November 02, 2005

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Palo Alto Online

Deaths

Marvin Chodorow, 92, a Stanford University emeritus professor of applied physics and electrical engineering, died peacefully of natural causes at his home on the Stanford campus Oct. 17.

Born July 16, 1913, in Buffalo, N.Y., he received a bachelor's degree in physics at the University of Buffalo in 1934. In 1937 he married social worker Leah Ruth Turitz. Two years later he completed his doctorate in physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

His career at Stanford began in 1947. After becoming a professor in 1954, he directed the Microwave Laboratory for 19 years and became the first chair of the Department of Applied Physics in 1968.

He was known as one of the "godfathers" of microwave technology at Stanford and led a renowned academic career that included 40 technical articles and at least a dozen patents. He was also a pioneer in the development of klystron tubes, which are used in radar and other technologies.

His teaching career also took him to the Ecole Normale Superieur in Paris and Cambridge University. His awards include an honorary law degree from the University of Glasgow, the W.R.G. Baker Award from the Institute of Radio Engineers, and the Lamme Medal from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

He is survived by his wife, Leah Ruth Turitz Chodorow; daughters, Nancy Julia Chodorow of Cambridge, Mass., and Joan Elizabeth Chodorow of Venice, Calif.; and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, Nov. 13, at 3 p.m. at the Stanford Faculty Club. Memorial donations may be directed to Stanford's Chodorow Fellows Program, c/o Martin W. Shell, Frances Arrillaga Alumni Center, 326 Galvez St., Stanford 94305.

Wing S. Fong

Wing S. Fong, 74, a resident of Los Altos Hills, died Oct. 18 at Stanford Medical Center.

Born in the Philippines in 1931, he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was a longtime senior research consultant at SRI. He retired in 1996.

He was devoted to his wife, Lourdes, and his family and loved classical and popular music of his time. He often serenaded his wife with Perry Como songs. He also enjoyed taking walks and loved dessert, especially chocolate cheesecake.

He is survived by his wife, Lourdes; his daughter, Gwen, and her husband, Greg; his son, Tim, and his wife, Lynn; his daughter, Genevieve; his brothers, Manuel and Bucky; his sisters, Betty, Jeanny, Ida and Nora; and four grandchildren.

Services have been held. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to MIT, Office of Memorial Gifts, Room E19-439, 77 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139 (in the name of the Wing S. Fong Memorial Fund).

Harry Erb Hartzell, Sr.

Harry Erb Hartzell, Sr., 100, father of retired pediatrician Harry Erb Hartzell, Jr., died Oct. 17.

He was born into a Pennsylvania Dutch family and grew up in Bally and Boyertown, Penn. He graduated with a degree in chemical engineering from Pennsylvania State University. He had a long career with Hercules Powder Company of Wilmington, Del. He worked in Richmond, Va.; Parlin, N.J.; and Wilmington, Del. From 1938 to 1940 he managed a Hercules plant near Manchester, England, which manufactured the raw materials for rayon.

His final assignment was as managing director in the London office of Hercules from 1951 to 1969. During that time he served as president of the America Chamber of Commerce, hosting such visiting dignitaries as Richard Nixon and attending garden parties at Buckingham Palace. While living in London, the Hartzells cultivated their interest in concert music and opera, collected art and traveled extensively.

He retired to the Sequoias in Portola Valley in 1969, where he served as president of the Residents' Council and continued his interest in photography. As a member of the Palo Alto Camera Club he participated in a number of group and solo exhibitions. He was also a member of the Fellowship Forum and was an enthusiastic gardener.

He is survived by his wife; his son; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, 4000 Middlefield Road, #M-1, Palo Alto, CA 94303.

Robert N. Jarman

Robert N. Jarman, 80, a longtime resident of Palo Alto, died Oct. 18 at his family home.

Born in Santa Monica, Calif., he spent his early years in Beverly Hills, graduating from Beverly Hills High School in 1943. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 as a First Class cook throughout the South Pacific and was honorably discharged.

He married Della M. Starry in August 1948 in Los Angeles. As a salesman for Photostat Co. he moved his young family to Palo Alto in 1957. He was active in Little League, Boy Scouts, and was a member of Kiwanis and Elks Clubs.

He became a partner in MG West Office Furniture and always proclaimed himself an "Old Time Peddler." He enjoyed golfing, fishing and traveling.

He is survived by his daughter, Linda Nicholas, and her husband, Andy, of San Diego; daughter, Sharon Fisher, and her husband, Mark, of Palo Alto; son, Bob Jarman, and his wife, Sue, of Friday Harbor; brother, Myron Jarman, and his wife, Patti, of Palo Alto; and six grandchildren.

At his request, no services will be held. His ashes will be scattered at sea.

Margie Kelly

Margie Kelly, 98, a longtime resident of Palo Alto, died Oct. 15 in Menlo Park after a long illness.

She was born in Mohall, N.D., a town close to the Canadian border. Her family operated a movie theatre where she worked as a child from age 8.

When she was 10 years old her father taught her how to cut his hair, and her career began. She had done such an excellent job that neighbors and friends, ladies and men started paying for her services. At age 17, she was so successful she purchased a new Oldsmobile, when autos were still few in town.

In 1955 she moved to Palo Alto and because of her skill and warm personality she became very popular working in a hair salon in the Midtown area. She retired in 1972 and began to travel extensively throughout the world with her sister, Pearl Wisch, who died in 1996.

She also attended Foothill College attempting to learn French. She became proficient as a tutor and helped a student at San Jose State pass his PhD examination. She left no living relatives but many loving friends.

Ormond Dale McGill

Ormond Dale McGill, 92, a native of Palo Alto, died June 15.

He was born in Palo Alto in 1913 and graduated from Palo Alto High School taking courses at both Stanford and San Jose State universities.

Eventually he became a magician and hypnotist of international acclaim featured on radio and television shows, including the Art Linkletter television program. He eventually published more than 25 books regarding the integration of hypnotism, meditation and creative hypnotic strategies.

His wife, the late Delight Olmstead McGill, was his constant travel companion around the world. After her passing in 1976, he toured with close friend Charles Mignosa, presenting his "Concerts of Hypnotism."

He lived out the rest of his life at the Stevenson House senior assisted housing facility. Along with his work as an entertainer, he was an active faculty member of the Hypnotherapy Training Institute where he taught an advanced class of students just four days before his passing.

He was also a naturalist in the fields of entomology and conchology, and enjoyed showcasing various insects at local schools. He loved watching old movies at the Stanford Theatre and was a constant fixture at the Peninsula Creamery, where he was almost a daily patron since it opened in 1923.

Plans for his memorial are pending. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to the Ormond McGill Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 1103, Palo Alto, CA 94302.

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