Obituaries

Mary Katherine McCarthy, known as Mary Kay by friends and loved ones, peacefully ascended to heaven on September 23, 2019 in San Francisco. Mary Kay was a born in San Francisco on March 3, 1934, and spent most of her childhood in Berkeley, California. As a young adult, she attended Stanford University, earning both a bachelor’s and a graduate degree in education. Upon graduation, Mary Kay married William H. McCarthy. Together, she and Bill had eight children and eventually settled in Los Altos. Mary Kay became a cherished member of the community, contributing years of service to others. Mary Kay was the longest working member of the Assistance League of Santa Clara county where she chaired a program for blind children called TAGS (Take a Giant Step) and helped create an apartment complex for people recovering from serious illnesses at Stanford.

Scott Chan

Scott Chan, 59, and his daughter Kendra Chan, 26, lost their lives in the Conception diving boat tragedy on September 2, 2019. Extinguished too early on earth, they have left behind a legacy of curiosity, adventure, and devotion to the natural world.

June 27, 1945 to September 6, 2019 Mary’s husband, children and grandchildren are immensely proud to be related to Mrs. O. That wonderful lady that remembered every child’s name, knew just what book a reluctant reader would enjoy, or noticed when something was just a little off, as you came towards her on the crosswalk -- we got to take her home. She tucked us into bed, made us Thanksgiving dinner, served us G&Ts; and wrote our papers with us. Lewy-Body Dementia stole her retirement after she had worked so hard. We are lucky to have had her but so sorry to have lost her. Please join us on Saturday, September 21 at 2:00 at St. Williams Church in Los Altos to remember Mary O’Shea. We will hold a funeral mass followed by a reception.

October 2, 1934 - August 30, 2019 Sadly, Ed passed away August 30, 2019, after a nearly three-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Ed was born in Wichita Falls, Texas and with his family, moved to the bay area when his dad took a navy post during World War II. Following the move, the family remained in the area, and his dad founded Truitt and White Lumber Company in Berkeley. Ed attended Piedmont High School, followed by Stanford University where he majored in chemical engineering and took part in the Naval ROTC program. He married Sally Thompson in 1957, and they traveled to San Diego, where Ed fulfilled his navy commitment aboard a navy picket destroyer in the Pacific. He then returned to Stanford to earn an MBA degree. Ed worked for thirty years for Hewlett Packard Company, followed briefly by founding a consulting firm. He then worked for National Semi-Conductor Company for a few years. While with HP, Ed served in many roles, including division manager.

May 22, 1947 – September 6, 2019 John Edward Atkinson was known for his quiet intellect; his remarkable scientific and engineering proclivities; his witty sense of humor; and his passion for flying, travel, classical music, good food, and English beer. John was born in Grappenhall, Cheshire, and grew up in nearby High Legh, a rural community between Manchester and Liverpool. He and his older sister lived with their parents in the same house in which their father and grandfather had lived, surrounded by orchards, vegetable gardens, and beehives. After completing his formal education at Leicester University, he moved to London and began working at Thorn Electrical Industries, which later merged with EMI to become Thorn EMI.

February 6, 1931 – June 22, 2019 Started her life in the Quad City of Moline, Illinois. Her young life was surrounded by her four siblings and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Throughout her life she was close to her family and friends, visited often and always kept up with what was happening in everyone’s lives. She always had a bit of a rebellious streak in her. In high school, she would sneak out of the house and meet her friends down by the river for a beer and cigarettes. She loved to sleep and was never an early riser. She stayed up late with her siblings and talk until the wee hours of the morning (sometimes this involved martinis, her favorite).