Obituaries Obituaries (May 14, 2001)

David Regnery

An original Westridge resident

David Cook Regnery, who, with his wife, Dorothy, was one of the original residents of Westridge in Portola Valley, died May 9 after a cardiac arrest.

Born in Illinois in 1918, Dr. Regnery moved to San Diego County with his family as a child. He graduated from Stanford University as a biochemistry major in 1941. After taking part in the Woods Hole Marine Biology program in the summer of 1941, he began his graduate studies in biology at Stanford. His studies were interrupted when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving as a corpsman-epidemiologist until 1946.

After completing graduate work at Stanford he moved to Cal Tech where he received his doctorate in 1947. Dr. Regnery's 41-year career with the Stanford Biology Department began after completing his doctoral. degree. He taught introductory biology classes for more than 20 years. He also taught upper-division courses in eukaryotic genetics and the ecology of disease. Many of his research studies used Jasper Ridge Biologic Preserve as a study site.

Dr. Regnery spent a sabbatical year in 1962-1963 at the Australian National University, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Canberra, Australia. Dr. Regnery's career as a member of the Stanford faculty was notable for his genuine commitment to excellence in teaching and the number of students he inspired, say family members.

A resident of Portola Valley for 50 years, Dr. Regnery was a member of the Portola Valley School District's board of trustees during the district's period of rapid growth in the 1950s.

Dr. Regnery is survived by his children: Richard of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, Russell of Tucker, Georgia, and Roberta of Jacksonport, Wisconsin; a brother, Rolland, of Los Altos; a sister, Ruth Paine, of Pomona; and two grandchildren. His wife, Dorothy, a well-known regional historian, died in 1990.

At Dr. Regnery's request, no public service is planned. Donations in his name may be made to the Peninsula Open Space Trust, 3000 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park 94025.
Maryadele Burke Colville

Ski patrol nurse and community volunteer

A memorial service is planned for Maryadele Burke Colville at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 19, at St. Denis Catholic Church in Menlo Park. Ms. Colville died in her sleep after a 13-year struggle with brain cancer, relatives said. She was 48.

Ms. Colville was a native of Cohasset, Massachusetts, and obtained a nursing degree from New England Baptist Hospital. She went on to work in the intensive care units at Massachusetts General Hospital and the hospital at the University of California, San Francisco, family members said. She later worked as a ski patrol nurse on the ski slopes at Killington, Vermont.

Ms. Colville married and moved to the Bay Area, residing in Portola Valley with her family for the past nine years. She returned to school at the University of California, Berkeley, and earned a business degree in 1988, relatives said.

She was active in the Portola Valley community, volunteering in the classroom, with Windmill Preschools and with the Portola Valley School Foundation. Ms. Colville was also a communicant at St. Denis Church and enjoyed membership in the Renew group there, relatives said.

Family members said she had an optimistic personality and never let her disease interfere with her life, which included sailing, travel and hockey. She especially enjoyed the San Jose Sharks.

Ms. Colville is survived by her husband James of Portola Valley and daughters Kayley and Alana.

Funeral services will be held at her family home in Cohasset, Massachusetts. Donations may be made in Ms. Colville's name to the National Brain Tumor Foundation, 414 13th St., Oakland, CA 94612-2603.

Vera Wade

Longtime resident of Menlo Park

Vera Wade, a native of Russia who lived for more than 40 years in Menlo Park, died May 9 at Sharon Heights Convalescent home in Menlo Park. She was 90.

Ms. Wade was a homemaker who liked cooking and entertaining and enjoyed helping others, family members said. She was the wife of the late Nicholas Wade and mother of the late Michael Vedensky.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, May 15, at the Russian Orthodox Church of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin in Menlo Park, with interment at the Alta Mesa Memorial Park.

Glenn A. Heimsoth

Horseman from Woodside

Glenn A. Heimsoth, horseman and resident of Woodside for nearly 40 years, died May 1 at Sequoia Hospital at the age of 85.

Family members said Mr. Heimsoth made lasting impressions of kindness and friendship on people he met, that he "sparkled with laughter and joy" and lived by the golden rule.

He especially enjoyed his horses and the country living in Woodside, relatives said. His love of horses was reflected by his long membership in the San Mateo County Horsemen's Association and the fact that his barn was one of the largest on a residential property in Woodside.

Mr. Heimsoth's wife, Bettye, died three years ago. He is survived by his sons Charles of Pacifica and Gerald of Woodside; daughter Lynda Walker Backman of Foster City; brother Guy of San Mateo; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and his caregiver Maria Castillas.

A memorial service was held May 5. Donations may be made in Mr. Heimsoth's name to the San Mateo County Horsemans' Association in Woodside.

Kathleen Teresa Molteni

Gardener and longtime resident of Menlo Park

Kathleen Teresa Molteni, a resident of Menlo Park for 49 years, died May 3 at the age of 76.

Ms. Molteni was a native of County Cork, Ireland. Relatives said she was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who enjoyed baking and gardening. She was also a sports fan. On June 9, she would have celebrated her 50th wedding anniversary.

Ms. Molteni is survived by her husband Louis; daughters Mary Ann of Belmont, Kathleen L. Samut of Redwood Shores, Sheila Ann Barrett of Menlo Park and Teresa Ann of Reno, Nevada; sons John of Redwood Shores and Louis of Sacramento; sisters Bridget of Boston, Julie Anne of Australia and Maureen Sweeney of England; and three grandchildren.

Private funeral services were held. Donations in Ms. Molteni's memory may be made to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, Texas 75265-0309.

Winifred Coyle

Longtime resident of Menlo Park

Winifred (Teddy) Coyle, a resident of Menlo Park for 25 years, died at her home in Palo Alto on May 5. She was 92.

Ms. Coyle was a native of Indiana. She graduated with honors from Ohio State University and in 1936, she married.

Ms. Coyle is survived by her husband Edward of Palo Alto; sister Peggy Green of Getzville, New York; daughter Nancy of Palo Alto; son Edward of Frisco, Texas; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A private memorial service is being planned. Donations may be made in Ms. Coyle's name to the Girl Scouts - Santa Clara Council at 1310 South Bascom Ave., San Jose, CA 95128, or to the Midpeninsula Pathway Hospice at 201 San Antonio Circle, Suite 135, Mountain View, CA 94040.