Marjorie Parr Ward
Marjorie Parr Ward, an accomplished artist and art collection coordinator, died June 1 at Stanford Medical Center. She was 77.Born in Oxnard, Ms. Ward earned bachelor and master degrees from San Jose State University. She taught public school in Atherton and in Vancouver, B.C., prior to devoting her time to art and raising a family.
Her artwork was displayed at many Bay Area galleries. She won numerous awards in juried shows sponsored by the Peninsula Art Association, the Pacific Art League, the Menlo Park Art Commission, Canada College and the Fine Arts League of Cupertino.
From 1983 to 1987, Ms. Ward was the coordinator for the Anderson art collection at Saga Corporation in Menlo Park. For the past eight years she served as a docent at the San Jose Museum of Art and helped arrange art exhibitions on the Peninsula.
When her children were in school, she worked on fundraising at Menlo-Atherton High School and edited the monthly parents’ newsletter at Selby Lane School in Atherton. After 29 years in Atherton, she moved to Los Altos.
Ms. Ward is survived by her children, Kenric of Vero Beach, Florida, Stuart of Napa, and Sandy Thomson of Santa Clarita; sister Betty Smith of Lompoc; and four grandchildren. Her husband, Nairne F. Ward, preceded her in death.
A private memorial service will be held in Atherton. Memorials may be made to the San Jose Museum of Art.
Margaret Hanson
Margaret Stuart Hanson died May 23 at The Sequoias retirement community in Portola Valley at the age of 94. Dr. Hanson retired to The Sequoias in 1985 after the death of her husband, Albert Eugene Hanson.Dr. Hanson grew up on the Stanford University campus, where her father, Henry W. Stuart, was the first chair of the philosophy department. She received her bachelor and master degrees from Stanford and graduated from the Stanford University School of Medicine in 1936. Further training as a psychiatrist took her to the Boston Psychiatric Hospital in 1941.
During World War II, Dr. Hanson served as a physician at the Kaiser shipyards in Oakland. After the war she studied psychoanalysis with Erik Erikson in San Francisco. She began her practice in San Francisco and later practiced in San Mateo County.
In 1947 she married Albert Eugene Hanson. They helped raise two foster children and had an important role in the lives of Mr. Hanson’s children, according to her sister-in-law, Louise Stuart of Carmel.
In addition to Ms. Stuart, Dr. Hanson is survived by a stepson, Donald Hanson of Los Angeles; and three grandchildren.
At her request, there will be no services. Memorials may be sent to The Tomorrow Fund at The Sequoias, the American Cancer Society, or an organization of choice. Interment will be in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.
Edward J. Maher
Edward J. Maher, a Menlo Park insurance broker and resident for 57 years, died peacefully at home on June 1. He was 86.Mr. Maher was a veteran of World War II and served as a bombardier with the Eighth Air Force. He was a prisoner of war in both Germany and Poland and the recipient of several medals, including the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Mr. Maher is survived by Jean, his wife of 63 years; children Patricia Weber of Redwood Shores, Nancy Trujillo of Cloverdale, Timothy Maher of Napa, Mary Main of Coronado, and Ann Lewis of Modesto; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
At his request, no services were held.
Charles Wertman
Charles “Chuck” Wertman of Menlo Park died February 26 at the age of 88. Mr. Wertman died of lung cancer, although he was never a smoker.Mr. Wertman was born in New York City to Polish immigrants Hyman and Esther Wertman. As a youngster, he worked in his parents’ candy stores. His art career began when he put together eye-catching displays and signs for the candy stores and was encouraged by customers to attend graphic design school, say family members.
After doing layout and design for magazines and advertising agencies in Manhattan, he entered military service in 1942. He served as a crew chief for PT 47 Thunderbolts in Europe and was responsible for their maintenance. He held the position of staff sergeant.
In 1946 he moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a graphic designer. In 1947 he met Joyce Elayna Minkoff, and they were married in 1948, the same year he moved to the Midpeninsula.
Mr. Wertman had a 52-year career as a graphic designer, specializing in hand calligraphy. He worked for a graphic design agency in San Francisco, but spent most of his career as a freelance artist. He was well known for his work for Levi Strauss and Wells Fargo Bank, say family members. He also taught at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.
Mr. Wertman is survived by his wife, Joyce, of Menlo Park; children Larry Wertman, Elayna McCarty, and Teresa Wertman; and three grandchildren.
Daphn Stewart
Daphn Beatrice Stewart, who lived in Menlo Park from 1988 to 2001, died April 11 at her home in Palo Alto. She was 98.Ms. Stewart was born into a large Oklahoma farm family in 1908. While still in her teens, she married Samuel Stewart and moved to West Los Angeles. Together, the couple raised two sons, Doyle Kenneth and Samuel Charles, until their divorce when the boys were teenagers.
After 42 years as an employee at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Hospital and as a part-time worker in fabric stores, Ms. Stewart moved to Menlo Park to be near her only grandchild, Judith Stewart of Palo Alto.
She was a gifted seamstress and tailor, say family members, an artist whose creations were appreciated by many but which she saw as “just sewing things for Judy and me.”
Ms. Stewart is survived by her granddaughter, Judith Stewart. Both of her sons preceded her in death.
She was buried alongside her parents and two of her brothers in Tecumseh Mission Cemetery in Oklahoma.
Cy Coben
Cy Coben, a longtime Atherton resident with a prolific 60-year songwriting career that included the hits “Old Piano Roll Blues” and “I Wanna Play House With You,” died unexpectedly May 26 in Redwood City. He was 87.Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Mr. Coben was the youngest of six children. He began his music career as a trumpet player, but by his early 20s he was working as a songwriter. His first hit song was recorded by Benny Goodman in 1942.
Mr. Coben served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and resumed his songwriting career upon returning home. He joined ASCAP, the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, in 1947, and was part of the pop songwriting world of Manhattan’s Brill Building. He wrote songs recorded by Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Dinah Shore, Perry Como and Liberace, among others.
He began writing country music songs in the early 1950s, traveling to Nashville with his writing partner, Charles Grean. His early country hits were with Eddy Arnold and include “There’s Been a Change in Me.”
Mr. Coben wrote songs for many RCA artists, including Hank Snow, Jim Reeves and Connie Smith. H wrote the bluegrass standard, “A Good Woman’s Love,” first recorded by Bill Monroe in 1957. Other hits included “Red Hot Women and Ice Cold Beer” and the ballad “Nobody’s Child,” which was recorded by nearly a dozen artists ranging from Hank Snow to the Beatles.
He enjoyed playing tennis nearly every day, traveled regularly to Lake Tahoe and worked on numerous home and garden projects, family members said.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 25 years, Shirley, and by his son Neal.
Mr. Coben is survived by his children Gregory Coben of Santa Cruz and Bonnie Coben of Capitola; his companion of 17 years Liane Dozier of Atherton; and four grandchildren.
A memorial service was held June 10 at his home in Atherton.
William George Casey
A memorial service for William George Casey is set for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 13, at the Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave. in Menlo Park. A reception will follow the service in the hall behind the church.Mr. Casey, a lifelong resident of Menlo Park, died Friday, June 2. He was 78.
He was a graduate of Sequoia High School, and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving two hitches before beginning a career at Bank of America that spanned 44 years. Mr. Casey worked at various branches and held numerous positions with Bank of America, and maintained close ties with fellow retirees and friends through monthly lunches, family members said.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Eva Casey; his sons William T. Casey II and Mark T. Casey; his sisters Peggy Johnston and Marie Pilling; and four grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial donations be made to the Janet Pomeroy Center, (formerly RCH) at 207 Skyline Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94132.
Change of plans: Research campus to leave Menlo Park, make way for more housingJune 12, 2026 6:46 pm
