Deaths Deaths (September 29, 2004)

Patrica Sjostrom

Patrica Bennett Sjostrom, 68, a longtime resident of Menlo Park, died Sept. 17.

She was born in 1936 in New York, N.Y. to Mr. Anthony Clarence Bennett and Mrs. Edith Vogt Bennett and grew up in Morristown, N.J. She was the caring sister of Suzanne Bennett Greenberger and a Menlo Park-Atherton area resident for more than 30 years.

She had been a tireless, dedicated volunteer with the Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary and the Menlo Park Allied Arts Guild since 1983. She was a champion of community service and was a board member for the Community Education Center in Redwood City.

She was an avid tennis player and hiker who loved the outdoors and gardening. She was dedicated to the care of children and taught at many of the area preschools, as well as being a loving babysitter and surrogate grandmother to many families. She was a determined, generous spirit and a breast cancer survivor.

She is survived by her daughter, Lesli Sjostrom of San Francisco; son, Doug (Jean) Sjostrom of San Carlos; two grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of her life will be held Thursday, Sept. 30, at 3 p.m. at Holbrook Palmer Park Pavilion, 150 Watkins Ave., Atherton. Memorial donations in her name may be made to the Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary Foundation in support of the Packard Children's Hospital; or the National Breast Cancer Foundation (www.bcrfcure.org).
Dale E. Strotman

Dale E. Strotman, 74, a longtime resident of Mountain View, died Aug. 28.

He was born Dec. 26, 1929, in Waverly, Iowa. He was an innovative teacher, coach, principal and superintendent in several Iowa schools and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa.

In 1969 the family moved from Bettendorf, Iowa, to Los Altos, where they resided for 19 years. He was employed by Westinghouse Learning and later founded Pacific Learning Corporation in Palo Alto.

He is survived by his wife, Doreta; daughter, Sheryl Brown of Mountain View; son, Scot Strotman of Sunnyvale; son, Skip Strotman of Sparks, Nev.; and five grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Community Services Agency of Mountain View, 204 Steirlin Road, Mountain View, CA 94043; or Pathways Hospice Foundation, 201 San Antonio Circle, Suite 104, Mountain View, CA 94040.

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