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Howard Daschbach dies at 87
• He was a longtime attorney and parishioner at St. Raymond Church.

A funeral Mass for Howard M. Daschbach of Atherton, who practiced law in Menlo Park for 43 years and was a 57-year parishioner of St. Raymond Catholic Church, is set for 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 16.

Mr. Daschbach died Feb. 9 at the age of 87 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease.

An Army veteran of World War II who fought in Europe, the Philippines and Japan, Mr. Daschbach earned his degree from Stanford University Law School after the war. During his law school days, he met the "love of his life," Leonore, according to his family.

He was a man of deep faith, attending daily services at St. Raymond, and bringing the sacramental Holy Communion to those who were unable to attend Mass due to physical infirmities, his family said. He was installed as a Knight of the Order of Malta, one of the oldest of the Catholic orders, in 1982.

He was a member of the Serra Club of Palo Alto-Menlo Park, and Menlo Circus Club in Atherton, where he played tennis until his health forced him off the courts.

In addition to his wife of 59 years, Leonore Rooney Daschbach, Mr. Daschbach is survived by his daughters, LeeLee Cusenza of Pleasanton, and Lisa Fuerst and Laura Pitchford of Atherton; sons Rooney Daschbach of Sunset Beach, and Mark Daschbach of Atherton; a sister, Jeanne Miller of San Francisco; 18 grandchildren; and two great-granddaughters.

His youngest daughter, Michele Fast, was killed last October during a shooting rampage in Seal Beach that left eight people dead.

A rosary will be said in Mr. Daschbach's memory at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, at St. Raymond Church in Menlo Park. The funeral Mass the next day is also at St. Raymond.

A reception for family and close friends will follow at Menlo Circus Club.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions to the donor's favorite charity, or to organizations close to Mr. Daschbach's heart: St. Raymond School, the Oakwood Retirement Home of the Religious of the Sacred Heart, the Order of Malta, and SmileTrain.

Posted by Kerrin Meinhardt, a resident of the Menlo Park: Linfield Oaks neighborhood, on Feb 14, 2012 at 9:17 pm

What a sad time this is for our St. Raymond Community.I used to see Howard going to church everyday. He always had a huge smile on his face, even when he was having trouble walking and his son,Mark had to help him walk up to the altar. When his daughter was recently killed, he turned to the Church. He was a man of true faith, a wonderful kind, giving person. The St. Raymond community, as well as this whole area, is really going to miss his wonderful spirit. May he rest in peace and enjoy his time in Heaven with his daughter, Michele. We as a community know that he will look down upon the Daschbach field at St. Raymond and bless the children who play on it!