OBITUARIES OBITUARIES (February 14, 2001)

Gary Lawrence Neil

Pharmaceutical researcher

A memorial service for Gary Lawrence Neil of Menlo Park, who died February 9, is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 15, at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, 950 Santa Cruz Ave.

Mr. Neil was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan, and received his doctorate in chemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 1966. He spent his professional life engaged in pharmaceutical research and development. Among other firms, he worked for the Therapeutic Discovery Corp. in Palo Alto, and became the president and chief executive officer of Crescendo Pharmaceuticals in Mountain View.

He is survived by his wife, Beverly, whom he married in 1962; his daughter, Nadine Fabish; his son, Michael Neil; and his grandson, Tyler Fabish. He is also survived by his mother, Barbara Neil; his sisters, Shirley Mennel and Nancy Neil; and his brothers, Doug and Robert Neil.

Mr. Neil's family said he believed a person achieved success by living well, laughing often and loving much, and that he was successful in all these endeavors.

He enjoyed the water, and spent much of his personal time sailing, windsurfing and water skiing. His pleasure in taking vacations around the world with his family was surpassed only by his love of being a grandfather, family members said.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the National Brain Tumor Foundation, 414 13th St., Suite 700, Oakland, CA 94612-2603 (www.braintumor.org), or to Stanford Hospice, 300 Pasteur Drive, Mail Code 5520, Stanford, CA 94305.

Charlotte Shearer

Community volunteer

Charlotte Shearer, who lived in Menlo Park for 30 years, died January 31 at Doctors' Hospital in Modesto. She was 85.

Mrs. Shearer was born in Iron River, Michigan. In 1933 she was married to Lorne F. Van Sickle and lived in Detroit, where two daughters were born. In 1948 the family moved to Los Angeles, where a third daughter was born.

In 1960, following the death of Mr. Van Sickle, Charlotte married James Shearer. The couple moved to Menlo Park, where Mrs. Shearer lived for 30 years. Mr. Shearer died in 1994.

Mrs. Shearer volunteered at the Cancer Society Discovery Shop in Menlo Park for more than 20 years, as well as at Sequoia Hospital and Stanford Medical Center. She enjoyed entertaining and was a fabulous cook and baker, says her family.

She also worked from time to time in the women's garment industry, creating couturier apparel, and enjoyed sewing for her daughters. While living in Menlo Park, she walked around the lake at Sharon Heights Park nearly every day with friends.

Last November Mrs. Shearer moved to Angels Camp to live with her daughter, Patricia.

Mrs. Shearer is survived by daughters Kay White of Susanville, Patricia Hudson of Angels Camp, and Suzanne Van Sickle Gilletly of San Mateo; three grandsons; and seven great-grandchildren.

Services were held February 10 at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church.

Caroline La Barbera

Atherton resident

Caroline La Barbera, who was married to her husband, John, for 77 years, died February 5 at age 94.

Caroline and John La Barbera eloped from San Francisco to Portland, Oregon, when both were just 17, and attended business school. Mrs. La Barbera became a buyer of infants' and children's wear for many years and, later, worked in the purchasing department of Southern Pacific Railroad.

In 1956 the couple took early retirement and moved from San Francisco to San Carlos. Five years ago they moved to Atherton to live in the spacious in-law unit of their only child, Marie Zahn, and her husband, Dene, built for them at their home.

The La Barberas celebrated their 75th wedding anniversary with a black-tie dinner dance for 125 at Sharon Heights Country Club. The Zahns put on parties for her parents every five years, starting with their 50th wedding anniversary.

The La Barberas loved to travel, visiting Mexico, Europe, the Philippines, and Hong Kong, with many trips to Hawaii.

Mrs. La Barbera is survived by her husband, John Sebastian La Barbera; daughter, Marie Zahn, and her husband, Dene; grandchildren Lynne Meyer of Morgan Hill and Timothy Cookston of Santa Rosa; and one great-granddaughter.

A Mass of Christian burial was held at Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park on February 8, with interment at Italian Cemetery in Colma.

Barbara Helms

Music teacher

Barbara V. Helms of Menlo Park, a music teacher in the Millbrae school district for 19 years, died February 3 at age 85.

Mrs. Helms was born in Berkeley. She was a graduate of U.C. Berkeley and attended Columbia University and the Juilliard School of Music.

After a brief professional career as a concert violinist, Mrs. Helms returned to California to become a music teacher in Leggett Valley, Napa, Burlingame and Millbrae. She was also first violinist for the Peninsula Symphony.

Mrs. Helms, a member of the Sierra Club, had a great love for the High Sierra and Yosemite National Park, where she and her husband first met, say family members. She and her husband, Bill, traveled extensively, visiting 32 countries and six continents, taking countless photographs along the way.

Mrs. Helms was also a member of Sigma Alpha Iota music fraternity and the American Association of University Women.

Mrs. Helms is survived by her husband of 57 years, Bill; sons Robert of Santa Barbara, Richard of Huntsville, Arkansas, and Gary of Ashburn, Virginia; and three granddaughters.

Services were held February 7 at Spangler Mortuary, Menlo Park.

Joy Dutcher

County social worker

Joy Nina Dutcher of Menlo Park, a Santa Clara County social worker, died unexpectedly on February 4 at Stanford Medical Center following a brief illness. She was 72.

Ms. Dutcher, a native of Carlsbad, lived in Menlo Park for nearly 30 years. She was a graduate of Los Angeles State College and received her master's degree in social work from University of Southern California.

She was a social worker for Santa Clara County child welfare services from 1979 to 1989. In recent years she provided social services in conjunction with the juvenile court. She was also a social worker in the pediatric oncology program at Stanford University.

Ms. Dutcher's many interests included her pet cats, her fine doll collection, indigenous art and artifacts, say family members.

Ms. Dutcher is survived by her brother, Franklin Dutcher, and sister-in-law, Joyce, of Amity, Oregon; as well as an uncle and cousins.

A memorial service was held February 8 in Walnut Creek, with burial in San Bernardino.

Memorials may be made in Ms. Dutcher's name to the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, 725 Welch Road, Palo Alto 94304.

Robert Maxwell

IBM executive

Robert M. Maxwell, 81, of Menlo Park died January 28 in Ralston Village of Belmont after a short illness.

Mr. Maxwell was born in Oak Park, Illinois, and attended the University of Illinois.

The day after Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Navy's personnel and accounting department throughout World War II. Shortly after his discharge, he was employed by IBM as a sales trainee, and spent the following 38 years either in direct sales or developing sales programs for new products. He was assigned to six cities, from New York to California, the last being Menlo Park in 1974.

He retired from IBM in 1984. Mr. Maxwell's father, Paul, and brother, William, were also employed by IBM. The three of them amassed 103 years with the company over a 60-year period.

In 1950 Mr. Maxwell was called to active duty in the Korean War, serving at the Brooklyn Navy Yard on a project to computerize and coordinate all Naval supplies and equipment.

Throughout his life, Mr. Maxwell had a passion for fishing, say family members. He especially liked salmon fishing and, at least once a week, was off to Sausalito to board a favorite party boat. He also enjoyed giving his catch away to friends and neighbors.

Mr. Maxwell is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marjorie, whom he met when their families were neighbors in Oak Park, Illinois; a son, Thomas, of Oak Park; a sister, Elaine Olstead of Royal Oak, Michigan; a brother, William, of Willowbrook, Illinois; and one granddaughter.

The family prefers memorials to the Alzheimer's Association, research fund, 2065 West El Camino Real, suite C, Mountain View 94040.