Mr. O'Connell was born in Redwood City and graduated from Sequoia High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy after high school and served as a quartermaster aboard the destroyer escort, USS Melville, during World War II.
After returning to Redwood City, he worked as a bank manager for First National and Wells Fargo banks. He later became a building contractor with many local projects, including the townhouses located on Avy Avenue across from the post office in West Menlo Park.
After retiring, he moved to Ajijic, Mexico, where he became a known artist before moving to Kauai, say family members.
Mr. O'Connell is survived by his children, Dan of Kauai, Lynda Jones of Klamath River, Barbara O'Connell of Menlo Park, and Jody O'Connell of Eagle, Colorado; sister Peggy O'Connell of Redwod City, brother Jack O'Connell of Cottage Grove, Oregon; his former wife of 33 years, Mary Landis of Redwood City; and six grandchildren.
A celebration of his life will be held later in Kauai. Memorials in his name may be made to the Christian Fellowship Church in Kauai or to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Herbert Rubin
Herbert H. Rubin, a resident of Woodside for 38 years, died peacefully at his home on March 10. He was 84.
Mr. Rubin was born in New York City. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Force as a radio gunner with the 487th Bomb Group, stationed in Lavenham, England.
After the war, he worked for Crane China Co. in Puerto Rico. He was employed in the office products division of IBM for 32 years.
Mr. Rubin enjoyed many sports, say family members. He was a master of the game of tennis, playing in many tournaments and amassing a wall full of trophies.
As a member of Ladera Oaks Swim & Tennis Club, he became an avid swimmer and exercise buff, say family members.
After retiring, he organized the "the senior geezer breakfast club" that met frequently at the Sun Deck restaurant at 3000 Sand Hill Road.
Mr. Rubin is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joan; daughter Mary Rubin of Mountain View; son Bill Rubin of Emerald Hills; and one grandson.
Memorials in his name may be made to Pathways Hospice Foundation, 585 North Mary St., Sunnyvale, CA 94085-2905, or a favorite charity. No services are planned at this time.
Elwood Veliquette
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 26, at Woodside Village Church, 3154 Woodside Road, Woodside, for Elwood Wayne Veliquette. Mr. Veliquette died February 24 at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City. He was 94.
Mr. Veliquette, a resident of Woodside for 65 years, was born in LaJunta, Colorado. He was employed as a laboratory chemist at Dairy Products Laboratory in San Francisco for many years.
Mr. Veliquette cultivated roses and was a member of The Rose Society for 24 years. He volunteered each year to work on the Woodside Village Church's rummage sale and enjoyed helping with the ministry at Devonshire Oaks Nursing Center, Redwood City, say family members.
He is survived by his wife, Susanna Veliquette of Woodside; sons Maurice Veliquette of Jenner and Ted Veliquette of Truckee; and daughter Judy Rice of Redwood City.
Arrangements were under the direction of Crippen & Flynn Woodside Chapel.
O.A. "John" Goth
Portola Valley resident O.A. "John" Goth, after a long career as an attorney, died March 5, at his home. Mr. Goth was 80.
As a young man, Otto Aldo Jonathon Eric Von Goth dreamed of becoming an independent businessman. He got his start by collecting string and tinfoil on the streets of Berkeley and selling it to a rag man, relatives said.
He delivered newspapers during the Great Depression, worked in a tannery and even changed the date on his birth certificate when he was 11 or 12 so as to get other kinds of work, relatives said.
After serving in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, Mr. Goth attended the University of California at Berkeley, where he majored in jurisprudence, met his wife Greta — to whom he was married for 56 years — and graduated from Boalt Hall School of Law.
He was admitted to the California bar in 1952. Mr. Goth practiced criminal and corporate law before settling down to a 35-year career in family law. Among the honors accorded him were his inclusion, from its first issue, in the publication "The Best Lawyers in America," and his term as president of the San Mateo County Bar Association in 1967, relatives said.
Mr. Goth loved golf and played a good game of tennis; at the age of 17 or 18, he was seeded No. 1 in California, relatives said.
Mr. Goth is survived by his wife Greta; son Ted; and grandson Michael.
A memorial service was held March 11 at Crippen & Flynn Woodside Chapel in Redwood City.
Donations in Mr. Goth's name can be made to Pathways Hospice Foundation at 585 North Mary Ave., Sunnyvale CA 94085.
Michael Donofrio
A visitation and service was to be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 21, at the Menlo Colonial Chapel, 657 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park, for Michael Donofrio. Mr. Donofrio died March 16. He was 46.
Mr. Donofrio is survived by his parents, Norma and Frank Donofrio; sisters Kelly Donofrio-Kearney and Kathleen Donofrio; brother Douglas Donofrio; grandmother Dorothy Minucciani; and aunt Carol Luhrs.
The family prefers memorials in his name be made to the Community Association for Rehabilitation Inc. (CAR), 525 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306.
Eunice Philbrick
Eunice Edwina Philbrick, who taught biology at Sequoia High School for many years, died March 11 in San Carlos. She was 86.
Ms. Philbrick was born in San Francisco and grew up in Menlo Park. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University with a master's degree. She enjoyed gardening, folk dancing and ornithology, and was well-known by students and friends for her 1959 silver Volkswagen Beetle.
She is survived by her sister, Miriam Philbrick, one niece, and two nephews.
No services will be held. Arrangements were under the direction of Crippen & Flynn Carlmont Chapel.
Mary Fidelis Winter
A memorial Mass will be held Saturday, April 1, at the Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave. in Menlo Park, for Mary Fidelis "Del" Winter, who died March 8 at Stanford Medical Center. She was 96.
Ms. Winter was born in Baltimore and was educated in Richmond, Virginia. She retired in 1974 as a real estate and policy specialist with the Prudential Insurance Co. after 45 years of service. Before moving to the Bay Area, she lived in South Orange, New Jersey.
Ms. Winter is survived by her sister, Catherine Winter McDonnell of Atherton, 21 nieces and nephews, and 20 grand nieces and grand nephews.
Interment will be in the Winter family plot in Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, New Jersey.
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