We celebrate the life of Sonia Gay Shepard, a fourth generation Californian, who passed away peacefully at her home in Atherton, California, on August 18, 2025, surrounded by her family, gardens, dogs, and devoted caregivers. Born in Visalia, California, on October 27, 1935, to Otto and Carol Lambert, Sonia’s early life was marked by both tragedy and resilience. Orphaned at the age of two whe...

Joseph D. Putnam died peacefully at his home in Woodside on August 11, 2025, surrounded by his loving family. He was 90 years old. Born in Gregory, South Dakota, Joe was one of six children of Francis and Bertha Putnam. He was raised on his family’s farm, where,  during the depths of the Depression and the Dustbowl, they carried their water to the house in buckets from a well, their heat was p...

David Elliott, beloved father, grandfather, and friend passed away peacefully on August 6, 2025. He was born in Los Angeles, California, and his early life revolved around education, photography, and experiencing theater through his mother, Millie, who was a stage actress in Pasadena. After graduating from Stanford University with a B.S. in physics, he completed his PhD in high-energy nuclear phys...

Esther Heslop died peacefully on August 6, 2025, in Bend, Oregon at the age of 93. Known as “Mummy” to her children and their friends alike, and “Grummy” to her grandchildren, Esther’s life was marked by grand adventures, generous hospitality, and life-long friendships that spanned the globe. Her enthusiasm was contagious, her energy boundless and her laugh unforgettable to the end. B...

John Tenanes, 68, of Palo Alto, CA passed away on August 4, 2025, from Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease (CJD), surrounded by his family. Born on April 3, 1957, in Northampton, MA, to the late John and Jean Tenanes, John made Palo Alto his home for 40 years. In that time, he became deeply connected to the community–raising a family, forging lifelong friendships, and sharing in the city’s history. He...

The charm of Eugene John Micek of Palo Alto, California and Perdido Key, Florida, a proud veteran of the 11th Airborne, satellite contractor, private pilot and a globetrotting raconteur, faded peacefully from this world on August 1, 2025, a few weeks shy of his 93rd birthday. He is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, Sonia Lisette Micek of Palo Alto, California, daughter Gina A. Micek o...

Longtime Palo Alto resident Richard “Dick” Kilner passed away on August 1 at the age of 97. Dick grew up in Kenilworth, Illinois, on the north shore of Lake Michigan outside Chicago, as the youngest of three children. He attended New Trier High School, where he became a strong tennis player. In the fall of 1946, Dick and a handful of New Trier classmates headed out west to attend Stanfo...

Nicholas D’Arcy Roche, beloved husband of Stephanie Twomey Roche, died peacefully at home in San Mateo, CA on July 31, 2025. Born on April 2, 1938 in Wilkes-Barre, PA to John Nicholas Roche and Johanna Brennan Roche, D’Arcy was known by his middle name in deference to his father who went by Nicky. His charm and good humor were surely influenced by sharing the name of Jane Austen’s dashing le...

Mark Brady, PhD., born in New Haven on July 27, 1946, died on Whidbey Island on July 31, 2025. Mark and his two sisters were born in a housing project in New Haven CT. Raised first by their single mother, and later by his 18-year-old sister, Andrea. In his 20s he followed a spiritual directive delivered to him by a Turkish Sufi teacher who instructed him to: “Provide shelter for people”, and...

Wolmuth, Caroline Buckwalter November 16, 1941 - July 30, 2025 Caroline Wolmuth was the eldest of three sisters she is survived by Louise Rising and Irene Thomas. Raised in Palo Alto, California by parents Betty and Richard Buckwalter (deceased). With a creative flair she was a social convenor of many fun and elaborate parties. After studying fashion design at Pratt University i...

Jacqueline Lee Cook was born in San Bruno, CA to parents Opal and Clarence Cook. The family moved to Menlo Park where she attended Menlo Atherton High School. She was involved in the weekly newspaper and yearbook while at M-A. Jackie later married Anthony (Jerry) Angelo whom she had dated since M-A. Jackie and Jerry raised two daughters, Lisa and Amy, in Palo Alto. After divorcing in 1978, Jac...

Barbara Kaplan passed away at her home in Menlo Park. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Barbara studied Art History at the University of Wisconsin before earning her masters degree from Rutgers University. After getting married, she lived much of her adult life in Portland, Oregon, before moving with her family to the Bay Area in the mid-1990s. Barbara began her career as a speech pathologist but ...

In loving memory of Josef V. Cervenka - husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. He lived to the age of 97 1/2. He was born in Czechoslovakia and immigrated to the United States in 1956. He proudly became a U.S. Citizen and spent his working life as a commercial photographer, including helping to produce the Sears Catalog for many years. He moved from the Chicago area to California (a lifelong dre...

Judy Diamond Faltz, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2025. She was 87 years old. Judy was born on July 12, 1938, to Edna and George Diamond in Rockford, Illinois. Their home was filled with loving relatives who were always there to lend a hand or share a laugh. She fondly called it a “Leave it to Beaver” home, a place where even a f...

Sabra Driscoll died peacefully in her longtime Barron Park home on July 19, 2025. Sabra was born to Rear Admiral Edgar (USN ret.) & Barbara Kranzfelder in Annapolis, Maryland on March 2, 1925. She moved often as a “navy brat” until attending and graduating from Sequoia High School in Redwood City. Sabra then attended Stanford University (class of 1947) where she met John Driscoll (class o...

James Charles Kitch was born on June 20, 1947, in Wichita, Kansas, to Paul and Josephine (Pridmore) Kitch. Jim grew up in Wichita and graduated from Wichita East High School where he starred on the golf team and spent weekends working on the family farm. He went on to attend Harvard University, where he wrote for The Crimson and graduated magna cum laude. He then attended Stanford Law School, w...

Carl Frederick Darling went to be with the Lord on July 15th at the age of 74. Carl was born in Redwood City, California, the son of Johanna and Frederick Darling. He cherished his childhood in Redwood City, where he enjoyed playing sports with his brother, Kevin, and spending time with neighborhood friends. He married D’Ann See in 1980, and they settled in Redwood City to raise their family bef...

Alison Slone Hengehold, 79, of Menlo Park, loving daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, neighbor and friend, passed away on July 9, 2025. Alison was born on June 12, 1946, in Patterson, California, to James Woodward Slone and Charlene Elfers Slone. She attended Northmead Elementary, Las Palmas Middle School and Patterson High School, where she played tennis and was a cheerleader. ...