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Issue date: June 14, 2000
OBITUARIES
OBITUARIES
(June 14, 2000)
Joseph Quilter dies; he was Portola Valley pioneer, trail builder
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 16, in Stanford Memorial Church for Rear Admiral Joseph F. Quilter (U.S. Navy, Retired), one of the giants of Portola Valley and guardian of its trails, who suffered a stroke at his Portola Valley home early June 7 and died later that morning at Stanford Hospital. He was 93.
Ever since he moved to Portola Valley in 1955, Admiral Quilter was a commanding presence and an active participant in shaping the community.
"We always referred to him as the Admiral," recalls Bill Lane, another town leader and pioneer, who worked closely with him through incorporation of Portola Valley and afterward. "He was one of the heroes of our town. He'll be remembered for his integrity and convictions -- strong convictions."
Admiral Quilter's greatest legacy in Portola Valley has been his commitment to building a system of trails that allow residents to get around town on foot or horseback. "Trails are a real asset to the community," he told the Almanac in an interview last year. "In the old parts of town, they're a way of getting around without being on the pavement. In the newer areas, which have open space, they're a way to see open spaces."
Up until the very end, Admiral Quilter would go out regularly to check trails and culverts. The morning before he died, he taught a computer class at Little House and came to Town Hall to check an agenda for a meeting, says Mary Hufty, Trail Committee chair.
He also had an amazing memory for trails. "He knew every detail about every culvert and every easement on every trail. He knew the house numbers along every trail in the entire valley," says Dr. Hufty. "Win or lose, he kept his sense of humor and never got bitter."
The retired rear admiral who used to tool around Portola Valley in his 1960 Morris Minor convertible was forged by 30 years in the Navy.
Joe Quilter was born on Good Friday, 1907, in Binghamton, New York, the oldest of eight children.
As a youth, he developed a passion for airplanes, and entered the Naval Academy in 1924. After earning his wings in 1930, "Slim" Quilter flew open cockpit Vought biplanes, the kind that were catapulted from a ship and had to land in the water.
For five years, he served on the cruiser Augusta, often used by President Roosevelt. From 1933 to 1936, his ship served "on the China Station," cruising the Pacific and Orient, showing the flag.
Another Quilter legend was born in Sydney, Australia, in 1934. He flew under the newly built bridge across Sydney harbor, not once, but twice, before being chewed out by the captain, who was Chester Nimitz.
Mr. Lane learned of the episode when he went to Australia as ambassador. "People are still talking about it," he says.
In 1936, Lt. Quilter married Adrienne Balch of Hawaii in Manila. They had two children. He spent most of World War II in Washington helping design and supervise construction of aircraft carriers.
In 1945, Commander Quilter commissioned the new aircraft carrier Shangri-La, and subsequently ran the ship as executive officer. Then he saw his only action in the bitter Okinawa campaign against suicide kamikaze attackers. He was awarded the Bronze Star. In a later assignment, he was a senior naval observer of the atomic bomb tests at Bikini.
For his final post before retiring and moving to Portola Valley, Captain Quilter commanded the seaplane tender Salisbury Sound, which was home ship to the Navy's flying boat patrol bomber operations along the Korean coast.
Retiring in 1954, Admiral Quilter received an MBA from Stanford and worked at Lockheed Missiles and Space Co. until 1968. His first wife, Adrienne, died in 1974. He later married Phyllis Blum, widow of the late Frank Blum. They became officers in the Computer Club at Little House in Menlo Park, active environmentalists and world travelers.
Admiral Quilter is survived by his wife, Phyllis Blum Quilter; a brother, Brendan Quilter of Ann Arbor, Michigan; sisters Patricia Quilter of Binghamton, New York, and Frances Quilter Donovan of Montrose, Pennsylvania; a son, John F. Quilter of Brisbane; a daughter, Jane Quilter Kennedy of San Francisco; a granddaughter, Susannah Kennedy Poppensieker of Hamburg, Germany; and two great-grandsons.
The family suggests donations to the Portola Valley Open Space Acquisition Fund (PVOSAF) at Portola Valley Town Hall, 765 Portola Road, Portola Valley, CA 94028; Youth and Family Assistance, 609 Price Ave., Redwood City, CA 94063; or a favorite charity.
Ross Meredith
Woodside Stable founder
Ross Meredith, noted Woodside horseman, died in Redwood City May 30. He was 84.
Born in Oklahoma to a long line of horse trainers, he began riding in matched quarter horse races when he was 12. In 1950 Mr. Meredith came to Woodside with his wife and family and opened the Woodside Stable.
During his long career, he won many awards from the California State Fair, the Santa Maria Quarter Horse Show and the Cow Palace, according to family members. He was named Distinguished Horseman of 1973.
He is credited with starting the San Mateo County Horsemen's Association's Playday, organizing the Western Riding Clinic and the Woodside Livestock Committee, and he designed the trail horse courses for Tally Ho for 20 years.
Mr. Meredith was preceded in death by his wife Ruth. He is survived by his daughter Laurajane Alvis of Pioneer; his grandchildren Gary Lee Alvis of South Lake Tahoe, Jane Heavenston of Redwood City and Paula Alvis of Pioneer; and five great-grandchildren.
Services were held at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo. The family prefers memorial contributions be made to MidPeninsula Hospice, 65 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025; or to Alzheimer's Association, 330 Distal Circle #A, Los Altos, CA 94022.
Barbara Sheiry Ely
38-year Menlo Park resident
Barbara Sheiry Ely died at her Menlo Park home May 30. She was 69.
Mrs. Ely was born in Istanbul, Turkey, and grew up in Bronxville, New York. She had been a resident of Menlo Park since 1962.
Mrs. Ely is survived by her husband Paul C. Ely Jr. of Menlo Park; her sons Skip Ely of La Selva Beach and Glenn Ely of Aptos; and her granddaughters Amy Lynn Ely, Hannah Barbara Ely and Alyson Sheiry Ely.
A private memorial service will be held. The family prefers memorial donations be made to RRAD (Respite and Research for Alzheimer's Disease), 2380 Enborg Lane, San Jose, CA 95128; or to the Sensory Access Foundation, 1142 West Evelyn Ave., Sunnyvale, CA 94086.
Mildred Calata
Little House volunteer
A memorial Mass for Mildred Calata, a Portola Valley resident, will be held Wednesday, June 14, at 9:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Wayside Catholic Church, located at 930 Portola Road in Portola Valley.
Mrs. Calata died June 9 at her home in Portola Valley. She was 94. She was a native of Chicago and she volunteered in the Little House kitchen for 15 years.
She is survived by her children Joan Lazzara and Annette Calata, both of Portola Valley; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
The family prefers that memorial donations be made to Poplar Recare, 875 Stanton Road, Burlingame, CA 94010. Arrangements are by Spangler Mortuaries.
Agnes L. Knight
Sequoias resident
Agnes L. Knight died at her home at the Sequoias in Portola Valley on May 14. She was 90.
Mrs. Knight was born in La Porte, Indiana. She graduated from Smith College in 1931, and in 1934, married Harry W. Knight. During her life, Mrs. Knight lived in Menlo Park; New Canaan, Connecticut; and Vero Beach, Florida.
She was preceded in death by Mr. Knight, her husband of 60 years. Mrs. Knight is survived by her sons Kirk L. Knight of Portola Valley and Harry W. Knight Jr. of Palo Alto; and her grandchildren Rodney Knight and Kristina Knight, both of Portola Valley.
Private interment services were held at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, with arrangements through Crippen & Flynn.
Marie Barbariol
Menlo Park resident
Marie Barbariol, a Menlo Park resident, died in Redwood City June 1. She was 72.
Mrs. Barbariol, a native of Odiarp, France, is survived by her husband, Tarcisio Barbariol of Menlo Park; her daughters, Agnes Mendelson of Atherton and Angela Barbariol of Duvall, Washington; her siblings, Jean Elichalt, Marie Louise Hastoy, Jean Baptiste Elichart, Maider Bordagaray and Marianne Larragneguy, all of France; and her cousin Roger Lilles of San Mateo.
A funeral Mass was held at St. Raymond's Catholic Church in Menlo Park. Arrangements were by Spangler Mortuaries. The family prefers memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 2065 West El Camino Real, Suite C, Mountain View, CA 94040.
William B. Hosey
Retired Commander, U.S. Navy
William B. Hosey of Menlo Park died June 4 after a lengthy battle with congestive heart failure. He was 81.
A native of Laurel, Mississippi, Commander Hosey graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1942 with a degree in marine engineering. He served as a naval aviator and his last tour of duty was as chief executive officer aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Kearsarge.
His honors included the Silver Star Presidential Unit Citation, a Navy commendation, Asiatic Pacific Theatre, Japanese Occupation World War II Victory, National Defense, and Korean Service Defense.
Commander Hosey is survived by his wife of 38 years, Grace (Lynn); daughter Diane Hosey Howell; son John L. Hosey; sister Beatrice Hosey Janus; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held June 12 at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church.
Naomi June Hart
50-year Menlo resident
A memorial service will be held June 24 for Naomi June Hart, a resident of Menlo Park for more than 50 years, who died June 5. She was 73.
Mrs. Hart was born in Fairbury, Nebraska, and moved to Corvallis, Oregon, with her family as a teenager. When she was 16, she met her future husband, Frank, at a skating rink in Corvallis. They married after he returned from service in World War II.
Mrs. Hart became a Jehovah Witness in 1948; her husband joined her in 1950. The couple remained active in Jehovah's Witnesses for the next 50 years. Both taught Bible studies for many years.
Mrs. Hart was also known as a excellent cook and enjoyed growing flowers, fruit and vegetables in her garden.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Frank H. Hart of Menlo Park; sons, Frank J. Hart of Santa Clara and David Allan Hart of San Jose; daughter, Sandra Lynn Gustafik of Auburn; sister, Geraldine Heins of Grant's Pass, Oregon; and five grandchildren.
The memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 681 2nd St., Redwood City.
Irene M. Arms
Menlo Park homemaker
Irene M. Arms, a resident of Menlo Park since 1943, died June 2 at Menlo Park Place. She was 92.
A member of St. Raymond's Catholic Church, Mrs. Arms is survived by her son Ronald of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Services were held June 8 at the Menlo Park Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries with interment at Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto.
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