Transitions Transitions (December 14, 2005)

Virginia Schrup Blach

Virginia Schrup Blach, a long-time resident of Menlo Park, died Dec. 5 of cancer. She was 73. Born in Dubuque, Iowa, she was the youngest of nine children of Anthony and Myrtle Schrup. She attended Visitation High School and Clarke College before moving to Chicago to start a career. In 1960, she moved to San Francisco, where she met her husband, Donald C. Blach. They were married June 30, 1962, and raised three children. A devoted mother, she volunteered at her children's schools including St. Raymond School, Sacred Heart and Bellarmine. Once her children were grown, she began working at the California State Automobile Association in the touring department, where she enjoyed helping people plan their vacations. After retiring, she focused on her many cherished relationships including her ailing husband, loving grandchildren and long-time friends. She enjoyed her many clubs and activities where she celebrated her faith and friendships. She is survived by her sons, Donald and William; her daughter, Mary; and her six grandchildren. A funeral Mass was held on Dec. 9 at St. Raymond Church in Menlo Park. Donations may be made to St. Raymond School's Scholarship Fund, 1211 Arbor Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Arthur Bridgett

Arthur Bridgett died Nov. 14 after a brief illness. He was 94. Born the youngest son of Captain George Bridgett and Luisa Tomlinson, he graduated from San Francisco Polytechnic High School in 1928 and worked as an usher at the former Fox Theatre in San Francisco. He graduated from San Francisco Law School in 1936 and began his legal career as a solo practitioner. Soon afterward, he met his future wife, Suzanne Hastings, in an acting class. They married in 1939 and started a family. In 1953, he formed his first law partnership, which ultimately merged with another partnership to become the firm of Hanson, Bridgett, Marcus, Vlahos & Rudy LLP. He is survived by his three grandchildren, Darren Bridgett of San Francisco, Sean Bridgett of Redding, and Kirsten Bridgett of Discovery Bay. He was preceded in death by his wife and two sons, Ron and Ken Bridgett of Palo Alto. Services were held Tuesday, Dec. 6 at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Palo Alto. Donations may be sent to Haight Ashbury Psychological Services, 2166 Hayes St. Suite 308, San Francisco, 94117. Martha Soffer Elspas

Martha Soffer Elspas, a 54-year resident of Palo Alto, died Nov. 11 of lung cancer. She was 81. Born in Manhattan, N.Y., she grew up with three brothers and two sisters in the Bronx. She attended James Monroe High School, where she began playing oboe, which she would continue for the rest of her life. She went on to Hunter College and Juilliard Music School, and played with the National Orchestra Association training orchestra. She married Bernard Elspas, and they traveled to Palo Alto, where he completed his Ph.D. in electrical engineering at Stanford University. She performed professionally in several orchestras, including the San Francisco and Berkeley Little Symphonies, the Stanford Symphony Orchestra, the San Jose Symphony, and the Amici della Musica of Santa Clara University. An officer in the Fortnightly Music Club of Palo Alto, she taught about 100 young oboe students. Learning to play tennis in her 40s, she remained an avid player until she was 80. She loved to travel to Europe, Israel, China, Turkey, and the West Indies. She is survived by her husband Bernard; her daughter, Barbara; her son, Shlomo; and her six grandchildren. Donations may be made in her memory to the organization of your choice, or the Congregation Beth Am General Fund. William Ridge Fielder Sr.

William Ridge Fielder Sr., former Chief of Surgery at Stanford Hospital, died Nov. 28. He was 85. Born in Donley County, Texas on Dec. 17, 1919, he lived in Texas until moving to Colorado at age 11. Entering the army in 1942, he served in World War II for 33 months in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany as a first lieutenant. After his discharge in 1946, he earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado, attended the university's medical school and met his wife, Louise Dunn, before graduating in 1952. He completed his residency training at Stanford University Medical School in San Francisco, and opened his private office for general surgery in Palo Alto in 1958. In addition to serving as Chief of Surgery at Stanford, he later served as Deputy Chief of Surgery for 13 years. He retired as a Clinical Emeritus Professor of Surgery in 1987. A long-time lover of art, he served as chairman of SECA at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art for two years, and served on the Committee for Art at Stanford. He and his wife loved to travel and collect music, art, photography and rare books. In later years, they developed an interest in ancient Greek coins, becoming members of the American Numismatic Society in New York. He is survived by his wife, Louise Dunn Fielder of Atherton; his son, William Fielder Jr. of Short Hills, N.J.; his daughters, Louis Fielder of Millbrae, Calif. and Kathleen Fielder of Lake Oswego, Ore; and his four grandchildren. A private burial took place at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo County. Memorials may be sent to Pathways Hospice Foundation, 585 N. Mary Ave., Sunnyvale, CA, 94085. Robert A. Goldbeck, Sr.

Robert A. Goldbeck, Sr., a 42-year resident of Palo Alto, died on Oct. 26 at the Palo Alto Veterans Hospital after a long illness. He was 79. Born in Chicago, Ill. on Dec. 13, 1925, he attended Senn High School, where he excelled in track and field. He entered the Navy in 1944 and served in China during World War II as a radioman, radarman, and MP before being honorably discharged in 1946. After returning home, he met the love of his life, Ruth Nordwall, and they married in Oak Park, Ill. in 1948. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at Northwestern University, and a Ph.D. in experimental psychology from the University of Missouri at Columbia in 1955. He went on to conduct research at the American Institutes for Research regarding how people learn, and later researched human factors of satellite and missile-control systems for the aerospace industry. A lifelong jazz fan and frequenter of jazz clubs from Chicago to San Francisco, and ever-faithful fan of the Chicago Cubs and Bears, he also enjoyed traveling in Europe, Africa, and the U.S. with his wife and family. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ruth Goldbeck; his sons, Robert Goldeck, Jr. of Santa Cruz, Calif. and Steven Goldbeck of San Francisco; his daughter, Mardi Williams of Palo Alto; and five grandchildren. A private memorial for family and friends was held Nov. 27 in Palo Alto. Donations may be sent to The Parkinson's Institute, 1170 Morse Ave., Sunnyvale, CA, 94089. Boyd C. Paulson Jr.

Boyd C. Paulson Jr., a Stanford University engineering professor, died of colon cancer Dec. 1. He was 59. He was born in Providence, R.I. on March 1, 1946, the oldest of five children. His family moved frequently and on short notice due to his father's work in heavy construction. In 1962 and 1963, they lived in a remote construction camp in Australia, where the nearest high school was two hours away by bus. It was at school that he met his future wife, Jane Kingdon. They went their separate ways for college, Jane staying in Australia to attend the University of Sydney and he returning to the United States to attend the University of Utah. He transferred to Stanford in 1965, earning his bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. in civil engineering. At age 21, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymphatic system, and became one of the early patients of cancer researchers at Stanford Hospital. After completing chemotherapy, he received a visit from Jane, who had immigrated, and they married a few months later on Feb. 12, 1970. Paulson returned to Stanford to join the faculty in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. During his 31-year tenure at Stanford, he also served as visiting professor to the University of Tokyo, the Technical University of Munich, the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland and the University of Hawaii. A strong advocate of affordable housing, he served on the boards of the Peninsula Habitat for Humanity and the Mid-Peninsula Housing Coalition. Serving as principal investigator on more than 20 projects funded by the federal government and others, he also worked on the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system and the Metrorail in Washington, D.C. He is survived by his wife, Jane Paulson, of Menlo Park; his son, Jeffrey, of Menlo Park; and his daughter, Laura, of Culver City, Calif. A memorial service is planned for January 2006. Donations may be sent to Doctors Without Borders, Peninsula Habitat for Humanity in Redwood City, Calif., and the Community Association for the Rehabilitation in Palo Alto. Iolene Lazelle Lund Putnam

Iolene Lazelle Lund Putnam died Nov. 22 at her home in Menlo Park. She was 97. She was born in Mancelona, Mich. on May 23, 1908. After moving to San Bernardino, Calif. in1914, she attended Pomona College in Claremont. She later raised her family in the oilfield towns of Avenal and Taft in the San Joaquin Valley. She was a longtime volunteer for Community Concerts, an organization that scheduled live music in Taft. Her hobbies included the arts, sewing, and embroidery. She is survived by her daughter, Susan Putnam Christiansen, and son-in-law, Robert L. Christiansen of Palo Alto; her son, Rear Admiral William L. Putnam, USN (Ret.), and his wife, Jan Putnam, of Virginia Beach, Va.; grandchildren, Peter Putnam Christiansen of Burlingame, John Robert Christiansen of Alamo, and Catherine Sara Christiansen Fernandez of Santa Cruz; four step-grandsons and four great-grandchildren. A private service will be held at Stanford Memorial Church. Donations may be made to Pomona College Annual Fund, The Renwick House, 333 North College Way, Claremont CA 91711.

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