JOHN ALEXANDER MCWILLIAMS
John was born on April 15, 1937 in Newport, Rhode Island and passed away on October 22, 2005 in Mountain View, California. John was a resident of Los Altos, California for 38 years. He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Mary Ellen McWilliams.
Mr. McWilliams was a U.S. Navy pilot for five years and a pilot and captain for TWA for 25 years. He was a member of Airline Pilots Association, Mensa, the Palo Alto Elks Lodge and the American Legion in Friday Harbor, Washington.
A memorial service is to be held at Spangler’s Mortuary, 399 San Antonio, Los Altos, California on Friday, November 18 at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of one’s choice.
Isabelle Frances Eastman McNeill, Ph.D.
Isabelle Frances Eastman McNeill passed away on Thursday, November 3, 2005, surrounded by her family at her home in Palo Alto. Born on November 23, 1921 in Canada, Isabelle spent her formative years in Geneva, Switzerland. She was the daughter of Canadian diplomat Samuel Mack Eastman, who served in the League of Nations and of accomplished French painter, Antonia Larribe Eastman.
Isabelle met the love of her life and husband of over sixty years, Dr. James Ian McNeill, at the University of Toronto. They married in 1945 and had their first son, Ted, in Toronto, before moving to Rochester, Minnesota, where Ian was a fellow at the Mayo Clinic and where their next three children, Catherine, Harry and Charles, were born.
Isabelle received her BA and MA from the University of Toronto and her PhD from Stanford University in French Literature. She then taught French literature and language at Stanford University from 1972 to the mid-1980s.
Upon Ian’s retirement from the Palo Alto Medical Foundation in 1987, Isabelle and Ian were able to spend time together at her beloved Bowen Island, near Vancouver, travel in Europe, play tennis and walk through Foothills Park.
Isabelle is survived by her husband, Ian, their three sons, Ted, Charles and Harry McNeill, their daughter, Catherine McNeill Parrish, their daughters-in-law, Joan and Judy McNeill, their son-in-law, Bill Parrish, their three grand-daughters, Jenna and Analise McNeill and Suzanne Parrish and their three nieces, Julia, Alice and Harriet Eastman.
Isabelle had a deep and lifelong love of nature and contributions can be made in her name to the Sierra Club (www.sierraclub.org) or the World Wildlife Fund International (www.panda.org) - organizations that Ian and Isabelle have supported for years.
A memorial service for Isabelle McNeill was held on Sunday, November 13, 2005, 2 to 4 pm, at the Foothills Tennis and Swimming Club, 3351 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304, (650) 493-8540.
LOIS SAKS LEVY
Lois Saks Levy of Los Altos died November 3 at the age of 78.
A native of Modesto, California she graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1948 with a BA degree in history and went on to earn a teaching credential. Lois worked for nine years at Shell Development in a variety of roles. She married Alfred Levy in 1955. In 1958, they moved to Los Altos where she lived for the rest of her life.
Lois was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother and touched the hearts of those around her. She leaves behind her husband, Alfred Levy of Los Altos, two daughters, Lynn Fiance of Saratoga and Gail Keck of San Jose and two granddaughters, Kelsey and Ashley Fiance.
Interment was at Skylawn Memorial Park in Half Moon Bay on November 6.
Ruth Marie Curtin
Ruth Marie Curtin was reunited with her beloved late husband David on October 30, 2005. Ruth passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, in the home where she had lived for 50 years. While we will miss Mom’s company for the rest of our lives, we are relieved that she was spared the suffering that accompanies the end stages of her long-term illness.
Ruth leaves sons Kevin (Los Altos) Dennis, daughter-in-law Barbara and precious granddaughter Elena (all of Capitola) and Brian (Los Altos). Ruth is survived by a sister, Irene Pierson and was predeceased by a sister, Nancy Russo.
Mom was born the eldest of three daughters of Irene and Charles Rega on June 23, 1927 in San Francisco, CA. Educated in public schools, including Francis Scott Key elementary, Mom was a graduate of Polytechnic High School.
After graduation, Mom worked in the financial district and met our Dad who had just returned from naval service in the South Pacific. They met at a YMCA dance and had their first date at the Adobe Creek Lodge in Los Altos Hills. Mom and Dad were married on September 5, 1948. Kevin was born in 1951 and Dennis in 1953 while the family lived in the outer Sunset district of San Francisco. Tired of the constant fog, damp and the inability to grow a garden, Ruth and Dave visited Los Altos at the suggestion of a co-worker of Dad’s at Standard Oil in San Francisco. They fell in love with Los Altos and moved there in May 1955. Their third son Brian was born at Stanford in 1957.
Mom and Dad were avid campers in the early days of their marriage, with regular trips to Yosemite, Crag Lake and Lake Tahoe, among other spots. They loved to dance and often traveled with friends to dances. Music was a big part of Mom and Dad’s lives. They could usually be heard singing/whistling(Dad) or humming(Mom) their favorite songs. Mom particularly liked Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Mathis and Nat King Cole. They belonged to a bridge club for years.
Mom also shuttled her sons to all manners of appointments including Cub Scouts, catechism, library, doctors and Little League. She never ever complained of such chauffeur duties.
For decades, starting in the sixties, Mom and Dad were very active members of the Foothills Tennis and Swim Club in Palo Alto where they and their sons enjoyed countless sets of tennis, hours in the swimming pools and many lasting friendships. Mom and Dad encouraged their sons in tennis and contributed to the Los Altos youth tennis programs in the 1960s. When Dad’s knees made tennis too painful, he and Mom took up golf and enjoyed it a great deal.
Mom was a dedicated gardener and bird enthusiast. She loved her grand cactus and flower garden and the backyard looked like a wild bird sanctuary with all of the feeders that were overflowing with hungry birds of every description. Mom belonged to the Los Altos Garden Club and looked forward to their monthly lunch meetings and the friendships she developed. Mom donated many hours to the El Camino Hospital Auxiliary. Filoli Gardens was one of Mom’s favorite local places and she volunteered there for a time.
Before she became ill, Mom was an avid walker who daily took lengthy trips around the neighborhood, often visiting with other regular walkers along her routes.
Mom and Dad enjoyed traveling and the great outdoors. They took good advantage of the travel benefits that came with Brian’s Pan-Am employment and visited Europe, Africa, Asia and the South Pacific. For their 50th wedding anniversary, we sent them to Tahiti. They also thoroughly enjoyed years of fifth-wheel trailer adventures throughout the U.S., including trips to Alaska and Florida.
The family greatly appreciates Dr. Robina Wong and the staff at the Forbes Norris MDA/ALS Research Center in San Francisco for their exceptional care and compassion. Ruth was blessed to have sisters Sue Pale and Caroline Wight as heaven sent caregivers. The Hospice of the Valley, particularly Gail Bate, gave the family much-needed assistance and comfort during Ruth’s final week. Sharon Smith, a close friend of Brian’s, was beyond wonderful as a hospice nurse who both tended to Mom and comforted our family. Father Alex of Saint Simon Church was also a welcome comforting presence on very short notice.
Friends and family especially appreciated Mom’s upbeat personality, perpetual twinkle in her eyes, generous smiles and thoughtful and selfless ways. Mom will always fill a big spot in our hearts and we are very fortunate and grateful to have had her as our loving Mother. We are glad that she and Dad are together again to continue their loving journey.
Private services have been held. An open house reception is planned in December, details to be provided. For those who wish, our family would greatly appreciate any donations made to the ALS Association.
