Deaths Deaths (May 28, 2003)

Virginia Johnson

Virginia Moran Johnson, 85, a 52-year resident of Palo Alto, died May 12.

She was active in the PTA during the 1950s and '60s, serving as president at Barron Park School and as president of the Palo Alto PTA council.

She was born in 1918 in Muskegon, Mich. She moved to San Francisco during World War II and worked as a draftsman at the Bethlehem Steel shipyard, where she drew, among other things, electrical systems for battleships. She also met a fellow draftsman, L. Floyd Johnson, and they were married in 1945.

The family moved to Barron Park in 1951. She lived in the same house there for 49 years until illness forced her to move to a nursing home.

She was known for her gardening, especially her dozens of varieties of irises, and for her sewing, especially cross-stitch.

She is survived by her son, Jay Johnson of Palo Alto; and two grandsons.

Services were private. The family prefers contributions to the Palo Alto Humane Society, P.O. Box 60715, Palo Alto 94306; or a favorite charity.
Konrad B. Krauskopf

Konrad B. Krauskopf, 92, a pioneer in the field of geochemistry and a member of the Stanford University faculty since 1939, died at his campus home May 4. A memorial service is being planned for the near future.

He was one of a handful of scientists in the late 1930s who helped define the emerging field of geochemistry, which combined the concepts of physical chemistry with those of geology.

In a career spanning more than six decades, he led numerous geological and mapping expeditions to such places as the Pacific Northwest, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Transmexican Volcanic Belt and coastal Norway. His pioneering research and academic achievements earned him numerous honors, including the Legendary Geoscientist Award from the American Geological Institute in 2000 and the Distinguished Public Service Medal from the Mineralogical Society of America in 1994.

A third edition of his textbook, "Introduction to Geochemistry," coauthored with Stanford Professor Dennis Bird, was published in 1994. Another of his books, "The Physical Universe," coauthored with physicist Arthur Beiser, is now in its 10th edition.

Born in Madison, Wis., on Nov. 10, 1910, he received a bachelor`s degree in chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where his father was a professor of chemistry. Although inspired by an undergraduate course in geology, he stayed in the field of chemistry and earned a doctoral degree from the University of California-Berkeley in 1934.

A year later, he met with Stanford geologist Aaron Waters, who rekindled his interest in the geological sciences. In 1935, he enrolled in a four-year graduate program in geology with Waters, and simultaneously was hired by the Stanford Chemistry Department as an undergraduate instructor in the physical sciences. While studying at Stanford, he met and married Kathryn McCune, his wife of 64 years, who died in 2001.

In 1939, after earning a doctorate in geology -- his second Ph.D. -- he joined the Stanford faculty. Two years later, he wrote the first of six widely used textbooks, "Fundamentals of Physical Sciences." In 1947, he was named chief of the U.S. Army`s G-2 Geographic Section in Tokyo. He received a citation for meritorious civilian service.

After completing his work with the Army in 1949, he returned to Stanford, where he continued teaching, writing and conducting field expeditions. In 1957, he was named associate dean of the School of Mineral Sciences, now known as Earth Sciences. He also served as president of three major professional organizations: the American Geological Institute (AGI) in 1964, the Geological Society of America (GSA) in 1967 and the Geochemical Society in 1970. He was awarded the Day Medal of GSA (1961), the Goldschmidt Medal of the Geochemical Society (1982) and the Ian Campbell Medal of AGI (1984).

Elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 1959, he was named director of the NAS/National Research Council Board on Radioactive Waste Management -- work that culminated in his 1988 book, "Radioactive Waste Disposal and Geology." He also was elected to the American Philosophical Society and was recipient of National Science Foundation, Fulbright and Guggenheim overseas fellowships in Germany, France and Norway.

Although he became professor emeritus in 1976, he was recalled to active teaching duty several times -- as recently as this year.

He is survived by his sister, Betty Bushnell of Hawaii; and four children, Karen Hyde of Belvedere, Calif.; Frances Conley of Sea Ranch, Calif.; Karl Krauskopf of Ashland, Ore.; and Marion Krauskopf of Oceanside, Calif. Donations may be made to a preferred Stanford designation, a local animal shelter or a favorite charity.
Nancy Miller McLean

Nancy Miller McLean, longtime member of the Stanford Women's Club, died April 17. She was 92. Born March 3, 1911, in Sullivan, Ill., she married Philip McLean, the late librarian of the Hoover Institute. She taught in Palo Alto schools for many years. She also allocated much of her time to volunteer work, devoting her talents to Antioch schools for five years, as well as programs like Project Learn for adult literacy and Friends Outside. She is survived by son Andrew McLean of Pittsburg; daughter Allison Lamboglia of San Jose; four grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. Memorial services will be held May 31, 11 a.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church, 555 Waverly. Donations can be made to Community Aid for the Retarded or All Saints Episcopal Church.