Obituaries

Courtesy of Gary Hedden

Chris Redden, third from left, with Town Crier co-owners Dennis Young, Kathy Lera and Howard Bischoff.

Whether it was work or personal life, Chris Redden was all in. She was dedicated and dependable in everything she did. As the longest-serving employee at the Los Altos Town Crier, she embraced every challenge and did whatever it took to get the weekly newspaper off to the printer. And despite the demands of work, Ms. Redden always made sure she had quality time with her family.

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Somers passed away on August 24, 2020 from complications from a stroke.  She was surrounded by her parents, her brother and her sweet dog Jade.  Although she was 26 years old, Lizzie led a well traveled, adventurous life in the short time she was with us.  

Lizzie had traveled with family or alone to Australia, Europe, Africa, Argentina, Peru and around much of the United States. At 17, when she graduated from high school, she chose to go to McGill University in Montreal.  Going to college so far from home was a formative part of Lizzie’s adult life, and she developed a network of great friends from around the world. There she expanded her interest in independent music, frequented many small venues and got to know many artists.  At McGill, she was studying history and jumped at the opportunity to spend the summer of 2012 in Florence.  There she studied Italian Film and the language.

Ernest D Couture Jr., age 86, of Avila Beach, California, passed away surrounded by family on July 4, 2020. He was born in Fall River, Massachusetts on April 20, 1934 to Ernest D Couture and Eileen (Limoges) Couture Bunn; in 1948 his family relocated to San Diego, California. He graduated from La Jolla High, and later went on to receive his Master's from the University of Nebraska. He is survived by his wife Joan and his children Tim (Carmie) of Sunnyvale, CA, Tom of Redlands, CA,  and Tina of Avila Beach, CA; 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister Mona Riffel (Art) of El Cajon, CA, and his youngest sister Paulette Couture of Sparks, NV. He is preceded in death by his bother Ron Couture who passed in 2009, and his sister Carol Leonard who passed in 2019.

Ernie joined the Air Force when he was 18 years old and was stationed in Stephenville, Newfoundland, Canada in 1953. In 1954, he married Joan Schumph from Kippens, Newfoundland and together they began a life traveling around the world.

Born July 15, 1935 Huntington, NY. Died August 30, 2020 Sunny View Retirement Community, Cupertino, CA

 Jean Ann Kirchner, born in Huntington, New York, July 15th, 1935.  In high school she met the love of her life Richard (Dick) Eckert, and after marriage (1957), moving around the country first with the Navy, then with United Airlines, they settled in Los Altos, CA. in 1970.  Along their way they adopted two boys, Steven (1964) and Peter (1967).

 Jean’s love of model ship building, and all things nautical, from a young age continued to grow and in 1982 she founded the South Bay Model Shipwrights.  Returning to her hobby first with “kits”, she entered the Dutch yacht Mary 1660 into the Mariners’ Museum 1991 Scale Ship Model Competition, kit class.  She was the first woman to ever enter this national competition, and she took Bronze.  In 2000 she again entered the competition this time in the semi-scratch division (scratch built except for fittings) with her Nonsuch and took GOLD!

June 9, 1938 - July 11, 2020

A native of Menlo Park, Joan lived in Mountain View for 50 years with her husband, Mel, and daughters Julie and Susan. In 2014, Joan relocated to Austin, Texas, to be near her daughter and family.

Joan attended Menlo Atherton High School, Foothill College, and worked at Sylvania until staying home to raise her girls. Later, her love for children led her to become a preschool teacher and run a daycare in her home. Joan served her community through various charities, churches, and actively met needs wherever she could. Joan was laid to rest on July 20, 2020, at Gate of Heaven Cemetery joining her husband and daughter Julie. 

Joan is survived by her daughter Susan, son-in-law Joseph, grandchildren Juliana and David, brothers Richard and David, sister Diane, and extended family.

A memorial website can be found at www.joanmanchester.rest.

June 28, 1941 - August 22, 2020

Michael "Captain" Brennan was born in San Jose. He grew up in Atherton, attending

Saint Joseph, Sacred Heart schools, Bellarmine Prep in San Jose , he excelled in football receiving an All American honorable mention. Mike attended San Jose State University and received his BA from San Francisco State.

His family was a great supporter of Nativity Church in Menlo Park where Mike was an alter boy for several years. His family spent most summers in Carmel which remained a favorite haunt in his adult years.

After leaving the Marine Corp he joined TWA as a pilot. He retired as captain on the 767 aircraft. Mike flew out of SFO and JFK during his 33 year career at TWA.

Throughly enjoying his international travel, he loved the cultures and cuisines of the world. His personality was uplifting and entertaining. Always a fun and exciting tale to be told by Mike. He was an avid reader spending a generous amount of free time relaxing with a good book. It was not uncommon for him to be reading several books at one time.