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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 ...

 

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 ...

 

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 graduate school at Stanford. While at Stanford, Joan met fellow grad student Jim Wrenn and the two were married in 1968. After earning her Ph.D. in developmental biology she stayed at Stanford and worked as a researcher. Eventually transitioning away from biology, Joan turned her passion for education into a second career by working in the guidance department at Palo Alto High School and helping hundreds of students take the next step in their educational journey. A renaissance woman with a myriad of interests, Joan was an avid collector of botanical prints and salt cellars and she and Jim published several articles on the subjects. Marine biology was a lifelong love as well and the Monterey Bay Aquarium was her home away from home. Joan was also an avid traveler and her passport was nearly filled with trips all over the world including an Olympic Games and Antarctica. She even spe...

 

Donna Marie 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 and Geraldine "Gerry" McQuade, whom she now joins in heaven. Donna was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. Donna graduated from West High School (SLC) in 1965. She married Paul on January 21, 1966 and a year later Donna and Paul moved to California to open the Palo Alto Kentucky Fried Chicken. They became pillars of the community, and Donna formed close connections with many of their regular customers over the course of 34 years. In recognition of their contributions, Donna was inducted into the Harman Hall of Fame upon their retirement in 2001. Donna was known for her social and friendly nature. She treated everyone she met like close family and had a special way of making people feel welcome. Her pride and joy were her family, and she cherished her roles as a mother and grandmother. Donna was a hard worker and remained busy even after retirement. In her free...

 

Joan Marie Meyn
Jan. 20, 1930 - July 30, 2023
Palo Alto, California

Joan Marie Agnes Murphy Meyn was born in San Francisco to Agnes and Anthony Murphy on January 20, 1930. A 3rd generation San Franciscan, she graduated from Presentation High School and had many stories of her adventures there with her dear friends, Jeanne Major Murphy, Alice Marshall Ravano, and Rita Ross Cashman as well as tales of the nuns (think Trouble with Angels). At a YLI dance at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in 1952, she met her future husband, Hal (Buzz) Meyn. They were married at old St. Mary's church in SF on November 28, 1953. Soon after, they moved to Palo Alto where they started their family and she resided for the rest of her life. Four children - Laurie (Robert), Tim (Karla), Colleen (Dennis) and Peter (Cheryl) - were lucky to call her MOM! She had 8 grandchildren - Andrew (Ariel), Sierra (Troy), Blaire (Ben), Kady (Conner), Amanda (Steve), Olivia (Seth), Tessa, and Zach who lovingly called her Popo. And 3 great-grandchildren - Landon, Wyatt and Jackie. Joan loved to travel and had many adventures with Jeanne Murphy, her cousin, Marcie Dugan and her sister, Marilyn McCarthy as well as with other friends over the years. Every summer she hosted “Cam...

 

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 ...

 

Cathryn Young
Oct. 9, 1946 - July 27, 2023
Palo Alto, CA

Cathryn Wolfman Young, of Palo Alto, California born on October 9, 1946, passed away peacefully on July 27, 2023, at the age of 76. She is survived by her sister, Darren Wolfman of Houston, Texas; her three sons, Scott, Chris, and Graham; their wives; and her four cherished granddaughters: Savannah, Genevieve, Hallie, and Dillon. Cathy was born and raised in Houston, Texas. She was an alumna of St. John's High School and later earned her degree in economics from Rice University. After college, she moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked for the CIA. Cathy also worked at Bank of America and was involved in the introduction of the country’s first automated teller machine (ATM). In time, she married and moved to the Bay Area, establishing deep ties in Palo Alto, where she resided for nearly five decades. Those who knew Cathy fondly remember her as a passionate artist, and a deeply loving sister, mother, grandmother, and friend. She was especially fond of dogs, and nothing put a bigger smile on her face than spending time with her furry pal, Salty Dog. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at the Woman’s Club in Palo Alto on September 9th, from 1 to...

 

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)....

 

Armand Lareau
April 24, 1943 - June 3, 2023
Yountville, California

Armand Lareau Jr., 80, of Yountville, CA, passed away on Saturday, June 3, 2023 in Napa. Armand was born in Worcester, MA, son of the late Armand Sr. and Corine (Bolduc) Lareau. Armand served as a Medical Service Specialist in the Air Force and was a dedicated Police Officer in California, including in Menlo Park, earning letters of commendation and recognition from then Governor of California, Ronald Reagan and the International Association of Police Chiefs. Armand was an adventurous man who loved to explore, travel and meet new people. He found peace camping in the outdoors and had a natural ability to find humor in every situation he crossed. He leaves his children, Lisa, Alison and Brett and their mother Linda; a sister Denise Ducharme; 6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by a brother Robert Lareau and sisters Lorraine Dutting and Jean Richard....

 

Margaret Mix Gould
Nov. 1, 1937 - May 7, 2023
Los Altos Hills, California

Long-time Los Altos/Los Altos Hills resident Margaret “Margi” Mix Gould passed away on May 7, 2023, at age 85. Margi was born in Long Beach, CA, on November 1, 1937, to Sherman and Rowena Mix. As an only child, she valued community highly, especially when her mother died while Margi was still in college, with her father passing away only a few years later. Fortunately, she was blessed with wonderful friendships throughout her life; in fact, for as long as she was able to travel, she continued to gather for frequent mini-reunions with her Long Beach girlfriends, some of whom she had known since preschool! From Long Beach, Margi ventured to Stanford, where she formed more life-long friendships while earning a BA in elementary education and political science and an MA in elementary education. Her favorite memories revolved around her year as a Stanford Dollie. Later, she continued to pour out her Dollie energy and spirit in the service of their class by co-chairing class reunions, as well as serving as their official Class Correspondent, penning class of ’59 columns for 36+ years! One friend called her “the spirit leader of our class, and a major reason we are one of...

 

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...

 

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