Lowell H. Duggan
A celebration of the life of Lowell Harmon Duggan will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2, at the San Mateo County Mounted Patrol Grounds, 521 Kings Mountain Road in Woodside.
Mr. Duggan, a resident of Woodside for almost 44 years, died Oct. 31. He was 88.
A lifelong horseman, Mr. Duggan was honored in 1995 with the “Outstanding Horseman-Citizen Award” by the Mounted Patrol in recognition of his “professional achievements and more than 30 years of outstanding service to the citizens of San Mateo County.”
He joined the Mounted Patrol in 1964 and served as captain in 1976, attending meetings until just a few months ago. He also served as commander of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Air Squadron, putting in more than 7,000 hours as pilot-in-command.
Mr. Duggan was born in San Francisco. He traced his love of horses to spending his early childhood on his aunt and uncle’s ranch in Oregon. Years later he trained an Appaloosa named “Coho Azul” for cutting, and won first place in a competition at the 1965 Cow Palace Grand National.
During World War II, Mr. Duggan served throughout Southeast Asia. He received the Bronze Star for his role in a search and rescue mission in northern Burma.
After the war he formed the Duggan Investment Company, servicing more than $300 million annually of real estate mortgages for large banks and insurance companies. He later sold the company and acquired Security Savings and Loan in San Jose, serving as senior vice president of the holding company, California Financial Corporation (CFC).
Following the sale of CFC, he reactivated Duggan Investment Company. He also became an independent agent for the Agency for International Development, originating large loans on a worldwide basis. He later served as a financial consultant to individuals and companies
Mr. Duggan was a former chairman of the Commonwealth Club of California, vice president of the Navy League, Alameda Air Station; Port Captain of the Alameda Sea Scouts; and life member of the Boy Scouts of America.
Mr. Duggan is survived by his three children, Shellie, Charles and Susan; and two grandchildren. His wife of 60 years, Janet, died in 2003.
For further information on the Dec. 2 services for Mr. Duggan, visit http://lowellduggan.vox.com/library/post/lowell-duggans-celebration-of-life.html
Kevin Shanahan
A celebration of the life of Kevin Shanahan of Woodside will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at the San Mateo County Mounted Patrol grounds, 521 Kings Mountain Road in Woodside. Mr. Shanahan, 51, died at Stanford Medical Center on Nov. 25 after a three-year battle with transitional cell cancer.
Mr. Shanahan was a sports massage therapist with the San Francisco Giants.
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, he graduated from Western Kentucky University with a degree in communications in 1979. After graduation he met Nancy Benson Mitchell and they were married in 1980. They moved to California in 1985. After working in advertising, Mr. Shanahan changed careers and became a sports massage therapist in Menlo Park.
He was a passionate athlete and gifted musician, say family members. His favorite sports were surfing, cycling and running. He played rhythm guitar with the group Blue Monday.
Mr. Shanahan is survived by his wife of 27 years, Nancy Mitchell Shanahan of Woodside; daughter Lily Sinclair Shanahan of Woodside; and sisters Iris Criss of Vermilion, Ohio, and Robin Ann Michel of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
For a map of the Mounted Patrol Grounds, call 851-8300 or go to www.mpsmc.org. The family prefers donations to the Lance Armstrong Foundation; or to the college fund for Lily Shanahan, payable to CollegeAmerica fbo Lily S. Shanahan, 119 Alta Mesa Drive, Woodside, CA 94062.
Roger May
Roger Earle May of Ladera died of a heart attack Nov. 21 in Vail, Colorado. Mr. May and his wife, Diane, were visiting their sons and families in Colorado for Thanksgiving. He was 76.
Mr. May, a resident of Ladera since 1960, was a stockbroker for more than 50 years, starting with J. Earle May and Co. He was employed at Smith Barney in Menlo Park at the time of his death.
Mr. May was born in Los Angeles and moved to Palo Alto as a small child. He graduated from Palo Alto High School and the University of Colorado at Boulder. At the 50-year anniversary of his college graduation, he took part in commencement exercises with his graduating grandson, Ryan May.
After serving in the U.S. Navy for two years after college, Mr. May traveled to Europe. There he met his future wife, Diane Ball. They were married in Madrid, Spain, in 1955.
Mr. May was a charter member of the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club and member of the Palo Alto Club. As a domino player, he took part in the annual Children’s Health Council domino tournament for many years. He was a member of Ladera Community Church and sang in its choir for more than 40 years.
Mr. May is survived by his wife, Diane May of Portola Valley; sons Nowell May and Brice May of Colorado; brother Dick May of New York; and six grandchildren.
A family service was held at the Black Mountain Ranch in McCoy, Colorado, on Nov. 24. A local memorial service will be held in January. The family prefers donations to the Ladera Community Church Endowment Fund in Portola Valley.
Brighid McDermott
Brighid Maria Sophia Graine McDermott, who lived in Menlo Park from 1965 until 1979, died Sept. 22. A burial service was held Sept. 27 at Holy Cross Cemetery in Menlo Park. She was 66.
Ms. McDermott was a longtime resident of Claremont, California. She was an artist who enjoyed ceramics, drawing, gardening, knitting and walking through Santa Ana Botanical Gardens. Her many travels included adventures through American, Africa and Europe, including Slovenia and Albania.
She was born Sylvia Rosalie Jennifer McDermott in Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset, England. As a young woman she moved to the United States, settling in Menlo Park, where she met John Peter Holgren. They were married in 1965.
Ms. McDermott is survived by her three daughters, Dr. Anna Holmgren, Sarah Holmgren and Susan Holmgren.
Memorials in Ms. McDermott’s name may be made to Conversations International Ovarian Cancer Connection and Fund for Ovarian Cancer Research at www.ovarian-news.org.; or Conversations, P.O. Box 7948, Amarillo, TX 79114-7948.
