Obituaries

Joan Fischer Targ, a longtime resident of Portola Valley who was in the news in recent years in a dispute with neighbors over an organic farm, died suddenly and unexpectedly of a cerebral hemorrhage June 2. She was 60 years old.

Her death occurred just weeks after the settlement of a five-year battle with neighbors, Planning Commissioners, and the Portola Valley Town Council over her plans to start a small organic garden and truck farm on a parcel of land in the Hayfields division. In April a San Mateo County Superior Judge awarded her the right to establish her farm.

While she gained local notoriety for the garden dispute, her life was remarkable both for the depth of her achievements and the breadth of her far-ranging interests, family members said.

Born in Moscow, she was the daughter of Dr. Regina Pustan and German biophysicist Hans-Gerhardt Fischer. It was Joan who first taught her younger brother, chess prodigy Bobby Fischer, to play the game. He went on to beat Russian title-holder Boris Spassky for the world chess championship in 1972.

Ms. Targ attended high school in New York, where she was a Regent's Scholar before attending Brooklyn College. Her many degrees include a master's in education from the College of Notre Dame and certification as a master gardener from the University of California's Extension School. A registered nurse as well, she achieved the highest nursing board score east of the Mississippi, family members said.

In New York she also did extensive research at the Museum of Natural History and in Santiago, Chile, where she worked on a project that involved classification of pre-Columbian artifacts.

After moving to Palo Alto she taught at Jordan Middle School, where she began pioneering a peer tutoring program. Her interest in peer tutoring and experiential learning led her to the Stanford Project at the School of Education, where she developed an innovative computer-tutoring program. Widely admired, the program was subsequently adopted by -- among other institutions -- the McNair School in East Palo Alto, which teamed NASA scientists with students in learning about the Internet.

Family members said that, to Ms. Targ, the farm was as much about building community as growing vegetables and was an outgrowth of her convictions about the value of learning by experience and the importance of engaging life completely.

She is survived by her husband, Russell Targ; her children, Alex, Nicholas, and Elizabeth; her brother, Bobby Fischer; and three grandchildren.

A celebration of her life was held at the Targ home in Portola Valley on Sunday, June 7. About 100 people turned out in a gentle drizzle to say kaddish, followed by a drum-led march to the garden which her children said had been such a central theme of her life.

Joline Archer Longtime Portola Valley resident

Joline Archer, a longtime resident of Portola Valley, died on May 20. She was 73.

She is survived by her husband, Robert, of Portola Valley; daughter Mary Jo Kloezeman of Portola Valley; and a grandson.

Services have been held.

Agostino Ascani

Member of Italian-

American Social Club

Agostino Ascani, an East Palo Alto carpenter and member of Menlo Park's Italian-American Social Club, died in Redwood City on May 31. He was 83.

A native of Frontone, Italy, Mr. Ascani is survived by his wife, Adalgisa; sons Otello and Dominic, both of Redwood City; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Ivo, who lives in San Carlos, and three sisters, Linda Passetti of Millbrae, Lisa Cavallini of San Francisco and Marina Giombini of Pergola, Italy.

A memorial service was held June 3 at the Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park.

Franklin Milton "Bud" Warden

Former Woodside resident

Former Woodside resident Bud Warden died on April 28 in Orlando, Florida, where he had lived for the past 12 years. He was 80 years old.

Born and raised in Chicago, Mr. Warden attended Colgate University, where he lettered in track and field. He returned to Chicago and married Wynee Martin in 1943, and remained married until his death.

During World War II he served as a second lieutenant and fighter pilot instructor in the Army Air Corps.

An avid golfer, Mr. Warden was past president of Palo Alto Hills Country Club. As the owner of Artline Packaging in Burlingame, he was also involved in many aspects of the packaging industry, family members said.

After relocating to Florida, Mr. Warden was a member of the Bay Hill Club in Orlando and was also involved with various community and charitable organizations including the Arnold Palmer Hospital and Rollins College.

Mr. Warden is survived by his wife of 55 years, Wynee; his three sons, Bert of Redwood City, Chandler of Tucson, Arizona, and Andrew of Orlando, Florida; and seven grandchildren.

The family asks that any donations be directed to the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children, 92 West Knorr Rd., Orlando, FL 32803. John "Jack" James Willis

40-year resident of Menlo Park

Jack Willis of Menlo Park died June 1. He was 84.

Born in Sherman Oaks, Mr. Willis moved to Menlo Park in 1958. He retired in 1976 after working for 42 years on railroads.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Neva May Willis; children Donna Rife and Jack Willis; seven grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.

Contributions may be made to the MidPeninsula Hospice Foundation, 65 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, 94025.



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