Peter Black
Peter Harrell Black died August 13 at his home in Atherton after an eight-month battle with lung cancer. He was 78.Mr. Black was born and raised in Palo Alto, but also lived in San Francisco and Menlo Park. He attended Lowell High School in San Francisco, and in 1950 graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
In 1969, he graduated from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Program. His 35-year career as a division manager for Continental Can Co. took him to Darien, Connecticut, and Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts, then back to Atherton as a permanent resident.
Mr. Black was an active member of Cypress Point Club, Pacific Union Club, Thunderbird Country Club, and Menlo Country Club, where he served as president from 1985 to 1987.
In addition to golf, he was passionate about wine, say family members. He was chairman or served on wine committees at the Menlo Country Club and the Pacific Union Club for more than 35 years. He was also an adviser to the Vintage Affaire wine auction, a member of the Confrerie Des Chevaliers Du Tastevin, and a member of the U.S. Seniors Golf Association.
He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Dawn; and his children, Kathy Spieker, David Black, Liz Black and Sarah Thornton. He also leaves stepchildren Stephen Yates, Michael Yates, Karen Weiss, Jeff Yates, Russell Yates and Trish Mitchell; and 22 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Elizabeth Ann Bartlett Black.
His family and friends will miss “Jamps” dearly, especially on Christmas morning, when he made the grandchildren his famous buttermilk pancakes, say family members.
Private services will be held. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Oncology Research Fund and the Golden Retriever Rescue Foundation.
Thomas Del Sarto
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 3 p.m. Thursday, August 24, at the Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park, for Thomas D. Del Sarto.Mr. Del Sarto died August 6 after a lengthy battle with brain cancer. He was 74.
Born in San Francisco, he moved to Menlo Park in 1942. He was well-known as an athlete in his early years. He signed with the San Francisco Seals as a left-handed pitcher after graduating from Sequoia High School in 1950.
After retiring from the Seals, he played semi-pro baseball until the late 1970s with the Palo Alto Oaks, San Mateo Blues and Ellisbrooks Clubs, leaving with an impressive win record, say family members.
He was with the U.S. Postal Service in Menlo Park for 31 years. He was a longtime member of the Menlo Park Italian-American Social Club, and a 41-year member of the Palo Alto Elks.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Lovey; his mother, Lida; three sons, Tommy, Rolly and Rob; and eight grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Sequoia High School Alumni Association, c/o Del Sarto Sports Scholarship, P.O. Box 2534, Redwood City, CA 94064-2534; or Guide Dogs for the Blind, P.O. Box 3950, San Rafael, CA 94912.
Arrangements were under the direction of the Menlo Park chapel of Spangler Mortuaries.
David H. Phillips
David H. Phillips of Atherton died August 17 at home after a brief battle with cancer. He was 64.Mr. Phillips was born in Long Beach and attended schools in Berkeley and Los Altos. In 1963 he graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. After graduation, he served for two years as an officer in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Korea and Spokane, Washington.
For 37 years, Mr. Phillips was a securities trader on the floor of the Pacific Stock Exchange, most recently with Morgan Stanley. For several years he served on the board of governors of the exchange, including a term as vice chairman.
After retiring in 2002, he spent time gardening, traveling and coaching the golf team at Woodside High School, a role he enjoyed very much, say family members.
He is survived by his wife of almost 39 years, Judy; daughters Elizabeth Kelley of Oak Park, Illinois, and Ashley Frieden of Atlanta, Georgia; mother Elizabeth Girgich; brothers John and James; and three grandchildren.
A private memorial gathering will be held. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Woodside High Golf Team, attention: Kathy Soulard, treasurer, 199 Churchill Ave., Woodside, CA 94062; or to the Peninsula Humane Society, 12 Airport Boulevard, San Mateo, CA 94401. Arrangements are under the direction of the Woodside Chapel of Crippen & Flynn.
