Alonzo B. "Al" Ramirez, 86, of Palo Alto, California, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 2, 2025. Born June 10, 1939, in El Paso, Texas, to Dalmira Chacon and Baldomero Ramirez, Al lived a life defined by patience, humility, intellect, and love. After four years in the U.S. Air Force, Al earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at El Paso through the GI Bill, followe...

Nan Ray of Menlo Park, CA passed away peacefully on November 8th. She was 91 years old. Nan is survived by her children, Lauren Lamb, John (Cynthia Lyon) Ray, and Paul Ray and her grandchildren, Kevin (Tiffany Marchbanks) Ray, Robert Lamb, and Alison Lamb. She was predeceased by her parents, Agnes Flach Engler and Paul Edward Engler, her husband, John Charles Ray, and her son-in-law, William Lamb....

A proud native of Stockton, CA, Roberta Williams grew up with her brother Robert and two loving parents, Earle (“Bob”) and Edith. Valedictorian at Lodi High School, “Susie” was a dedicated, lifelong student of piano and music more generally. At Stanford University, she studied abroad in Florence, Italy, and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Music in 1969 and M.A. in Music Education in 1970. ...

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...

Dr. Richard “Dick” Remmel Rutter passed away peacefully on September 20, 2025, in Emerald Hills, CA at the age of 92. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cloud and Marian (Remmel) Rutter. He is survived by his wife, Joanne (McHenry) Rutter, his brother Don (Marcy) Rutter, his daughter Karen (Mark) Weber, his son Jim (Cindi) Rutter, five grandchildren (Mackenzie, Allison, Jeffrey, Ava, and...

David Schooley, age 82, died suddenly but peacefully at Stanford Hospital, surrounded by his family. He was born to Gertrude and Elmer Schooley in Denver, CO, but grew up in Las Vegas, NM, a small town in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Summers were spent at the family ranch in Westcliffe, Colorado, which cemented his love of the Colorado lands. He will be buried in the family ...

Gail Robbins Schwettman, an adored mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, died on October 8, 2025. Gail was born on January 13, 1936 in the Cincinnati, Ohio area to William and Gertrude Robbins. She graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a Bachelors of Science degree in Education and went on to teach at the grade school level before having three children: Alison, Jeanne an...

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...

Louise passed peacefully in her sleep early Tuesday morning, July 22 at the age of 92 at The Terraces in Los Gatos, California. Born on May 3 1933 in Cincinnati, Ohio, Louise was the only child of Della and James Lester Whitney. She was named Millie Louise after her grandmother Millie Hill but used her middle name of Louise throughout her life. She was proud that both her niece – Lindsay Lou...

Dr. Todd Smith of Palo Alto, California, passed away on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, at the age of 85. He is survived by Sandy, his wife of 55 years; his sons Kevin (Alicia) and Alex (Elaine); his grandchildren Neal, Penny, Conner, and Katie; and his sister, Susan Noble (Ward). Todd received a Bachelor’s degree in physics from Cornell University and a PhD from Rice University. As a Stanford...

With deepest love and remembrance, the family of Jerome Lee Strom, “Jerry,” announce his peaceful passing at his home in Los Altos Hills on the morning of October 1, 2025.  Jerry was 89, born in 1936, the son of Victor and Edna Strom. Jerry was a graduate of North Dakota State University, Dickinson.  Prior to college, Jerry served honorably in the United States Army.  It was through this...

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...

James C. Van Horne, a long-time resident of Palo Alto and professor at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, died at Stanford Hospital on Monday, September 1st at the age of 90. Jim led an amazing and very fulfilling life. His love of family – his wife Mimi, three sons, and seven grandchildren – allowed for many wonderful times together. Jim was born on August 6, 1935 in South Bend, ...

Perry H. Vartanian Jr. passed away peacefully on 9/26/25 at his home in Woodside surrounded by family while taking in the expansive hilltop view of the Peninsula that brought him joy for 65+ years. He was 94 years old. Born in Rochester NY in 1931 to parents Araxie and Perry Vartanian Sr., Perry Jr. grew up with an entrepreneurial spirit and a curiosity about the world and how things worked. ...

Josephine Ventura, a beloved sister, aunt, and world traveler, passed away peacefully in Redwood City, California, surrounded by family and love. She was 86 years old. Born in Kahuku, Oahu, in what was then the U.S. Territory of Hawaii, Josephine was proud to be the daughter of Filipino immigrants, Eulogio and Edilberta Ventura. She loved being born and raised in Hawaii and carried the aloha spir...

James Wallace passed away Saturday October 11, 2025. He was three days away from his birthday on October 15. He would’ve been 72. He was born October 15, 1953; he was 71. He moved on to heaven and is now with his late father Laurence Wallace, younger brother Glenn Wallace, and many aunts and uncles. He leaves behind his loving mother Joyce Wallace, his younger sister April Hoppa, brother-in-la...

Bruce Alan Williamson, a long-time resident of the Bay Area, passed away peacefully at Kaiser Permanente Fremont, with friends at his side, on June 22, 2025, just shy of his 79th birthday. Bruce was born July 4, 1946, in Johnstown, Ohio, and was raised in Huntington, West Virginia and Columbus, Ohio. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Kalamazoo College and obtained a master’s degree fro...