A lifelong Peninsula resident, he graduated from Hastings School of Law in San Francisco. During World War II, he worked for the Reconstruction Finance Corporation in San Francisco. In 1946, with partner Warren Thoits, he founded the law firm. His specialty was tax and estate planning law, and he was closely involved in drafting the federal government's Uniform Gifts to Minors Act.
A former president of the Palo Alto Bar Association, he volunteered on the Town of Woodside's planning commission, and he served as president of the Las Lomitas school district PTA. With Dr. Esther Clark, he founded the Children's Health Council in Palo Alto. He also recorded readings of legal material as a volunteer for Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic Inc. A devoted horseman and naturalist, he was an active member of the Woodside Trail Club, The Sierra Club, The National Wildlife Federation, The Audubon Society and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
He is survived by his wife, Katherine Samuels of Palo Alto; two sons, Robert Samuels of Portola Valley and Perry Samuels of Woodside; a daughter, Susan Drake of Soquel; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Contributions may be made to the Children's Health Council, Attn: Development Department, 700 Sand Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304, or Reading for the Blind and Dyslexic Inc., 488 West Charleston Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306.
Benedict Stoll Goldberg Jr.
Benedict Stoll Goldberg Jr., 73, a 36-year resident of Palo Alto, died Dec. 5. A native of Augusta, Ga., he graduated from Augusta Military Academy. Later, he attended the University of North Carolina before enlisting in the U.S. Marines during World War II. After the war, he graduated from the Art Center School of Photography in Los Angeles. He went on to produce motion pictures at Lockheed Missiles and Space in Burbank and San Jose for 34 years. He was a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America and with AARP as an instructor for senior driving for three years. His interests were automobiles and the Civil War. He is survived by his wife, Gloria Goldberg of Palo Alto; a daughter, Lauren Anthony of Los Angeles; a son, John Tate of Phoenix; and three granddaughters.
Lavora C. Grant
Lavora C. Grant, 77, a longtime resident of Palo Alto, died on Dec. 9. A native of Arkansas, she worked as a department manager for Sears Roebuck for more than 25 years. She enjoyed camping, gardening and shopping. She is survived by her husband, Henry M. Grant of Palo Alto; a daughter, Wanda Mickulesku of Palo Alto; three sons, Charles Grant of Santa Clara, Larry Grant of Santa Clara and Jerald Frant of Utah; a sister, Dorothy Sensibaugh of Oklahoma; 14 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Services have been held. Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 1 Almaden Blvd., Suite 500, San Jose, CA 95113-2214.
Donald Leslie Gross
Donald Leslie Gross, 55, a retired dispatcher for the Menlo Park Fire Department, died Dec. 11 at Stanford University Medical Center. A native of Modesto, he served in the U.S. Navy. He was an active member of the Fire Buff Club of San Mateo and an avid collector of fire department memorabilia. During his 17-year employment at the fire department, he received numerous awards as employee of the year. He is survived by his wife, Gail Gross of San Jose; two daughters, Michelle Gross of San Carlos and Mindi Brown of Idaho; a step-son, Paul Marengo of Los Angeles; a step-daughter, Susan Gillio of San Jose; a sister, Carol Hall Wilson of Modesto; and his mother, Betty Gross Smith of Modesto. Services have been held. Contributions may be made to the Peninsula Fire Buff Club, 1284 Truman St., Redwood City, CA 94061.
Haig Harris
Haig Harris, 93, a resident of Los Altos Hills, died Nov. 29. at Pilgrim Haven Retirement Community in Los Altos. A native of Turkey, he was a self-employed rancher. He is survived by his wife, Esther Harris of Los Altos Hills. Services have been held.
Anna D. Lang
Anna D. Lang, 89, a 55-year resident of Palo Alto, died on Dec. 9. A native of San Francisco, she worked as secretary for the Trinity Lutheran Church in Palo Alto and also served as choir director and organist. She volunteered for the legal assistance department at the Palo Alto Senior Center. She enjoyed singing and performing with a quartet string ensemble. She is survived by her husband, Robert Temple of Palo Alto, and a step-daughter, Janet Temple of Palo Alto. Services will be held at 11 a.m., Dec. 23, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Palo Alto. Contributions may be made to a memorial fund at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1295 Middlefield Road, Palo Alto, CA 94303.
John C. Mackintosh
John C. Mackintosh, 72, a 28-year resident of Menlo Park, died at home Dec. 12 after a long illness. A native of Seattle, he graduated from the University of Washington. Later, he worked for 30 years as associate district manager of the U.S. Army Audit Agency. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He enjoyed reading, doing puzzles and working at his computer. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Shirley Mackintosh of Menlo Park; a son, Bruce Mackintosh of Pascoe, Wash., and a brother, Bruce A. Mackintosh of Pascoe, Wash. Services have been held.
Obituaries are a free editorial service. Information should be submitted, typewritten, no later than 9 a.m. Monday for Wednesday's paper or 5 p.m. Wednesday for Friday's paper. Send to: Obituaries, Palo Alto Weekly, P.O. Box 1610, Palo Alto, CA 94302, or fax to 326-3928. Please include a contact name and telephone number. The Weekly reserves the right to edit obituaries for space and format considerations.
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