Obituaries

Dave passed away peacefully at the age of 89 years. He was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma to George and Hulda Grometer. Dave was an Electrical Engineer at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company. Dave had a passion in life for volunteering, serving both the El Camino Hospital Auxiliary Road Runners program and as an outreach and homeless program coordinator at Los Altos Untied Methodist Church. He loved fishing and hunting with his friends and family and was a devoted father in raising his three children. Per the family’s request, in lieu of flowers, donations in Dave’s honor may be made to Los Altos United Methodist Church 655 Magdalena Ave, Los Altos, CA 94024 or online at laumc.onlinegiving.org/donate (please denote or select “Outreach Connection” Fund).

Gordon Dent Collins, 95, long time resident of Los Altos, CA, passed away peacefully November 4, 2019, among family in Newnan, GA. He was born in Berkeley, CA on March 27, 1924 to parents Edward Everett and Dorothy Janet (Doyle) Collins. He married Louise Norma Krivicich July 23, 1960. He earned a BSEE from Univ. of Washington 1948 and performed postgraduate work at Stanford 1963. He served as an officer in the US Army Signal Corps 1943-48 in the Africa theater. He was an electrical engineer in the atomic energy division of GE 1948-1984. Achievements include project engineer on the USS Seawolf SSN-575, development and patents in the field of nuclear power, liquid sodium technology, fast breeder reactors, and electromagnetic pumps. He was a member of the following professional honor societies: Phi Beta Kappa, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Xi, Society of Engineers and Scientists of France (ISF), and Elfun Society (Man of the Year 1980 for community service). He was founder and CEO of Collins Recording Co. serving student and professional musicians in the San Francisco Bay Area since 1962.

November 12, 1935 – October 30, 2019 Battling declining health over the past two years, with his sharp wit and legendary good humor intact, Dr. Goode died at home surrounded by his loving family. >>Dick loved to laugh and was a master storyteller. Although serious in his work, he loved Goofy, Gumby, sour candy, comic strips, Giants baseball and Stanford football.

It’s impossible to sum up Dick’s contributions over his lifetime. He would tell you he had a fantastic life with no regrets. We lost our dad, grandad, friend, husband, brother, uncle – there is now a huge hole that can never be filled. We are planning a celebration of life in January.

Margaret Sybil Morison Schwarze died on September 21, 2019, after a long and fulfilling life. She was born in Salt Lake City on August 23, 1925, to Emma (Condie) and Robert Morison and grew up in Riverside, California, with her three sisters, Marion, Patricia, and Suzanne. From an early age, Margaret exhibited the strength of character that served her so well throughout her life. She worked at various jobs—including two memorable summers working at Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks—from age 14 until she was almost 70. She put herself through college, attending UC Berkeley and graduating with a major in English and a teaching credential. While at Cal, she met a handsome young WWII veteran, Ralph W. Schwarze, whom she married in 1949. In 1957 Margaret and Ralph moved into the house that Ralph designed and built in Los Altos Hills, where, among the apricot trees, they raised their three daughters. Education, music, theater, and travel were among her lifelong interests. Margaret taught elementary school in the Bay Area for almost forty years, more than thirty of those in the Mountain View-Whisman School District.

November 10, 2019 marks the birthday of our beloved mother, Maria (Mika) Zawojski, who passed away November 7, 2017, just short of her 92nd birthday. Born in Poland and emigrating to the United States after WWII, she and her husband, Walter, and their children lived in Los Altos for many years. In 2011, Mika moved to Auburn, California to live with her daughter and husband. Mika was amazingly vital, out-going, and had an incredible sense of humor. She was the model of love, generosity and beauty – inside and out – and she remains in our hearts, her family, as we honor her memory with an everlasting smile. She leaves a lasting legacy to her family: her son, Chris (Camille); daughter, Karen (Bud); grandchildren Jessica (Nate), Emily (Joey), Alana (Greg), Katrina and Erik; and great grandchildren Wyatt, Hazel, Walter, Charlie, Isabella, James and Luca. We love you up to the sky and higher!

Richard John (Dick) Quinlan passed away peacefully at home on October 17, 2019 at the age of 86. He was born on April 18, 1933 and resided in Menlo Park since 1963 with Jeanne, his beloved wife of 59 years. Dick, a 4th generation San Franciscan, will be remembered as a family man with a generous spirit and an ever-present sense of humor. He is survived by Jeanne Ferrari Quinlan, his wife of over 59 years and his three sons, Greg (Kristin) of Los Altos, Roger (Cathy) of Los Altos and Matt (Kristen) of Menlo Park. He dearly loved his 7 grandchildren, Riley (Kristy), Ellen, Courtney, Katie, Sara, Nathan and Nick.