Deaths Deaths (October 13, 2004)

Roger Ahlenius

Roger Ahlenius, a longtime resident of Menlo Park, died Sept. 26.

He was an avid golfer, a clever inventor and a skilled craftsman. He was passionate about protecting the environment, supporting politicians with similar interests and will be best remembered for establishing the Santa Margarita Island in Santa Venetia (Marin County) as open space.

A member of Menlo-Atherton High School's first graduating class (1952), he celebrated on campus with many of his classmates at their 50-year reunion just two years ago. His grandfather, who made new skis each year during his early years in Minnesota, encouraged his enthusiasm for skiing. He worked on on the Ski Patrol during the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley. Later he sailed to Hawaii with two friends in a trimaran.

He is survived by his wife and partner of 43 years, Daphne Ahlenius; his son, Dr. William Ahlenius, and daughter-in-law, Susan Pagani, of San Antonio, Texas; his daughter, Anna, and son-in-law, Land, of San Rafael; his sisters, Marlyn Johnson of Menlo Park and Julie Lancelle of Pacifica, and their families; and one grandson.

A service celebrating his life has been held.
Elizabeth Hedegaard

Elizabeth Hedegaard, 102, a resident of Palo Alto, died Sept. 26 at Palo Alto Commons.

Born in Gadsen, Ala., she was one of four brothers and three sisters. She grew up in Mt. Vernon, Ill. At age 23, she married Bill Hedegaard, a native of Copenhagen, Denmark, who had emigrated to the United States in the early 1900s.

They moved to Chicago in 1925, where they had their only child, Elizabeth, in November 1927. She and her husband moved to Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 1928, where they lived until the late 1930s.

During World War II, she attended courses at the University of Minnesota. There, she encountered the famous actor, Clarke Gable, who, dazzled by her beauty, exclaimed: "You ought to be in the movies."

In 1945, she attended the founding conference of the United Nations in San Francisco. At the event, an aide to President Harry Truman volunteered to serve as her personal escort while a San Francisco journalist speculated in print about the "gorgeous mystery woman" at the conference.

In the late 1940s, she and her husband settled in Palo Alto, where they resided until her husband's passing in 1971. Soon thereafter she moved to San Francisco for many years before returning to Palo Alto.

In the late 1980s she moved to Palo Alto Commons, an assisted-living facility. There she met her second husband, retired professor Troy McCraw. While clearly devoted to his new wife, Mr. McCraw tragically passed away shortly after the wedding.

She was known as "Honey" to those who loved her and will be remembered by family and friends as a woman of elegance, beauty, with a generous spirit who always had a kind smile and a positive outlook. She is survived by a sister, Lorraine Bland; a daughter, Elizabeth Freemuth Lindelof; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Jeffrey Lewis

Jeffrey Robert Lewis, 54, a longtime resident of Menlo Park, Atherton and Redwood City, died Sept. 13 after a four-month battle with cancer (Lymphoma).

He was born Feb. 28, 1950, in Seattle, Wash. He was the son of Dr. Robert D. Lewis and Margaret A. Lewis, both deceased.

He attended local schools and participated in cross-country, soccer, and track-and-field at Menlo-Atherton High School. He graduated in 1968. While growing up, he attended the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church along with his immediate family.

He was a special person: kind, humble and gentle. He enjoyed visiting with friends and participating in a weekly Bible study.

He is survived by his two brothers, James C. Lewis of Redwood City and David R. Lewis of Elk Grove, Calif.; his sister, Margie A. Vargas of San Jose; his sister-in-law, Belva C. Lewis; his brother-in-law, Michael V. Vargas; a nephew and four nieces.

A private family memorial will be held Oct. 16 at Alta Mesa Cemetery in Palo Alto, where he was interred Oct. 4.

Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society; or St. Anthony's Padua Dining Room, 3500 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025.

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