 5 years that he spent in the Navy. Kevin was very hardworking in the Navy, and received the award of Sailor of the Year in 2016. He retired from the Navy in June of 2020. In 2016, Kevin met his wife, Jordan Stone, and from that moment they both knew they had met their best friend. On May 22nd, 2021 they got married in Paso Robles, California. Together, they had their 3 puppies (Howie, Hannah, and Hank) and lived in Coalinga, California for 5 years, until 2021 when they moved to Fresno, California for Kevin’s work. Kevin was currently a project manager for Landscape Development Inc. in Fresno, California. Everyone that knew Kevin, knew his passion in...
Arturo Santo Domingo
Nov. 19, 1938 - Aug. 25, 2023
Las Vegas/Atherton, Nevada/California
Arturo (Art) Santo Domingo (11/19/1938 – 8/25/2023), passed away at the age of 84 surrounded by his family at his residence in Las Vegas. Art was born in Bronxville, NY to parents Ernestina Garcia Santo Domingo and Luis Felipe Santo Domingo, both of whom immigrated from Colombia. After graduating from Bronxville High School in 1955, Art attended Duke University, graduating in 1960 with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science. After graduation, Art went on to attend Stanford University, where he received a Master’s Degree in Journalism/Communications in 1961. After completing his studies, Art began working for the San Francisco Giants from 1962 to 1976. It was during this time that he met Frances Kistler and the two were married in 1964. After leaving the Giants organization he went into private business for 15 years. Art maintained relationships with several members of the Giants community and began charting pitches for advanced scouting purposes in an unofficial capacity. He would go on to devote 26 years to the Giants and Oakland A’s organizations as an official scorekeeper. In 2012, Art received the Pioneer Award from the Hispanic Heritage Basebal...
Priscilla Azcueta
Aug. 22, 1954 - Aug. 20, 2023
San Mateo, California
Priscilla C. Azcueta, 68, of San Mateo, California, passed away on August 20, 2023, after a three-year battle with Multiple Myeloma Cancer. Priscilla was born on August 22, 1954, to Peter and Virginia Azcueta in San Jose, California and raised in Mountain View, California. After Priscilla graduated from Mountain View High School in 1972, she went on to study Social Work, Sociology and Psychology at Whittier College. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology, she started her first job at Manpower, Inc/California Peninsula where she worked for over 30 years. Priscilla held many high-level positions as Regional Director, Director/Vice President of Professional Services, and VP of Business Solutions. Priscilla later went on to work as the Managing Director and Recruitment Manager for Expandability Staffing. Her over 40-year career in the employment field led her to work as a Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist at the Veterans Affairs (VA) Palo Alto Healthcare System for the last 7 years. Priscilla felt the VA was where she was meant to be, helping veterans with interviewing preparedness and finding gainful employment. She had the determination and drive to ...
Cyrena Nelson Wilson
Feb. 10, 1921 - Aug. 10, 2023
Menlo Park, California
Cyrena N Wilson was born as Cyrena Nelson in Chicago, Illinois, on February 10, 1921, and died on August 10, 2023 in Menlo Park, California, at the exact age of 102 and six months. Her parents were Jesse Ward Nelson and Natalia Carson Nelson; she had an older sister, Jessie Ann, and a younger brother, Charles. Cyrena grew up on the North Shore of Chicago and went to New Trier High School where she acted in plays and was editor of the yearbook. While in high school she traveled to Sweden with an ‘aunt’, visiting relatives. After high school, Cyrena attended Scripps College in Claremont, CA where she obtained her degree. While a student, Cyrena worked as a seamstress in an haute couture designer's shop, advancing her passion for fabric and apparel design. She also worked as a crime reporter for the Chicago Daily News, consistent with her passion for social justice. In 1944 after graduating, Cyrena married William Bonner in Glencoe, Illinois. They had four children: Randolph Nelson, Joseph Daniel, Jay Francis, and Teresa Ann. In 1946 the family of three moved to California where William joined the Organic Chemistry faculty at Stanford University. During his res...
John Gaetano
March 6, 1944 - July 29, 2023
Menlo Park & Portola Valley, California
John Gaetano, formerly of Menlo Park and Portola Valley passed away peacefully at 79 surrounded by his family in El Dorado Hills, CA. John was born March 6, 1944 in San Jose, CA to Clara (Geraci) and Dominic Gaetano. A lifelong peninsula resident, he grew up and raised his family in Menlo Park and Portola Valley. As a young man, he was known among friends for his athleticism, as he was a state champion wrestler, and played semi-professional football in later years with an offer to participate in the San Diego Chargers training camp before injury changed his path. He worked in the sporting goods industry for his entire career and was particularly proud of his accomplishments in the football and boxing industries with Tuf-Wear Inc. and Dial-a-Down. He built strong ties with the NFL, NCAA, as well as the US Olympic Boxing team. He was also proud to have served as varsity softball coach at Menlo-Atherton HS in the late 1980’s for his daughter Nicole’s team.. He was a dedicated husband of 37 years to the late Donna (Skrabo), the love of his life from the time they met as teenagers. He was the adored father of Nicole Hughes, Nino Gaetano, and John-Nick Gaetano. His pride and ...
Jessica Stagner Bridger
Jan. 26, 1981 - July 26, 2023
Helena, Montana
Jessica Stagner Bridger, a 1999 graduate of Menlo Atherton High School, succumbed to injuries from a fall at her Helena, Montana home in late July. Her professional life was devoted to helping others, holding various nursing roles and supporting chiropractors and optometrists. She married Jason, the love of her life, in 2019 and dearly loved gardening, the SF Giants and her dogs, Beans and Dixie. In addition to Jason, Jess is survived by her parents, Cyndi Williamson (Belmont) and Alex Stagner (Menlo Park)....
James Edward Callahan
Sept. 22, 1939 - Aug. 13, 2020
Bethel, Maine
James Edward Callahan, 80, passed away August 13, 2020 after a six-month illness. His internment was delayed by complications of the pandemic and geography. Jim was finally laid to rest with his beloved wife Paula at the Italian Cemetery in Colma, CA on Friday, September 15, 2023 in a small, private gathering. Born September 22, 1939 in Endicott, NY, Jim spent his childhood and adolescence enjoying all that upstate New York had to offer. He was a devoted Eagle Scout, capable hunter, avid skier, water skier, and sailor with a special appreciation for vintage cars. Jim attended Owego Free Academy in Owego, NY and was active in various theater productions. After graduating high school, he attended Harper College in Binghamton, NY where he studied liberal arts and honed his theater and opera skills as a tenor. In 1958, Jim enlisted in the US Marine Corps. He completed his basic training at Camp Lejeune, NC and served in the reserves until his discharge in 1968. Always the adventurer, Jim hitchhiked to California and settled in San Francisco where he worked for Safeway, and then eventually, Boys Clubs of America. Jim began his exemplary career serving as a program direct...
Manuel S. Avila
Nov. 1, 1941 - Sept. 9, 2023 Santa Clara, California
Manuel passed away after a two year battle with cancer. After having served in the Navy, he had a 29 year career with the County of Santa Clara Children’s Protective Services as a social worker. He is survived by his wife, Katherine; children, Tim and Micaela; brother John; sister-in-law, Molly an...
Joan Wrenn
Dec. 5, 1942 - Aug. 17, 2023 Palo Alto, California
Joan Wrenn, 80, a long time Palo Alto resident, passed away on August 17, 2023. The youngest of four children, she grew up in Lorain, Ohio, before graduating from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. in 1965. After a year spent working for the National Institutes of Health, Joan headed west to gr...
Donna M. Prudence
Oct. 24, 1946 - Aug. 14, 2023 Los Altos Hills, California
Donna Marie Prudence, age 76, passed away on August 14, 2023, in the presence of her husband Paul at their home in Los Altos Hills, CA. After a courageous battle she succumbed to chronic health issues stemming from Lyme disease. Donna was born on October 24, 1946, in Salt Lake City, UT, to Lawrence ...
Donald E. Niederhaus
April 1, 1941 - Aug. 6, 2023 Portola Valley, California
Donald Niederhaus passed away peacefully on August 6, 2023. He was born in San Francisco on April 1, 1941, the son of Ed and Betty Niederhaus. Don graduated from San Mateo High School in 1959 and was active in school government and swimming. He earned his degree in Industrial Management from UCSB in...