Obituaries Obituaries (September 29, 2004)

Richard V. 'Pete' Poe
Engineer, 33-year Ladera resident

Richard V. "Pete" Poe, a retired nuclear engineer, died September 18 from cancer at his home in Ladera, where he had lived for the past 33 years. He was 66 and a native of Siler City, North Carolina.

Mr. Poe began his 33-year career with General Electric in 1960 after receiving his bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering from North Carolina State University. His work was concentrated in the technical and marketing areas of commercial nuclear power plants.

In 1968, he received a master's degree in mechanical engineering with an emphasis in nuclear engineering from Stanford University under the Honors Cooperative Program. He was a registered professional engineer and a longtime member of the American Nuclear Society.

After Mr. Poe retired in 1993, his passion for travel led him to all parts of the world, said his wife, Carolyn. He was an enthusiastic member of the Buck/Cardinal Club, Vintners Club of San Francisco and Humanities West. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, said his family.

Mr. Poe is survived by his wife of 45 years, Carolyn B. Poe of Ladera; daughter Julie Menge and son-in-law Walter Menge of Elk Grove; son Mitchell Poe and daughter-in-law Stephanie Poe of Bellevue, Washington; and two grandsons.

A private memorial service for the immediate family will be held in Genoa, Italy, at Santa Chiara on the Mediterranean coast.

Memorials may be sent to Humanities West in San Francisco, www.humanitieswest.org.

Marian Morey
75-year Menlo Park resident

Marian Kearney Morey, who was known for her years of devoted service to the cloistered nuns of Corpus Christi Monastery in Menlo Park, died September 18.

Ms. Morey was born in San Francisco and moved to Menlo Park 75 years ago. She was married at the Church of the Nativity to John B. Morey of the well-known Morey family, and was a member of St. Raymond Parish.

Ms. Morey is survived by three sons, Tom, John Jr., and Donald, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. Her husband, John B. Morey, and grandson, Peter Michael, preceded her in death. A Mass of Christian burial was held September 22 at St. Raymond Catholic Church with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery in Menlo Park.

The family prefers memorials in her name be made to Corpus Christi Monastery, 215 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park, 94025, or to a favorite charity. Arrangements were under the direction of the Menlo Park Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries.

Martha Burrill
Native of Maine

Martha T. Burrill, a Menlo Park resident for 57 years, died at home September 15. She was 84.

Ms. Burrill was born in Fairfield, Maine. An educator, she was a member of the Menlo Circus Club, Allied Arts, the Order of the Eastern Star (Masonic), and the San Mateo County Mounted Patrol in Woodside. She was the biggest fan of Burrill family sports, according to family members.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Dr. Leland C. Burrill; children, Michelle Burrill of Oakland, Richard Burrill of Chester, California, Robert Burrill of Milpitas, and Susan Brodbeck of Menlo Park; and five grandchildren.

Private family services have been held. The family prefers memorials to Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park, CA, 94025, Pathways Hospice Foundation No. 104201 San Antonio Circle, Suite 135, Mountain View, or a favorite charity.

Arrangements were under the direction of Spangler Mortuaries.

Patricia "Pat" Bennett Sjostrom
'Unstoppable networker'

A celebration of life will be held in Atherton at 3 p.m. Thursday, September 30, for Patricia "Pat" Bennett Sjostrom of Menlo Park, who died September 17 at age 67.

The celebration will be held at the pavilion at Holbrook-Palmer Park, 140 Watkins Ave.

A 30-year resident of Menlo Park and Atherton, Mrs. Sjostrom was a mother, grandmother and teacher who focused her life on the care of children, family members said.

Born in New York City, she grew up in Morristown, New Jersey, and graduated from Centenary College in her home state, coming to Atherton in the early 1970s. She lived through a bout with breast cancer and, according to her daughter-in-law, Jean Sjostrom, "was a ferocious letter writer in an age where people don't write letters."

Jean Sjostrom describes her mother-in-law as an "unstoppable networker" who had about 200 friends.

Mrs. Sjostrom was a member of the Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary and the Allied Arts Guild for 21 years. She was on the board of directors of the Community Education Center in Redwood City.

She enjoyed hiking, tennis, gardening, and taught preschool, family members said.

Mrs. Sjostrom is survived by her daughter, Lesli Sjostrom of San Francisco; a son, Doug Sjostrom of San Carlos; two grandsons; and many nieces and nephews.

The family suggests donations to the following organizations: Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary Foundation, the National Breast Cancer Foundation (www.bcrfcure.org); and the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.

Obituary policy

The Almanac publishes obituaries about people who lived in Atherton, Menlo Park, Portola Valley and Woodside, or played a prominent role in these communities. Obituaries are written by Almanac staff writers, based on information provided by mortuaries and family members. Due to space limits and other reasons, we may not include all the information a family wishes. Some families choose to write their own memorial announcements, and purchase space to publish it in the Almanac. For information about that, call Linda Franks in the Advertising Department at 326-8210, ext. 210.

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