Obituaries

The Rev. Christopher Hites, a co-founder of Woodside Priory School in Portola Valley, died at St. Martin's Abbey in Pannonhalma, Hungary, on May 26. He was buried there June 1.

His death was a result of complications following a bad fall. He was 85.

A memorial Mass for Father Christopher, a Catholic priest and Benedictine monk, will be held on Tuesday, June 8, at 7 p.m. in the chapel of the Woodside Priory School, 302 Portola Road, Portola Valley. A reception will follow in the Father Christopher Room.

Father Christopher left Hungary shortly after World War II to escape the growing Communist repression in Eastern Europe. Like the other six young priests who co-founded Woodside Priory School 41 years ago, Father Christopher was known for his European academic standards and his belief in the American free spirit.

He was headmaster at Woodside Priory School from 1960 until 1975, and had a strong influence on establishing the academic character of the Benedictine college preparatory school.

"His expertise in curriculum development was invaluable in preparing our fledgling school for its first accreditation," recalled Father Pius Horvath, who came to the campus in 1960. "His energy at times seemed inexhaustible."

Father Christopher studied philosophy, theology and philology at colleges and universities in Prague, Budapest, Bratislava, and at Cornell University. He taught at several high schools in Europe and the United States.

Besides his academic and spiritual interests, Father Christopher was a sports enthusiast. He helped introduce the European sport of soccer to the Bay Area. He and several students built the school's first soccer field, providing the labor for removing rocks, grading the land, and planting and maintaining the grass. With no local high school leagues, the first Priory teams initially played against Stanford freshmen and newly formed college soccer teams.

Father Christopher was the unofficial pastor for the Bay Area Hungarian Catholic community for many years. Many gathered at Woodside Priory chapel to hear Sunday Mass in their native language, a tradition that continues at Woodside Priory under the guidance of Father Maurus Nemeth.

Father Christopher remained active in ethnic Hungarian affairs in both the free world and behind the Iron Curtain. His rich knowledge of languages and his passion for reading and writing made him an expert in international political issues, said Father Pius.

After the end of the communist regime in Hungary, Father Christopher helped establish a new Hungarian Catholic University in Budapest. A friend and benefactor to many people, he was actively involved with many local parishes before his retirement.

As his eyesight and health began to fail, Father Christopher found joy and relaxation in his small garden. In 1994, he returned to St. Martin's, the monastery he had entered in 1934. He was a role model, informal English teacher and spiritual adviser to the younger generation of monks until the last days of his life, those who knew him said.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Father Christopher Scholarship Fund at the school. Call Pat Reed at 851-6139 for more information.

Warren W. Weeks, former Stanford Medical Center designer

Warren William Weeks of Woodside, who played a role in designing the neonatal care unit at Stanford Medical Center, died May 29 after a brief illness. He was 54.

Born in Santa Cruz and raised in Portola Valley, Mr. Weeks graduated from Woodside High School as a member of the "First All Woodside Class." He graduated from the California Maritime Academy and spent 18 months in Vietnam as a merchant marine.

From 1970 to 1983 Mr. Weeks worked in various capacities at the Stanford Linear Accelerator, Stanford University and at Stanford Medical Center. For the university, he designed an underground chilled-water storage system.

In 1983 the family moved to Arizona, where Mr. Weeks worked as assistant director of facilities for the University of Arizona. After seven years the family returned to Woodside.

For the past five years, Mr. Weeks served as the chief of operations and maintenance at the San Jose Convention and Cultural Center.

He was a member of the Pebble Beach chapter of the Native Sons of the Golden West. He was a supporter of youth organizations, including the future Farmers of America, the Safari Cub program of the Boy Scouts of America, and youth programs at Elkus Ranch.

He is survived by his wife, Henrietta, and son, Brian Weeks, both of Woodside; his father, Gene Weeks of Portola Valley; and his sister, Diane Long of San Diego.

A memorial service was held June 5 at Our Lady of Refuge Church in La Honda.

Irmgard Peterson, seamstress

A "Celebration of Life" service will be held for Woodside resident Irmgard C. Peterson on Monday, June 14, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Michael's Restaurant near Shoreline Park in Mountain View. Ms. Peterson died May 3. She was 58 years old.

The Almanac originally ran a notice saying the service would be held in Sunnyvale. We regret the error. Ruth M. O'Neil, homemaker

Ruth M. O'Neil, a self-employed homemaker, died at Stanford Hospital May 23. She was 82.

A native of San Francisco, Mrs. O'Neil was a veteran of World War II and an alumnus of Lowell High School in San Francisco.

She is survived by her son, William C. O'Neil of Menlo Park, granddaughter Megan O'Neil of Redwood City, and cousins Beverly and Jim Jordan of Vallejo.

Services have been held under the direction of Spangler Mortuaries in Menlo Park.

Frances Bohley, director with SRI

Frances Evangeline O'Grady Bohley, who worked for Stanford Research Institute in Menlo Park for 25 years, died May 21 in Mountain View. She was 85.

Mrs. Bohley was born in Fort Kent, Maine. In 1939 she married Martin Bohley, a Naval architect, and traveled to what was then the Territory of Hawaii. During the war, she and her husband relocated in San Mateo, then to Palo Alto. Mr. Bohley died in 1947.

Mrs. Bohley worked for the law firm of Crist and Stafford, then for the U.S. Navy at Moffett Field Naval Air Station until 1954.

She was employed at Stanford Research Institute as director of the "international secretariat" until her retirement in 1979. In her job, she organized hundreds of high-level business conferences, traveling to over 25 countries.

Mrs. Bohley is survived by her sons, Peter R. Bohley of Palo Alto, a former mayor of Woodside; Carl M. Bohley of Cupertino; sisters, Geneva Sawyer and Marie Daigle of Mountain View, and Kathleen Bouchard of Bangor, Maine; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial was held June 3 at St. Cyprian's Catholic Church, Sunnyvale. Interment was at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto.

Catherine LeBlanc, retired office manager

Catherine E. LeBlanc, who was born at home in Menlo Park and lived her entire life in the city, died May 30 at the age of 64. Services were held June 5 at St. Denis Catholic Church, of which Mrs. LeBlanc was a member.

Mrs. LeBlanc was office manager for Bay Advanced Techonology, formerly Bay Pneummatic, in Menlo Park for 15 years, before retiring two years ago. Her greatest interest was her grandchildren, according to her daughter, Rory Erickson.

She is survived by her husband of 42 years, Emile (Chuck) LeBlanc; daughters Denise LeBlanc of Menlo Park, Rory Erickson of San Jose, and Suzy McNay of Elk Grove; brothers John Patterson of Menlo Park and Edward Patterson of Modesto; a sister, Barbara Hardie of Cotati; and four grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Hospice Department of Kaiser Hospital, 1150 Veterans Blvd., Redwood City 94063; or The American Cancer Society, San Mateo County Unit, 1720 S. Amphlett Boulevard, San Mateo. Margaret Tice, Menlo Park resident

Private family services were held for Margaret D. Tice, who died May 29 in Menlo Park. She was 87.

A resident of Menlo Park for 23 years and a homemaker, Mrs. Tice was a native of Omaha, Nebraska.

She is survived by her daughter, Mary M. Tice of Menlo Park. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles J. Tice.

Donations in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association, San Mateo County, 1710 Gilbreth Road, Burlingame, or The Peninsula Humane Society, 12 Airport Blvd., San Mateo.



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