By The Town Crier publishes paid obituaries through its classified ad department. The rate is $1 a line and $15 extra with a photo. Obituary information is due noon Friday prior to next week's publication. An obituary with a photo is due Wednesday prior to next week's publication. To submit an obituary, fax to (650) 948-4021 or e-mail Marie Young at:
FERGUSON, Earl,
“Believe and succeed,” Earl once said. “The key to happiness is having dreams, the key to success is making dreams come true.” Earl lived his dream, and then some.
He was born January 17, 1938 and grew up in the eastern Washington community of Goldendale. While in high school Earl was active in a wide cross-section of activities and associations including the National Honor Society, both the band and chorus, the Future Farmers of America and 4H associations, football and track. He was also Class President. Earl saved his 4-H money and worked his way through his undergraduate years at the University of Washington earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics in 1960. He then went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Applied Mathematics in 1961 from the University of Michigan.
Earl’s career spanned more than 40 years, throughout which time he touched a countless number of people both in and outside the computer industry. During the last twenty-five years Earl concentrated on the rising data communications and computer networking sectors. He held at least six patents in the highly competitive field of advanced high performance networking.
From 1961 to 1966, early in Earl’s career, he worked for the University of California in San Diego as a Computer Programmer at the Scripps Institute. In 1966, Earl went to Control Data Corporation in Palo Alto. In the spring of 1969, Earl and his family moved with CDC to Minnesota. Then, in the spring of 1973, Earl returned to California with Scientific Micro Systems in Mountain View.
This marked a turn in Earl’s career as he began to focus more on the field of data communications and computer networking. In the late 1970s, Earl began working for the computer networking pioneer company Tri-Data Systems in Mountain View where he served as Vice President of Engineering from 1978 to 1991. While at Tri-Data, Earl was responsible for the first Apple Macintosh to IBM mainframe connectivity products. But the most notable Tri-Data product Earl created was the Netway 2000, the first networking product to utilize a commercial RISC microprocessor pioneering the use of RISC processors in networking applications.
In October of 1991, Earl moved from Tri-Data and joined Network Equipment Technologies (then in Redwood City) to develop advanced routing products for NET’s multiplexer product lines. Earl was responsible for introducing hardware products that added increased routing functionality by utilizing a licensed version of Cisco Systems’s software thereby extending NET’s products into areas beyond its original markets.
His most recent accomplishments included co-founding Centillion Networks in 1993 which was sold to Bay Networks (now a part of Nortel Networks) in 1995; then becoming Chief Technology Officer and later Engineering Fellow of Foundry Networks from 1996 to his passing last week.
While at Centillion Networks, Earl was the Vice President of Engineering responsible for delivering new and advanced Local Area switching products addressing the high performance networking needs of large corporations. His accomplishments included the first commercially successful integrated local area and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switching products.
While at Foundry Networks, Earl was responsible for many major recent innovations in the field of high performance computer networking for internet service providers, large corporations, and universities. He developed products with the highest performance in the networking industry, including the industry’s fastest routers, the first Gigabit Ethernet switches and the first 10-Gigabit Ethernet switches.
The only aspect of Earl’s life that surpassed his professional achievements was his commitment to the community and his love and devotion for his family. During the last three years at Foundry, Earl had been on a part-time “Foundry Fellow” program. As a part of this program, Earl had more time to focus on community contribution, which were seemingly limitless in their reach. One of Earl’s responsibilities was working as a part-time Foundry Chairperson with the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California. In this role with the prestigious institution, Earl was able to share his experiences and knowledge with the students and faculty, something he enjoyed very much and was more than happy to do.
In his free time, Earl was gradually winding down to full retirement from the networking industry. He had taken on advisory roles with both The Wave Media and EnviroSystems, a maker of bioprotection and disease reducing technologies.
He was beginning to enjoy more of this free time with an around-the-world trip in January/February of this year; a spring historical cruise with his wife around Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina; and a trip to the Gallapagos islands just last month with his wife and two older grandchildren.
Recently, he created the Ferguson Endowed Scholarship at the University of Washington, establishing yet another way he could give back to his home community.
This program provides financial assistance to eastern Washington residents attending the UW Masters Program in Teaching, high school students in Klickitat County, students from the Yakima Community College, as well as other graduate students in the field of education.
Earl was a choir member of the Los Altos Methodist Church and had performed extensively both domestically and abroad on choir tours.
Earl always led by example and was a perfect gentleman. Above all, Earl was always a committed husband and caring father - while still being passionately dedicated to long work hours. He was always there for his sons, helping with their homework, attending YMCA Indian Guides, or coaching Youth Soccer. He encouraged them to follow their interests - not his. Earl managed to juggle his work load and be a good father and husband by leaving work in the late afternoon to be with his family until the evening dinner was finished and then return to work until the early morning hours if necessary to complete his tasks.
Earl will always be remembered for his unselfish teamwork, his trustworthiness, his big smile, and his black “BIGIRON” Hummer vehicle. Earl lived his dreams and encouraged those around him to do likewise.
Earl is survived by Barbara, his wife of 42 years; their two sons, Dan and Bob; 4 granddaughters; his brother, Ken, of Puget Sound, Washington; and his mother, Ruth, still residing in Goldendale, Washington. Public visitation was held, August 21 at Los Altos Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries, 399 South San Antonio Road Los Altos, CA. Memorial services were on August 22 at Los Altos United Methodist Church, 655 Magdalena Ave. at Foothill Expressway, Los Altos, CA.
KRAGH, Catherine M.,
A beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Catherine is survived by her husband of 28 years, Stoney Kragh; her daughter Courtney Strand of Fallbrook; sons Chris Cullen of Santa Barbara and Jay Cullen of San Jose; seven grandsons, one great granddaughter and one great grandson.
Catherine was dynamic, vibrant and enthusiastic. All her endeavors were marked with unique style and grace. Her greatest joy was time spent with family and friends.
HOAG, Marcella S. (Vuglar),
She attended Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. She married Charles Hoag in 1947. In 1950, they started a family with the arrival of Scott. In 1952, they expanded their family with the addition of Steve.
After owning and operating two Dairy Queen franchises for 15 years, the Hoag family moved west to California in 1969. When they finished their working careers (Charles as a family counselor & Marcia as a bank teller), they enjoyed retirement by playing golf & bridge and volunteering their time (Marcia at El Camino Hospital for 16 years giving over 6,000 hours and Charles as a handyman for senior citizens).
Marcia passed away June 1, 2003. Charles had preceeded her in August, 2002. A private memorial service was held for family and friends. She and Charles are interred at Skylawn Memorial Park, San Mateo, Calif. They are survived by her sons, Steve and Scott, daughter-in-law, Susan and grandsons, David and Daniel.
Donations can be sent to El Camino Hospital Auxiliary, Inc., Health Professional Scholarship Program, Box 7025, Mtn. View, CA 94039-7025.
MILLER, Marsha,
At the time of her death, Marsha was Director of Development at Castilleja School, her alma mater during her middle school years. She graduated from Palo Alto High School, earned a B.F.A. from Sophie Newcomb College at Tulane University and an M.A. from San Francisco State University. Marsha devoted her professional life to independent schools, working at Middlesex School, The Pike School, and Crystal Springs Uplands before returning to Castilleja in 1994. She also served as a trustee of the Keys School in Palo Alto.
Castilleja Head of School, Joan Lonergan spoke on behalf of the school community: “We have lost a very dear friend and champion. Because of Marsha’s exceptional personal and professional integrity, expertise, experience, and passion for her alma mater and its future, she was among the most respected and successful directors of development in the Bay Area.”
Marsha loved life, her family, her dogs, and was an avid Giants fan. An accomplished artist, Marsha regularly exhibited her work and was an active member of the Pacific Art League. She will be remembered for her compassion and wit, as well as for her passion for collecting artifacts from many cultures. Her great curiosity for fine art, folk art, and functional art from around the world inspired her work and her friends.
She is survived by her husband, Michael Collins, her son James Yawn, his wife Lisa and their son Joseph James, her mother Florrie Miller, and her siblings Robert Miller, Andrew Miller and Debbie Miller Cody.
The family will welcome Marsha’s friends to a celebration of her life on August 28 at 4 p.m. at the Castilleja School, 1310 Bryant Street, Palo Alto.
Contributions can be made in Marsha’s name to Castilleja School or the Pacific Art League, 668 Ramona Street, Palo Alto, CA (321-3891).
WALKER, Serina Forchielli,
Serina worked as a Pharmacy Technician at Kaiser Hospital in Walnut Creek, CA.
She is survived by her husband Bill Walker of Suisun, CA; her daughters, Michelle & Cynthia Giacomelli of Benicia, CA; her sisters Lisa Deering and her husband Phil of San Leandro, CA, Cynthia Bullard and her husband Jeff of Los Angeles, CA; step daughter Lori Dryer and her husband John of Pedley, CA; four grandchildren, numberous aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews in MASS and PA.
Memorial service was held at the Fairmont Memorial Park Chapel, Fairfield, CA
The family would appreciate any donations be made to the American Brain Tumor Association, 2720 River Road, Des Plaines, IL 60018.
WOELFLEN, Frederick J.,
Frederick is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years Marie, his brother Joseph Woelflen, his daughters Lynne Gong and Joanne Woelflen, his son-in-law Roger Gong and his granddaughter Leah Gong.
Judge Woelflen graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1939, the University of San Francisco in 1943 and the University of San Francisco Law School in 1946 passing the State Bar shortly thereafter.
He served 26 years in Federal Service, with fourteen years as Magistrate-Judge, seven of which was in the position of Chief Magistrate. Frederick was a partner in the law firm of Partridge, O’Connell & Partridge. He was an Assistant U.S. Attorney of the 9th District between 1952 and 1964 - the last four years as Criminal Division Chief.
He had a landmark analysis in the case of “Business Guide, Inc. v. Chromatic Communications Enterprises, Inc.” before the Supreme Court. Frederick Woelflen was a member of the State Bar of California and a veteran of WWII. He also was a member of the Palo Alto Elks 1431 and SIRS 35.
Any donations should be forwarded to the University of San Francisco Alumni Fund.
Friends were invited to attend a rosary at Spangler Mortuary, Los Altos, CA, August 26. Funeral mass will be held at St. William Catholic Church, Los Altos, CA, at 10:00 a.m. on August 27.
