Obituaries

July 13, 1930- April 7, 2020   Robert C. Davis, General Contractor and President of the Robert C. Davis Company, has passed away at the age of 89. A graduate from California Polytechnic Institute, San Luis Obispo with a dual major in Architecture and Landscape Design, he began his career as a naval architect where he designed and retrofitted aircraft carriers at the Hunter’s Point Naval shipyards in San Francisco.    He moved to Palo Alto, and began to work for the Cortelyou and Cole Construction Company. He became a partner in a new firm with Tom Cole. Later, he opened the Robert C. Davis Company. Bob’s years as a general contractor and architect involved both commercial and residential projects along the Peninsula including buildings in San Francisco, Stanford University, Palo Alto, Los Gatos, and as far down as Hollister. He designed and built two remodels of the former Starlight Ballroom in Sunnyvale.  He received a Merit Award in the national magazine trade, Builder, for his innovative design converting a spare bedroom into a luxurious bathroom. Bob’s connection to the ocean began in Santa Barbara where he grew up. Bob always enjoyed fishing, surfing, participated in ocean swim competitions, and played water polo for Cal Poly.

Robert Spencer Symons passed away on May 10, 2020, at the age of 94, in Los Altos, California. Robert was born in San Francisco on July 3, 1925, the son of the late Spencer Wesley and Avesia (Atkins) Symons. He graduated from Palo Alto High School and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science from Stanford University in 1946 and a Master of Science, also from Stanford University, in 1948. He was a member of both Phi Beta Kappa and Tau Beta Pi. As an undergraduate, he was the editor of The Chaparral, the Stanford humor magazine. Following graduation, Robert served as a Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. He married Alice Faye Smith, the love of his life, in North Carolina on December 21, 1960. They enjoyed spending time with friends and traveling the world together. During his career as an electrical engineer, he worked as senior engineering manager at Varian Associates in Palo Alto from 1950-1983 and then as technical director of Litton Industries in San Carlos from 1983 until his retirement in 1995. After his retirement he was often requested as a consultant in his areas of expertise. He was a fellow and associate editor of the IEEE.

 

Mrs. Coombs

Longtime Los Altos resident Ann Kleerup Coombs was the ultimate community volunteer. She was active in many organizations, conscientious and thorough in virtually every task she took on. Mrs. Coombs, 86, died April 4 after a prolonged struggle with Parkinson’s disease.

Resident of Cupertino November 24, 1926 - May 23, 2020 Thomas Adam Rohrer was great man with a big heart, very charming and gentlemanly with a unique sense humor. Thomas Rohrer was born on November 24th, 1926, he entered the world with as much zest and an expediency for life. Tom spent his days milking cows, cascading and sheering sheep on the family farm. Hard work was in his genes, which later proved to be a great strength during the Depression. Tom loved to travel to many new and exciting places with his companions while speaking several languages. He broke bread all across his travels, while enjoying the countries wine and culinary flavors.

Carol May Kramer passed away on Thursday, May 7, 2020, at the age of 90, in Sunnyvale, California. Carol was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, on December 23, 1929, the daughter of the late Gustave and Flora Belle (Harrison) Kramer. Carol grew up in Weston, Connecticut, with her three sisters on their family apple farm. She graduated from Staples High School in Westport in 1948, and attended the University of Connecticut from which she graduated in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts in Zoology. Always stylish and energetic, Carol was an independently successful businesswoman before it was fashionable. After graduating, Carol moved to New York City where she worked as a lab technician in the hematology department of Cornell Medical Center before embarking on her career working in Research and Development for major fragrance companies, blazing a trail for younger women in a male dominated industry.

Resident of Los Altos & The Forum at Rancho San Antonio On Memorial Day, 2020, Henry (Hank) Lessing, loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather passed away at the age of 95. Henry was born in New Orleans in February, 1925, and spent most of his young life in Kerrville, Texas. In June of 1943, he joined the Army Air Corps program. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant and received his wings in June 1944. Postwar, Henry attended University of Illinois where he met his wife, Kathryn (Kay) Petersen, and earned a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. In 1948 he began his 32 year career with NASA. He continued his education at Stanford University graduating with a Masters of Engineering Science. As a natural born leader, he rose to the position of Chief of the Avionics Systems Branch. After retiring in 1980, he began his second career of 32 years as a Professor of Mathematics at San Jose City College.