Obituaries Obituaries (November 09, 2005)

Edward Fryer

Former Varian executive

Edward Montgomery Fryer of Portola Valley died October 29 surrounded by his family. He was 89.

Mr. Fryer was born in Spadra, California, a small town outside what is present-day Pomona. The family had been in California since crossing the deserts in covered wagons, arriving in the 1850s. The Cal Poly Pomona campus includes land that was once part of the Fryer walnut groves.

Mr. Fryer graduated from Pomona College, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Kappa Delta fraternities. He received a master's degree in engineering and a doctorate in physics from Stanford University. He played football and track at Pomona and championed the ideal of the student athlete all his life, say family members. He was an avid fan of Stanford athletic teams.

After spending World War II working on radar at Harvard and MIT, he returned to teach physics at Pomona College for 20 years.

In the 1960s he left Pomona and moved to Palo Alto to become manager of the Quantum Electronics Division of Varian. He later became deputy director of finance in Gov. Ronald Reagan's cabinet.

The next governor, Jerry Brown, appointed him to the Little Hoover Commission in the 1970s. The commission is a bipartisan, independent body created to promote efficiency and effectiveness in state programs.

Edward and Virginia Fryer retired to Portola Valley. He became a docent at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, where a memorial service was held November 5.

Mr. Fryer is survived by his wife, Virginia Lee Fryer of Portola Valley; sons Richard Fryer of Redwood City and Robert Fryer of San Diego; and sister Margaret Adelman.

Memorials in his name may be made to Quest Scholars Program, P.O. Box 20054, Stanford, CA 94309; telephone: 328-8591.

Paul Kendrick

Former Menlo Park and Atherton resident

Paul Francis Kendrick died October 29 in Sonoma at the age of 74. Mr. Kendrick and his wife, Mary, moved to Sonoma in August after living in Menlo Park and Atherton since 1962.

Mr. Kendrick was born in Quincy, Massachusetts. He graduated from Boston College and received an MBA from Harvard University. He served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

The Kendricks were the parents of eight children. His friends and his family were the most important things in Mr. Kendrick's life, say family members.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Mary; his children, Mark Kendrick of Phoenix, Arizona, Karen Nitschman of Fox Island, Washington, Betsy Briardy of Seattle, Kathy Kendrick of San Francisco, Maura Kendrick of Sonoma, Kevin Kendrick of San Francisco, Christine Kendrick of San Francisco, and Ellen Kendrick of Washington, D.C.; brother William Kendrick of Vero Beach, Florida; and five grandchildren.

A memorial Mass was held at St. Raymond Church on November 5. The family prefers donations to either Catholic Worker House, 545 Cassia St., Redwood City, CA 94064; or St. Francis Center, 101 Buckingham St., Redwood City, CA 94063.

Palmira Zuffi

Native of Italy

Palmira Zuffi died October 30 at the age of 94. For the past three years, she lived at the home of her daughter, Annamaria Kusber, in Woodside.

Ms. Zuffi was born in Italy, the last of 11 children. She came to the United States in 1955 and became a U.S. citizen, living in San Francisco. She worked for the Levi Strauss Co. for 18 years before retiring.

She loved to sew and write, and was very poetic, says Ms. Kusber.

In addition to her daughter, Annamaria, Ms. Zuffi is survived by three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Her husband, Michael Zuffi, died in 1997. Funeral services have been held.

Jean Madigan

Community volunteer

Jean Richards Madigan died October 22 in Portola Valley after a short illness. She was 80.

Ms. Madigan was born in Berkeley and graduated from Stanford University. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority and served on its Arrow Scholarship Awards committee for many years. She married Richard B. Madigan in 1946, and they raised their children in Menlo Park.

Ms. Madigan was an active volunteer with the PTA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. For more than 50 years, she was a member of the Woodside-Atherton Auxiliary to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.

Ms. Madigan was a member of the Woodside-Atherton Garden Club and was instrumental in the design and planting of the daffodil dell in Holbrook-Palmer Park in Atherton and in landscaping the Atherton train station. She was in the first class of docents at Filoli. After moving to the Sequoias, she served on its landscape committee.

Ms. Madigan is survived by her husband, Richard Madigan of Portola Valley; children Brian Madigan of Redwood City and Nancy Madigan Merwin of Menlo Park; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Donations in her memory may be made to the Peninsula Humane Society, 12 Airport Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94401; Pathways Hospice, 585 N. Mary Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94085; Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305; or a favorite charity.

Arrangements were under the direction of Roller Hapgood & Tinney, Palo Alto.

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