Deaths Deaths (October 12, 2005)

Harold Bernhardt

Harold "Bernie" Bernhardt, a 45-year resident of Palo Alto, died in his sleep Sept. 18.

He was born Jan. 3, 1910, in Baker, Ore. Following his education there, he started as an electronic tube technician at the Farnsworth TV Company. Several years later, he moved to California, where he was one of the founding associates at Varian in Palo Alto.

Contributions may be made in his honor to Avenidas, 450 Bryant St., Palo Alto, CA 94301.

Ken S. Robinson

Ken Robinson, 44, a longtime resident of Palo Alto, died Sept. 20.

He was born at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., where his father was a fellow in eye surgery. The fellowship brought his father to northeast Arizona, where the family spent several months on a Navajo reservation. They made subsequent stops at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois and Palo Alto, where he attended Crescent Park Elementary School and Menlo. At Stanford University, he met the love of his life, Keri. Together they attended and graduated from Cornell University.

He was an experienced rafter and backpacker from his days as a camper and counselor in Gypsum, Colo. After saving for plane fare with busboy and restaurant jobs at Pot au Feu and Scott's Restaurant, he traveled to Paraguay to volunteer with Amigos de las Americas. During his service, he worked with some of Paraguay's poorest, building latrines, schools and fences. He was a loyal Stanford football and basketball fan.

He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Keri; mother, Janet Robinson of Palo Alto; brother, James of Jackson Hole, Wyo.; niece, Julie of Jackson Hole, Wyo.; and nephew, David of Jackson Hole, Wyo.; uncle, Prof. James Maas of Ithaca, N.Y.; cousins, Dan and Justin of Ithaca, N.Y.; and his black Labrador.

Services were held in Southern California where tributes remembered his lifelong service to others and contributions to mankind.

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