MAXIMO FERNANDEZ LEEDS March 16, 1925 - August 12, 2006
Max Leeds was born in Barcelona, Spain. When the Spanish Civil War started in 1936, the family left Spain and for the next three years stayed with family and friends in France, Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Switzerland. Max attended schools in all of these countries, becoming fluent in German, French and Spanish.
The family eventually moved to Havana, Cuba in 1939, where Max learned English in high school. The family immigrated to New York City in 1941. Max graduated from Forest Hills High School in 1943. He was a member of the soccer and fencing teams.
During World War II, Max volunteered for the Army. He was attached to the 10th Mountain Division as he was an expert skier. He saw combat in Italy, received the Purple Heart and was honorably discharged in 1945.
After the war, Max graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York with a Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering. He accepted employment at General Dynamics in San Diego, California in 1951. He worked with radars on aircraft and aircraft carriers.
In 1969 Max moved to Menlo Park and later to Los Altos, California. He worked for Randtronics and subsequently Ford Aerospace/Loral on large reflector antennas until 1995. His expertise was so in demand that he continued to work as an independent contractor and international consultant until his retirement 2004.
Max lived for many years with his youngest daughter in Placerville, California. He moved to Fall City, Washington earlier this year.
He was an international traveler, scuba diver, and problem solver. Max was a soft-spoken gentleman with a great appreciation for classical music.
Survivors include a son, Jeffrey Leeds of Los Altos, two daughters, Cathy Hasbun of Fall City, Washington and Peggy Leeds-Bodin of Eugene, Oregon, and California, a sister Alicia Rudolph of Sunriver, Oregon, five grandchildren, and his beloved dogs Osita and Lady.
A private memorial is soon to be announced. Raise a glass and make a toast in honor of Max.
BETTY CHLOE RAMSEY September 7, 1926- August 24, 2006
Betty Chloe Ramsey was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1926 to Lela Pearl and Chloe Clifford Davis. She passed away peacefully with her family at her side on August 24th at El Camino Hospital. Betty moved to Los Altos with her mother after high school in 1943 at the age of 16. After graduating from San Jose State College with a B.A. in Business at age 21, she worked in a local doctor’s office. She married James W. Ramsey in 1947 and devoted her life to the raising of her three children.
Her sweet charm and love for people touched many lives. Betty made friends everywhere she went. She loved the ocean and Lake Tahoe. She loved to travel and spent much of the past fifteen years touring the US and Canada R V’ing with Jim. Her favorite times were those spent surrounded by family and friends. She is survived by three children and four grandchildren: daughter, Vicki Carr of Santa Cruz, her husband Bill, and their daughters Melissa and Chrissie both of Hawaii; son Bill of South Lake Tahoe; George Ramsey of Peoria, Arizona and his sons Kyle and Kody of Idaho.
Betty’s love of life and great spirit will live on through her children. She will be greatly missed by all who know and loved her.
