Obituaries

Don Boeckling, a resident of Cupertino, passed away on June 19, 2020 at the age of 89. Beloved father, husband, grandfather and friend, Don was born in Peru Illinois in 1930. He lived in Peru until moving away to Grinnell College, graduating with degrees in Economics and Business in 1952. While at Grinnell he met and fell in love with Ann Joseph, and they married shortly after their graduation. They enjoyed fifty-two years of marriage until Ann’s death in 2005. Following college, Don enlisted in the Air Force, attended Officer Training School and rose to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He left the Air Force in 1956 to pursue a career in software development, and worked in the insurance, aerospace and defense, and computer hardware industries. In 1966 Don, Ann and their two children moved to the San Francisco Bay area where he managed software development projects for Control Data Corporation until his retirement in 1987. Don and Ann were world travelers exploring Europe, China, Australia, Africa and the Middle East, and they traveled extensively throughout the U.S. Don was an active member of Foothill Congregational Church, and served in many leadership roles there.

Glenda Gavenman – In Palo Alto, CA; June 27, 2020. Loving mother of Jon Gavenman (Kim). Devoted grandmother of Samuel, Jenna and Maxwell Gavenman. Predeceased by her loving husband of 48 years, Eugene Gavenman, and her parents, Charles and Esther Unger. Dear aunt of Howard Gavenman (Ilene), Scott Gavenman (Julie), Andi McCarter (Tom), Cherie Gilmore (Jim), Jerry Rosenbaum (Joanie). Dear cousin of Paul, Aaron and Hannah Feldstein. Also survived by numerous grandnieces and nephews. A 57 year resident of Los Altos, CA, native of San Francisco and Palo Alto, CA, age 84 years. The family would like to thank the Moldaw Residences staff, Dr. Susan Hoffman, Ami-Care Services and Pathways Hospice for their care and support of Glenda. Funeral Services and interment have been held at Eternal Home Cemetery, Colma. Memorial contributions may be made to AmiCare Services LLC or the charity or other world-improving cause of your choice.

Dec. 21, 1955 - Jun. 25, 2020 Los Altos Bill was born in Erie, Pennsylvania, and later moved to the Cleveland area where he went to high school. He attended Case Western Reserve University where he received his Bachelors and Masters in Computer Engineering. After working at Digital Equipment Corporation in the Unix Engineering Group, he was recruited to work at Sun Microsystems in 1982 where he was proud employee number 11. Bill was instrumental in the development of SunOS, Solaris, and Java EE. When Sun Microsystems was acquired by Oracle, he remained on board to continue his work, and was employed there at the time of his death. Bill was devoted to his family, dedicated to his work, and determined and diligent in all aspects of his life. Bill was diagnosed with urachal cancer in October 2018, and was determined to live his life to the fullest while undergoing treatment. He died at home surrounded by his family. He is survived by his wife Karen, daughters Kimberly and Amy, brother Mark Williams, sister Barbara King, beloved dog Angus, and many dear friends. Memorial will be private due to COVID-19. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Case Fund at CWRU or a charity of your choice.

July 15, 1926 – May 24, 2020 Shannon Michael “Mike” Drew passed away on May 24, 2020 at his home in Los Altos. Mike was born 7/15/1926 outside of Truckee, California. He grew up in Palo Alto and attended Sequoia High School in Redwood City. After serving in the Army Air Corps in the Philippines at the end of WWII he attended UC Berkeley graduating in 1950 with a degree in Economics. He married Marilyn (Mary) Jean Shehan June 24, 1950. He began his career with Merrill Lynch in San Francisco, eventually retiring from Kidder Peabody in 1988, his career highlighted by receiving the “Investment Banker of the Year” award from the San Francisco Bankers Club. In addition he served on the Board of the El Camino Hospital Foundation, the NASD Board of Governors, and was a past president of Los Altos Golf & Country Club. He served on the committee for the Bancroft Library at UC Berkeley where he spearheaded fundraising activities for the benefit of the Library. His wife Mary predeceased him in 2015. He is survived by his three children, Dana Drew Nord, Kathleen Drew, and Douglas Drew, six grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be held at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Mountain View, CA at a future date. Contributions honoring Mike Drew can be made to St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, Mountain View, CA or the El Camino Hospital Foundation, Mountain View, CA. Donation can be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation.org.

Resident of Los Altos A proud, hardworking man, Mario died peacefully June 12, 2020. He was an exceptional businessman. He has left behind his beloved wife, Sandra Hanson Barbieri, brother Victore (Nino) and Anna Barbieri, and many cousins in Bedonia, Parma, Italy. He is also survived by many friends and acquaintances. Mario was born in Montevideo, Uruguay on June 8, 1926. His parents, Augustino and Maria and older brother, Giovanni, immigrated because of lack of work during the Depression in Italy. His father worked as a window glazier. By age five, Mario and his family returned home. As a child, he worked hard on the farm, building his character alongside his family. When World War II surrounded Bedonia in 1944, Mario joined the Italian resistance movement as a partisan. He had many stories about the brutal conflict when he was aged 18 to 20 years. In November 1947, at age 21, he arrived in Los Altos, California with US $7.50 in his pocket.

Resident of Los Altos Larry Wright, devoted husband, father, and grandfather passed away on May 26, 2020 five days shy of his 85th birthday. Larry was born in Orange, California on May 31, 1935. He is a graduate of Orange High School, Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, and Long Beach State College class of 1957. In 1952, while still in high school, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve at Los Alamitos. After graduating from Long Beach State, he went on active duty and while attending Platoon Leaders Class at Quantico, he decided aviation was for him. He was accepted at the Naval Flight Training school in Pensacola, Florida as a Marine Corps 2nd Lt. and was designated Naval Aviator in Nov 1958. In 1961, after returning from Oppama, Japan he was assigned as Flight Instructor in Pensacola, (first as primary flight and later as a helicopter instructor) which is where he met his wife Patricia. They were married in Dec 1961. In Aug 1965, he was deployed to Viet Nam with Marine Observation Squadron Six (VMO 6) until Sep 1966. He was released to the Marine Corps Reserves in 1967 and in Jan of 1968 began training with United Airlines in Denver, CO. From his San Francisco domicile, he began his career on the DC-6 and progressed to B737, 727, DC-8, 757, and 767 until his retirement as Captain in 1995.