Obituary: Joan Stiff: former Woodside mayor Obituary: Joan Stiff: former Woodside mayor (November 09, 2005)

By Barbara Wood

Special to the Almanac

Joan Stiff, a three-time Woodside mayor who devoted her life to nurturing her family, her friends, her church and her community, died peacefully in her home in Woodside on October 30, surrounded by her entire family. She was 74.

A celebration of her life will be held at the Woodside Village Church, 3154 Woodside Road, on Sunday, November 13, at an 11 a.m. reception following the 9:30 a.m. church service.

Ms. Stiff and her husband, Robert, who survives her, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on September 14. They had lived in Woodside for nearly 40 years.

She is also survived by children Deidre Collier of San Jose, Laura Stiff of Los Gatos, Paul Stiff of Mill Valley and Eric Stiff of Sacramento; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Another great-grandchild is due in January.

Ms. Stiff was born in St. Petersburg, Florida. After receiving a nursing degree from Duke University Medical School, she and a girlfriend left for the West coast, where she worked for Stanford Hospital. She met Bob Stiff while taking classes at San Francisco State University, and they were married in 1955.

Joan and Bob moved to Woodside from Burlingame in 1966, only 10 years after the town was incorporated.

Although her fourth child, Eric, was born four days after moving in, during what is remembered as a major heat wave, Ms. Stiff was almost immediately recruited by the late Abby Klein to become active in town government.

After working successfully to bring sewers to her neighborhood, the Woodside Glens, Ms. Stiff served on the Recreation Committee from 1970 to 1971; the Planning Commission, from 1971 to 1976; and the Town Council, from 1976 to 1991.

She was chosen as mayor three times: in 1979-80, 1983-84 and 1989-90.

During her tenure on the council, many rules and regulations meant to preserve Woodside as a rural, residential community were put into place. One of her proudest accomplishments was negotiating with a developer to donate land as open space for what is now the Kite Hill wildflower preserve in the Glens.

Her children say that their mother's love for Woodside was contagious and that they all ended up living in places that remind them of their hometown. "She loved this town," Bob Stiff said.

Her family described her as an intelligent, intense and persistent woman who accomplished much, who held strong opinions but had deep respect for views that differed from her own, who was a leader but also a good listener. She was dogged, strong-willed and efficient; yet able to focus on individuals and their needs.

"She taught us a lot of lessons about how to live your life right," said her son Paul.

Ms. Stiff was also long active in the Woodside Village Church, as a member of Women's Fellowship, as a moderator, and in helping her longtime friend Anseth Millington on the Finance Committee.

Ms. Millington, who had been living with the Stiffs following the death of her husband, died on October 12. The two had been best friends for much of their lives, and often vacationed together in Lake Tahoe with their nine children plus a few more friends, and no husbands, in the Millingtons' three-bedroom condominium.

Family was extremely important to Ms. Stiff, and her home was always open to not only her children but their friends. "My mom was a second mom to a lot of kids," daughter Laura said. She tried to call her children daily and see each of her grandchildren at least once a week.

Near the end of her life, the entire Stiff family, along with Ms. Millington, usually accompanied Ms. Stiff on her visits to her oncologist.

The family requests memorial donations in lieu of flowers to the Woodside Village Church Endowment Fund for Christian Education.

Barbara Wood is a freelance writer and columnist for the Almanac.

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