Publication Date: Wednesday, March 23, 2005
Deaths
Deaths
(March 23, 2005) Barbara Finberg
Barbara Finberg, 76, Stanford alumna and former member of the university's board of trustees, died March 5 of breast cancer.
She was born and raised in Pueblo, Colo. She received her bachelor's degree in international relations from Stanford and a master's degree in international relations in 1951 from the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. She then studied for a year in Beirut on a Rotary fellowship, the first from her Colorado district.
She worked for the U.S. State Department from 1949 to 1953 and for the Institute of International Education from 1953 to 1959. She then joined the Carnegie Corporation and worked in various positions until her retirement.
In 1965, she initiated a Carnegie grant in early childhood education, which included the planning and launching of "Sesame Street" for PBS. She was vice president of MEM Associates, a consultancy for philanthropy and nonprofit organizations.
She was an active alumna of Stanford, where her mother, aunt and brother also studied. She served on the board of trustees for 10 years, including five years as a board vice president.
She served as chair of the School of Humanities and Sciences Advisory Council and was chair of the board of Stanford in Washington. She was a member of Cap and Gown, Stanford women's honors society.
She was active in numerous organizations committed to the welfare of women and children.
She was married to Alan R. Finberg for 44 years before his death in 1995.
She is survived by her brother, Robert Denning, and sister-in-law, Kate Denning, of Grand Junction, Colo.; brother-in-law, Donald Finberg, and sister-in-law, Hela Finberg, of McLean, Va., and their children, Karen and Dana.
In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory can be made to Stanford University for addition to the Barbara D. and Alan R. Finberg Scholarship Fund and sent to John Ford, vice president of Development, Stanford University, Frances C. Arrillaga Alumni Center, 326 Galvez St., Stanford, CA 94305-6105.
Millie Fuchs
Millicent "Millie" Horowitz Fuchs, 77, a longtime resident of Menlo Park, died Feb. 14.
Born in New Jersey, she lived in the Bay Area for many decades, most recently in San Mateo. She and Henry "Hank" Fuchs met at Stickney's in Palo Alto in 1988 and married that same year. They had a happy life together until his death in 2004.
A professional manicurist, she worked for many years at La Belle Day Spa and other local salons. She had a loyal following of clients, many of whom became dear friends.
At her request, her ashes will be scattered at sea by the Neptune Society. Memorial contributions may be made to the Samaritan House Medical Clinic of San Mateo. A celebration of her life will be held at the British Bankers Club in Menlo Park. Please e-mail dox11@aol.com for more information.
Carol C. Hoyt
Carol C. Hoyt, 91, long-time resident of Palo Alto, died March 9.
She was born Carol Emily Chapman in Seattle in 1913. After graduating from Queen Anne High School, she studied at the Cornish School. She began her career in the jewelry and silver business at Robinson's in Los Angeles. She subsequently settled in San Francisco, where she met her husband, James Hoyt, a gemologist. They were married in 1942, and when Jim went into the service in WWII, they moved to Seattle, where she went to work for Boeing Co. in the personnel department.
After the war, they moved back to San Francisco, where she and her husband worked for Granat Brothers Jewelers. In 1952 they bought one of the first Eichler homes in Palo Alto and began the life of commuters. She eventually went to work for Johnson Jewelers at the Stanford Shopping Center.
Her husband died in 1965, and she continued to work at Johnson's until her retirement in 1978. She then formed her own appraisal business where she was able to use her knowledge and love of research.
Her life was filled with hours of activities. She loved painting, crafts, gardening, handiwork and knitting. She was an active member of the PEO Chapter OG, the Glass & Decorative Arts club, Questers and Knit Knackers. She had the gift of forming true friendships, and her life touched many others. She had a profound love of nature and found beauty in everything.
She is survived by nieces Barbara Denis of Seattle; and Merrily Jardine of Woodinville, Wash.
A gathering of friends was held.
Hela B. Pettegrew
Hela B. Pettegrew, 30-year resident of Palo Alto, died at her home on March 8 of cancer. She was 75.
She was born in Poland in 1929. Her parents moved to Colombia in 1936, and she received her master's degree in bacteriology from Javeriana University in Bogotá in 1950. She later did post-graduate work in immunology and biochemistry at Michigan State University under a scholarship from the International Cooperation Administration and the United States government. She became an American citizen in 1973.
During her 42-year career as a biologist, she worked at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, Columbia University in New York; UCLA; Stanford University School of Medicine and the department of biochemistry and department of molecular biology at Syntex Corporation of Palo Alto, where she was co-inventor of a technique for the expression of the human nerve growth factor in the baculovirus system. Syntex received a patent for this achievement in 1993.
She was an author or co-author of many research papers that are now at Iowa State University in the Archives of Women in Science and Engineering.
Before her illness, she and her husband traveled extensively in the United States and Europe and shared a common interest in art, music and theater. They celebrated 30 years of marriage in 2004.
She is survived by her husband, John, of Palo Alto; three nieces; Bethina Fleischer of San Francisco; Michelle Fleischer of San Antonio, Texas; and Jeanette Pollara of Tampa, Fla.
Services have been held.
June Springhorn
June Springhorn, long-time resident of Palo Alto, died March 8. She was 77.
She was born July 20, 1927 in Pekin, Ill., and came to Colma, Calif., as a child. She grew up at the Rod McClellan Nursery with her two brothers, Dean and Hal Lucas.
She was a devoted babysitter for many Palo Alto families and enjoyed spending time at the duck pond and feeding squirrels at Mitchell Park. She was known for her generosity and tender, loving care.
She is survived by son Bill Springhorn and daughter-in-law Mary Springhorn of Redding; son David Springhorn and daughter-in-law Marguerite Springhorn of Fallbrook; and daughter Nancy Springhorn Villafana and son-in-law Dave Villafana of Palo Alto; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 26 at 5 p.m. at the Covenant Presbyterian Church located at 670 East Meadow Drive, Palo Alto.
Donations may be made to the Redding Care Center Bingo Fund, 23490 Court St., Redding, Cal., 94601.
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