Obituaries Obituaries (May 30, 2001)

Joe Nicolaison

A good friend to Portola Valley students

A memorial service for Joe Nicolaison, a friend to students, teachers and families during his 30 years as a custodian in the Portola Valley School District, will be held on Thursday, June 7, at 3 p.m. in Christ Episcopal Church in Portola Valley.

Mr. Nicolaison died March 23 at his cottage on the former Morshead Ranch in Portola Valley after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 57.

Joe, as he was called by students and adults at Ormondale School, fought in Vietnam. As he was fond of saying, he "beat the odds in 'Nam," and he was determined to do the same against the lung cancer that invaded and slowly destroyed his body, said Principal Eva Gal in her letter to Ormondale families.

"He fought a valiant battle, and he stayed with us way beyond his doctors expectations," she said. "Through all the chemotherapy, he continued to work at our school, and take care of us. When work became too difficult, he came to lunch regularly and participated as much as possible. He was a presence in our school to the end, and our children loved to see him around."

Ormondale celebrated Joe's friendship, service and contributions to the school during "Joe's Day" April 4 with all classes participating by singing, reading their poems and short skits. The large play structure at Ormondale was dedicated to him and the area named "Joe's Place." In lieu of flowers, his family requests that contributions in his memory be made to the Portola Valley PTA.
Eleanor S. Hengehold

Architectural assistant and hospital volunteer

Eleanor S. Hengehold, a resident of Menlo Park, died May 23 at the Stanford Medical Center at the age of 88.

Ms. Hengehold worked for 12 years as an assistant to the president at Dietrich Post, Architects. She also volunteered regularly at Stanford Hospital and was a member of the Bellarmine Prep Mothers Club.

Ms. Hengehold is survived by her sons David of Los Altos, James of Menlo Park and Richard of Minnesota; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Private family services have been held. Ms. Hengehold was interred at the Gate of Heaven cemetery in Los Altos. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers contributions to the Ecumenical Hunger Program, 1836 Bay Road, East Palo Alto, CA 94303.
Weldon Gibson

A founder of SRI

Weldon "Hoot" Gibson, 84, a founder of the Stanford Research Institute (SRI), died May 6 of heart failure.

A native of Eldorado, Texas, he was a 1938 graduate of Washington State University. He received his master's degree in business administration in 1940 and his doctorate in 1950 from the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

He was one of the founders of SRI (then the Stanford Research Institute), joining as chairman of business and economics and becoming chairman of international programs in 1947.

He remained at SRI for more than 40 years, building it into a worldwide research and technology development operation, and organizing and directing more than 80 major international conferences for senior business executives in 25 countries.

Dr. Gibson was named associate director of SRI in 1956, vice president in 1959, executive vice president in 1960, senior director in 1982, and senior director emeritus in 1988.

Before joining SRI, Dr. Gibson served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as director of material requirements, retiring as a colonel, and was assistant director of the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology in Dayton, Ohio.

He was awarded the Medal of the Legion of Merit in 1946 and the order of Commander of the British Empire in 1947. In recognition of his lifetime of achievements, SRI established the Weldon B. Gibson Achievement Award in 1999.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Helen Gibson; a son, David Gibson; and one grandchild.

Funeral services are private. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 10 in Memorial Church, at Stanford University. Donations in his memory may be made to the Dr. Weldon B. Gibson Memorial Fund, Peninsula Community Foundation, 1700 South El Camino Real, Suite 300, San Mateo, 94402-3049.
Harold Lakin

Artist and inventor

Harold Lakin, an inventor, artist and resident of Portola Valley for 35 years, died May 13 in his home. He was 75.

Mr. Lakin served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army during World War II and participated in liberating prisoners from Nazi concentration camps, relatives said.

After the war, he attended Rensselear Polytechnic Institute in New York and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering.

Following graduation, Mr. Lakin moved to California, where he worked in the optics field and led a distinguished career as a designer, engineer and inventor, relatives said.

Throughout his life, he wrote poems and stories for his children and grandchildren. During the last 15 years, he also gave them sculptures in wood and stone that he created, they said.

Mr. Lakin is survived by his wife, Bernice; his daughters, Jan of New York City and Lynn Dorman of Kona, Hawaii; and three grandchildren.

Donations in his memory may be made to the MidPeninsula Pathways Hospice Foundation.
Charles Thomas Black

Wine maker and longtime resident of Woodside

Charles Thomas Black, a resident of Woodside for 44 years whose avocation was wine making, died May 23 at the Canyon House Care Home in Atherton. He was 75.

Mr. Black grew up in La Salle, Illinois, and served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After the war, he attended the University of Illinois and graduated with a degree in business administration, relatives said.

After moving to the Bay Area, he pursued a career in sales and advertising and enjoyed a long interest in viticulture, relatives said. Mr. Black was a member of the San Francisco Vintners Club. He also loved reading and the symphony.

Mr. Black is survived by his wife of 51 years, Corinne; his sons Gregson and Brian, both of Redwood City; his daughter Cara Black-Ishimuro of San Francisco; and three grandchildren.

Private memorial services have been held. The family prefers that memorial contributions be made to MidPeninsula Pathways Hospice Foundation, 65 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Woodside Chapel of Crippen & Flynn in Redwood City.
Margaret Hagan Brown

Longtime resident of Portola Valley

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 30, at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto for Margaret Hagan Brown, who died May 20.

Ms. Brown, who has lived in Saratoga, Atherton and the Sequoias in Portola Valley, was 96 and just five days short of her 97th birthday, relatives said.

Ms. Brown is survived by four sons: Theodore, William and Charles of Los Altos, and David of Southern California; eight grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were by Roller Hapgood & Tinney in Palo Alto.