The Almanac - 1998_04_29.obit29.html

Issue date: April 29, 1998

Obituaries

Polly Mullen

Co-owner Woodside Vineyards

Polly Mullen, who started Woodside Vineyards in 1960 with her husband Robert, died April 18 at her home in Woodside. She was 73.

Born and raised in Peoria, Ill., Mrs. Mullen was trained as a laboratory technician at Bradley University in Illinois. She married Robert Mullen in 1949 and they moved to Woodside, where they founded the winery that continues today.

Mrs. Mullen was very active at Woodside Village Church, where she worked for many hours in the office and in the gardens. She was especially interested in the Altar Guild and in the Christian Education program.

In addition to her husband, Mrs. Mullen is survived by her mother, Grace Langston of Peoria, Ill. Memorial services were held April 26 at Woodside Village Church. Memorials may be made to Woodside Village Church, 3154 Woodside Road, Woodside.

Michael Chetkovich

Accounting firm executive

Michael N. Chetkovich of Atherton, former managing partner of Deloitte Haskins & Sells (now Deloitte & Touche), died April 21. He was 81.

A 20-year resident of Atherton, Mr. Chetkovich was born in Angels Camp, son of Yugoslav immigrants. He received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of California at Berkeley.

After graduation he joined the San Francisco accounting firm of McLaren, Goode, West & Co. During World War II, he served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy. In 1952 he became a partner in charge of the San Francisco office when McLaren merged with Deloitte Haskins & Sells. He transferred to the company's executive office in New York in 1967 and was managing partner of the firm from 1970 until his retirement in 1978.

He was chairman of the American Institute of CPAs in 1976-77 and received its gold medal for distinguished service in 1982.

After retiring, Mr. Chetkovich served as a director of American International Group, McDonnell Douglas and Phillips Petroleum. He devoted a great deal of time to his alma mater, especially the business school where he was a regents' professor, director of external affairs and special consultant to the dean.

He received many honors from the school including the university's Alumnus of the Year Award in 1985 and the Chancellor's Award in 1986. An endowed chair at the business school was established in his name in 1978.

Mr. Chetkovich served on the board of several volunteer organizations including chairmanship of the Executive Service Corps of Northern California, the Business Advisory Council of Religion in American Life, and the National Advisory Council of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Mr. Chetkovich is survived by his wife Alice; daughters Carol Chetkovich of Boston and Kathy Chetkovich of Boulder Creek; sons Mark Chetkovich of Santa Cruz and John Chetkovich of Los Angeles, and one grandchild.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 17, in the Wells Fargo Room of the University of California at Berkeley School of Business. Contributions may be made to the Haas School of Business at University of California at Berkeley, the Bear Backers, or the university's International House.

Walter S. Butler

Former Woodside resident

Walter S. Butler, who moved to Menlo Park last year after living in Woodside for more than 40 years, died at his home on April 19. He was 83.

A memorial service for Mr. Butler will be held Saturday, May 9, at 2 p.m. at Woodside Road United Methodist Church, 2000 Woodside Road in Redwood City.

A graduate of the University of Illinois, Mr. Butler served in the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel in the 349th troop carrier wing in China, Burma and India.

After moving to Woodside in 1956, Mr. Butler founded the Penn Construction Company where he worked as a contractor until he retired in 1990. He was a member of the Bay County General Contractors Association and the Builders Exchange.

Mr. Butler was also a member of the Woodside Road United Methodist Church, the Woodside Terrace Kiwanis Club, the Boy Scouts of America and the Sequoia YMCA.

He is survived by his wife Anne; two children, Penn Ayers Butler of Atherton and Lynn Butler Chichi of San Juan Capistrano; and three grandchildren.

Memorial donations can be made to the Chaddock Children's Foundation, 205 S. 24th St., Quincy, IL 62301, or to the Woodside Road United Methodist Church Memorial Fund, 2000 Woodside Road, Redwood City, CA 94061.

Jessy Martin Phillips

Book editor

Jessy Martin Phillips, a former book editor who lived in Palo Alto and Menlo Park for more than 50 years, died March 20 at the Lytton Medical Care Center in Palo Alto. He was 84.

A memorial service for Mr. Phillips will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, April 30, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 330 Ravenswood Ave. in Menlo Park.

A native of Nashville, Tenn., Mr. Phillips attended Vanderbilt University for a brief period before serving in World War II with the Army near New Guinea. After completing his service, he returned home and received a bachelor's degree from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tenn.

Health problems associated with chronic asthma led him to California, where he became affiliated with the Stanford University Press as a book editor and freelance writer.

In addition to volunteering at animal shelters and nature conservation groups, Mr. Phillips was an active member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and the Friends of the Menlo Park Library.

He is survived by two stepnephews, Dan Buntin of Philadelphia and Rogers Buntin of Nashville, and two first cousins, Francis Potter of Nashville and Mildred Tandy Williams of Gracey, Ky.

Nancy Cortelyou

Former Ladera resident

Nancy Woodruff Cortelyou of Mountain View, who lived in Ladera and also Menlo Park for many years, died April 19. She was 70.

Born and raised in Kansas City, she was graduated with distinction from Stanford University in 1948. Mrs. Cortelyou lived in Ladera while married to Peter B. Cortelyou. She was an active volunteer for several organizations, including Children's Health Council and the Food Closet of All Saints Episcopal Church in Palo Alto.

Survivors include her three children, Pamela Cortelyou of San Diego, William Cortelyou of Hillsboro, Ore., and Anne Cortelyou Brosnan of Menlo Park; son-in-law Jim Brosnan; and a granddaughter. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Drummond of Carmel.

Memorial services were held April 23 at All Saints Episcopal Church in Palo Alto. Donations may be made to the Food Closet, 555 Waverley Ave., Palo Alto 94301.

Adelaide Kelly Wilde

Dance teacher

Adelaide Kelly Hutton Wilde of Menlo Park, a Palo Alto dance teacher Park for 40 years, died March 8. She was 93.

Mrs. Wilde was born in Bluffton, Ind., and arrived in Palo Alto in 1906, two months before the April 18 earthquake. Her father was William H. Kelly, at one time owner-editor of the Palo Alto Times and postmaster of Palo Alto.

A graduate of Stanford University and Parsons School of Fine Arts, she toured America with a professional dance group in 1927. She studied at the Denishawn School in Los Angeles and with the Christiansen brothers at the San Francisco Opera Ballet Co.

In Palo Alto she joined Agnes and Frances Boone at their studio, teaching tap, ballet, tumbling and ballroom dancing. For many years she produced an annual recital, designing elaborate costumes for full productions held at Palo Alto Community Center.

In 1939 she married Dr. Donald V. Hutton and in the late 1940s became associated with the Royal Academy School of Dancing of England, limiting her work to ballet until her retirement at 69. Her husband died in 1972. She later married Drummond Wilde, who died in 1995. A 40 year resident of Menlo Park, she was one of the founders of the San Francisco Ballet Guild. She served on the board of the Senior Auxiliary to the Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford and was active in its fund-raising projects.

Mrs. Wilde is survived by her sister, Ann Kelly Marple Clagstone of Palo Alto; a stepson, Randall K. Wilde; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 16, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Palo Alto. The family prefers memorial donations to the Children's Hospital at Stanford or to the Alzheimer's Association, Research Division, 330 Distel Circle, Los Altos, CA 94022.

Benjamin Tipton

County employee

Benjamin P. Tipton, who lived in Menlo Park for 47 years, died April 20. He was 80.

A native of Visalia, he served in the U.S. Army in World War II and was a retired employee of San Mateo County, where he worked as a vocational and housing specialist.

Mr. Tipton is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Whittle Tipton; son Steven and his wife Kristin; daughter Ann and her husband Michael; daughter Louise and her husband Mark; daughter Elaine and her husband George; son Mark and his wife Suzanne; and eight grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial was held April 24 at St. Raymond's Catholic Church in Menlo Park. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Conference, in care of St. Raymond's Church.

James Harlan David Rogers

Worked at IBM for 40 years

James Harlan David Rogers Sr. died April 24 at his Menlo Park home after a battle with cancer. He was 72.

Mr. Rogers served in the Air Force in the Philippines during World War II. After the war, he completed his schooling, graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering. He worked for 40 years for IBM.

A member of the Menlo Park 1st Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Mr. Rogers also served as scout master of Boy Scout Troop 215. He received the scout's Silver Beaver award.

Mr. Rogers is survived by his wife, Jo Ann Sloan Rogers; his children and their spouses, James and Corleen Rogers, Mark and Thaylene Rogers, Shawn and Todd Zenger, Heather and Lon Price, and Heidi and Skip Johnson; siblings David and Roberta Rogers; and 16 grandchildren.

Services are set for Tuesday, April 28, at noon at the Menlo Park LDS stake center, 1105 Valparaiso Ave., in Menlo Park. Arrangements were made by Roller, Hapgood & Tinney, in Palo Alto.

The family prefers that memorial donations be made to the Mid Peninsula Hospice or the Ensign-Lewis Foundation.




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