Calvin Roper
Calvin Barclay Roper, 85, who built the original Mid-Peninsula Animal Hospital across from the Menlo Park train station, died Aug. 11 at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Hospital.
Dr. Roper built the animal hospital in 1962, shortly after he and his wife and family moved to California from Connecticut.
Dr. Roper was born in Washington, D.C., to Frank and Sarah Roper. His father died when he was two months old. He grew up on Long Island and attended Cornell University, earning a degree in veterinary medicine in 1946.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy. During his college years he made life-long friendships through crew, veterinary training, and Beta Theta Pi fraternity, say family members.
In 1948 Dr. Roper married Kay Moreing. Their three children were born in Greenwich, Connecticut, close to where Dr. Roper built his first veterinary hospital.
In Menlo Park, Mid-Peninsula Animal Hospital included an upstairs apartment so there was always someone on the premises to help with overnight patients. Dr. Roper valued continuing education, supporting research, and helping with pet vaccination clinics at senior centers, say family members. He was a honorary lifetime member of the Peninsula Veterinary Medical Association. He retired in 1980.
Dr. Roper enjoyed attending Menlo Park Rotary Club meetings, riding his bike to Stanford football and baseball games, taking part in Cornell Club events, and playing golf at Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club, say family members.
For more than 20 years, he raised a variety of oak trees, which he donated to local golf courses, parks and residences.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Kay, of Menlo Park; son Calvin Roper Jr. of Kaysville, Utah; daughters Kris Baird of Santa Rosa and Linda Roper of Menlo Park; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Donations in his memory may be sent to: VA “Caring for Veterans-GPS 2803”, 795 Willow Road 11-NH, Menlo Park, Ca 94025 or Guide Dogs for the Blind, PO Box 3950, San Rafael, CA 94912.
Janet Whittaker
Friends and family are invited to celebrate the life of Janet Budde Whittaker, a resident of Sharon Heights since 1961. She died Sept. 24 at age 87.
The celebration will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, at Trellis Restaurant, 1077 El Camino Real in Menlo Park.
Ms. Whittaker was involved in the family business, the Peninsula Ad/Visor in Redwood City. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., she started her business career at Street & Smith Publishing in New York City as an administrative assistant in the advertising department.
While living in Menlo Park, she was a member of the Stanford University Medical Center Auxiliary, volunteering in the gift shop. She was honored for contributing more than 7,000 hours of service.
Ms. Whittaker was an avid golfer, reader and bridge player. One of her great joys was entertaining family and friends, say family members.
She is survived by her children, Rory Whittaker of Menlo Park, Wendy Whittaker of Mountain View, and John Whittaker of Belmont; sister Jeanne Budde Simmons of Smokerise, New Jersey; five grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. She was the widow of the late Ralph R. Whittaker Jr. Their son, Jerry, died in February 2000.
Private funeral services will be held at Alta Mesa Cemetery in Palo Alto. Donations in Ms. Whittaker’s name may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association, 1060 La Avenida St., Mountain View, CA 94043.
