Eddie Rosenstiel
Eddie Rosenstiel, a longtime Woodside resident and retired local businessman, died April 2 of complications from heart disease. He was 82.Mr. Rosenstiel was born in Chicago and raised in Los Angeles. He enrolled at UCLA, joined the U.S. Navy and served in the South Pacific during World War II. After the war, he completed his education at UC Berkeley.
Mr. Rosenstiel’s business career was entrepreneurial, first in furniture marketing, then as owner of the Mendocino Hotel, and, finally, as co-owner of Custom Travel in Woodside.
In retirement, he pursued his passions for world travel, painting and birding, say family members. He taught beginning watercolor for the Redwood City Recreation Department, gave hours of service to the Redwood City Farmers’ Market and Youth and Family Service, and served on the Skylonda water board and the board of the Waddell Creek Association, which supports Big Basin Park.
Mr. Rosenstiel is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joyce Rosenstiel; daughters Karina Buck and Beth Rosenstiel; son Tom Rosenstiel; and five grandchildren.
A memorial will be held in June, when his far-flung family can be together. Memorial donations honoring his life may be sent to Peninsula Open Space Trust, 3000 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025; or to TheatreWorks, P.O. Box 50458, Palo Alto, CA 94303.
Carlos Henry Alexander
Carlos Henry Alexander, whose friends designated him “emperor of barbecue” for the San Mateo County Mounted Patrol, died March 28 in Redwood City of inoperable liver cancer. He was 59.Mr. Alexander was born and raised in Seminole, Texas, and came to California to attend Menlo College, where he was student body president. He also served as president of the Alumni Association of Menlo College, the Menlo Town Club, and the Sequoia Club in Redwood City.
He had many business interests and was a licensed demolition contractor for more than 30 years. He also worked in Alaska, was a vintage Can-Am racing promoter and owner, a professional drag race mechanic, exporter of logging and mining equipment, and past partner in both a scratch pad printing company and a cardboard box manufacturing company.
Mr. Alexander was known for his barbecues, and presided over the kitchen at many of the Mounted Patrol events. For the past 10 years he prepared the food for the annual July Fourth Rodeo in Woodside.
He loved Hong Kong and was an expert on all it had to offer, friends say. He was also known for his appreciation of fine wines and Cuban cigars, his sense of humor, and stories of his worldwide travels.
Mr. Alexander is survived by his brother, Luke Alexander of San Jose, and two nephews.
In his memory, donations may be made to the Canary Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing research funding for early detection of cancer: The Canary Foundation, 333 W. Santa Clara St., Suite 1, San Jose, CA 95113.
Norma Sandy
Longtime Ladera resident Norma Sandy of Portola Valley died March 31 after a short illness.Ms. Sandy moved from San Francisco to Ladera in 1958, becoming one of Ladera’s early homeowners. She held roles with Ladera’s Community Association and Woodside’s Town Council, balanced with her roles as a Brownie leader and a soccer mom, according to family members.
In the early 1960s she began her career with Stanford University, returning for “little jobs” well into her retirement.
She enjoyed travel over the years, including annual theater tours to London and New York, holidays in Puerto Vallarta, barge trips throughout France, sailing on the Sea Cloud off the coast of Italy, and sleeping in a cave in Cappadocia.
She was a “card carrying” member of the American Civil Liberties Union whose passions and causes stemmed from strong family roots in America’s continuing fight for human rights, family members say.
Ms. Sandy is survived by her husband of 50 years, Elmer Sandy of Ladera; children Blake Sandy of Redwood City and Allison Hecimovich of Menlo Park; brother Paul Schnur of Novato; and two grandchildren.
Donations in her memory may be made to the Clara-Mateo Alliance, assisting the homeless on the Peninsula: InnVision/ceo Alliance, P.O. Box 702, Palo Alto, CA 94302.
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