Miriam MacKenzie
Jan. 8, 1917-Oct. 3, 2012
Menlo Park, California

Miriam Roth MacKenzie passed away Oct. 3, 2012, at her home in Menlo Park where she had lived for 62 years.

She was born in San Francisco on Jan. 8, 1917, and lived most of her life on the Peninsula. She was the daughter of Almon E. Roth and Mildred Hayes Roth and the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Hayes of Edenvale, San Jose. She grew up living on the Stanford campus where her father served as Comptroller of the University for 18 years.

She attended Castilleja School in Palo Alto and graduated from Stanford in 1938. There she was president of her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, graduated with Great Distinction and was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa National Scholastic Honor Society.

In 1941, she married Alexander Scott Gray MacKenzie who was then in Stanford Medical School. He served for three-and-a-half years in the Navy Medical Corps in World War II, after which he returned to Stanford Hospital for his surgical residency. In 1950, he joined the Palo Alto Clinic and the family established a home in Menlo Park.

Life was never dull in the MacKenzie household and Mrs. MacKenzie lived an extraordinarily busy but very happy life occupied with the raising of her six children and participation in their activities. She also provided a home for two grandparents for 23 years and nine foreign students who came and went. She served as President of the Stanford Mother's Club (now Parent's Club) and volunteered for auxiliaries to Stanford Children's Hospital (now Lucile Packard Children's Hospital).

When her children were grown, she transferred her energies to her garden, creating and maintaining such a beautiful one that it was enjoyed by many. The family's love of the High Sierra resulted in many wonderful summer experiences in the High Country.

Dr. MacKenzie died in 2000. His wife is survived by her daughter, Alexandra Standing (Douglas) of Sunnyvale; her five sons, David (Helen) of Palo Alto, James (Janet) of Atherton, William of Menlo Park, Duncan (Phyllis) of College Station, Texas, and Donald (Janice) of Newark; eight grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Private services will be held. The family requests any memorial donations be made to the Peninsula Open Space Trust, 222 High St., Palo Alto, CA 94301; or the Roth Auxiliary at the Lucile Packard Children?s Hospital, 725 Welch Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304.