Jo Ann Matter Burchard
June 1, 1929-May 13, 2024
Los Altos Hills, California
Jo Ann Matter Burchard, Jo, 94 of Palo Alto/Los Altos Hills, California, passed peacefully on May 13, 2024, in her home. She was surrounded by two of her children, a lifelong friend and supported by the caring services of Sutter Hospice. Jo was born on June 1, 1929 in Ventura, California, to Henry and Lee (Alma). She was her parent’s second daughter, their first being Myrna and then Hank (Bud) was their son born in 1931. The Matter family lived on Mound Avenue which at the time was on the outskirts of town next to farmland. It was Lee’s gift of gardening, preserving and processing meat that allowed for the family to not only survive the depression but enabled them to save enough money, up and through WWII, to send all three of their children to college; Myrna to UCLA, Jo to Stanford and Hank to USC. Jo was an avid reader throughout her childhood and enjoyed all that Stanford had to offer, the curriculum, the climate, the hills and a few lifelong friends. Her best friend Maggie matched Jo’s sense of humor and they shared a lifetime of adventures together. Jo met Preston Burchard her senior year as she received her BA in History and he received his MA in History. They married immediately after graduation in 1950 and quickly created their full house of three boys; Tom 1951, John 1952 and Roland in 1954. One of Jo’s favorite hikes during her years at Stanford was amongst the golden hills along Page Mill Road where she would visit with a blind mare at the bottom of the hill. That land was owned by a man named Gerth and he was selling 1 acre parcels to Stanford graduates or faculty. The top of the hill was soon purchased in 1955 by Jo & Preston where they proceeded to build their energy efficient adobe house. After the boys reached school age, Jo was able to begin her life with Geology, taking many courses and field trips with Foothill College. Her inherited love for rocks and their history became a joy that she shared with one and all. In between family camping and geology field trips, was born her daughter Anna in 1963, for which two more rooms were added to the house. Jo’s abundant creative abilities began their expression as she took bonsai tree, painting & pottery classes, also at Foothill College. She was an AVID supporter of her children’s athletic endeavors and a not-to-be-messed-with scorekeeper for Little League. She attended hundreds of games and matches and drove support all over the state. Was even known to chew on a Principal as needed.
When in 1969, Jo & Preston divorced, she went to work for the United States Geological Survey. Since her degree was in history, she started out as a lab bottle washer and organizer. That was until her Project Chief discovered her intellect and soon she was editing their publications, designing sampling protocols and maintaining quality control while they collected in the field. The department was Water Resources in the evaluation of trace minerals of watersheds, all the way up to Yellowstone. She thoroughly enjoyed her work and the chance to use her abilities to their fullest extent. After 23 years with the USGS, she retired at 65 in 1994. But her writing abilities were quickly put to use in the research and production of the Peninsula Gem and Geology Society’s newsletter, the Petrograph, which she did for the next 20 years. As a member of the PGGS she hosted many gathering and workshops on all the beautiful creations one can make with rocks. She became enamored with tree outlines and the use of wire and rock to recreate their beauty. As her Ming Tree reputation spread she became an instructor at the annual Zzzyzx and Camp Paradise Earth Science Studies gatherings for Rockhounds. Her warm personality, her intellect, her humor and her gifts made her a cornerstone in many circles. Her ‘house on the hill’ was the gathering place for many generations of family and friends as she sat as the loving oracle of her home and her family. Her non-judgmental acceptance of every soul that crossed her path was heart felt and will be cherished in our memories of her. Jo is predeceased by her parents, her sister Myrna, her brother Hank, her husband Preston and her son John. She is survived by her sons Tom and Roland, and her daughter Anna. Her three grandchildren Melissa, David and Amy and her six great grandchildren Jordan, Cody, Nora, Makena, Claire and Jack. The family wishes to send a special thank you to the wonderful staff of Sutter Home Hospice and Stanford Palliative Care.
Tags: arts/media
