Obituaries Obituaries (August 15, 2001)

Mary Anhaltzer

Owner of Mary Moo shops

Mary Anhaltzer, a 42-year resident of Portola Valley, died of a heart attack in her sleep July 20 at her home in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was 62.

Mrs. Alhaltzer was well known locally for the Mary Moo gift shop she opened in Ladera Country Shopper in 1961. Before she sold the last store in 1978, she had expanded Mary Moo to three other locations: downtown Palo Alto, the former Mayfield Mall and Eastridge Mall.

Entrepreneurship came naturally for Mrs. Anhaltzer, whose father, Miles Kimball, developed one of the first mail-order catalog businesses in the country in 1934. As a child in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, "Mary Louise" was often featured in the company catalog.

In 1958 she married Herb Anhaltzer while attending Cornell University. Mrs. Anhaltzer, who had embroidered, knitted and sewed since she was a child, became absorbed in quilting after taking her first quilting class 26 years ago. She converted space in their Westridge home to a quilting studio.

Two years ago she opened the Thirteen Moons gallery in Santa Fe, which showcases contemporary art quilts, including works by Mrs. Anhaltzer. A portion of profits from the gallery are donated to the Katalysis foundation with the hope of helping women in Central American start their own textile art businesses. Mrs. Anhaltzer also served as a director of the Alberta Kimball Foundation, named for her mother.

Mrs. Anhaltzer is survived by her husband Herb, sons Greg Anhaltzer of Santa Ana and Jeff Anhaltzer of Lake Oswego, Oregon; and six grandchildren. A daughter, Carrie Sanders, preceded her in death.

Memorials to Mrs. Anhaltzer may be made in her name to Katalysis Partnership, 1331 N. Commerce Street, Stockton, CA 95202.

Sharon Lee Davis

Volunteer, former Portola Valley resident

Sharon Lee Davis, a resident of Portola Valley for 26 years, died August 3 following a battle with cancer. She was 58.

The oldest of four children, Mrs. Davis was born and raised in Michigan. She and a friend moved to California in 1963, where she worked for Pan-Am Airlines. She married Richard Davis a few years later, and the couple lived in Michigan and Texas before moving to Portola Valley in 1973 with their three sons. A fourth son was born five years later.

While living in Portola Valley, Mrs. Davis became like a second mother to her sons' many friends, relatives said. She volunteered in their activities, from running the snack shack at Alpine Little League games to working with the Mothers Club at their schools.

She also stayed busy taking her four boys to soccer, baseball, basketball and football practices and games, said family members.

In 1999, Mrs. Davis and her husband retired to Surprise, Arizona.

She is survived by her husband Richard of Surprise, Arizona; her mother Betty Ilhenfeldt of Sun City West, Arizona; her sons Matt, Chris and Paul, all of Mountain View, and Steve of Scottsdale, Arizona; her siblings Gayle and Paul of Bellville, Michigan, and Donnie of Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Memorial services were held in Arizona, Menlo Park and Michigan, with interment at Michigan Memorial in Flatrock, where she could be laid to rest with her father Donald.

Robin Lee Stephens

Needlepoint artist

Robin Lee Stephens of Woodside, owner of the Mountain Needle Art Studio, died at home August 6 after a 10-year battle with cancer. She was 63.

Mrs. Stephens, a native of the Wintu Indian tribe, was born in Redding. She began her business career at Pan American Airlines in crew scheduling and enjoyed her travel benefits to the fullest, family members said.

After working for 35 years, she retired in 1989 and devoted herself to needle art. The next year, she opened Mountain Needle Art Studio in Woodside, where she taught classes and created her own needlepoint designs.

Mrs. Stephens, a resident of Woodside for more than 25 years, is survived by her husband, Gerald L. Stephens of Woodside; son Mark A. Stephens of Woodside; daughter Kimberly Fuhrman of Woodside; and two grandchildren.

Memorial donations may be made to the Woodside School Foundation, art program, 3195 Woodside Road, Woodside 94062, or to the cancer research program of the donor's choice.

Sally Guard

Former Portola Valley resident

Sally Guard, who graduated from Woodside High School in 1980, died of non-Hodgkins disease lymphoma July 28 at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York City. She was 38.

Ms. Guard was born in Australia, the daughter of Gretchen and the late Dave Guard, a founding member of the Kingston Trio. She grew up in Australia, Palo Alto and Portola Valley. She spent her summers at the Bar 717 Ranch in Trinity County.

She graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont in 1984 and became a reporter at Sports Illustrated in Manhattan, covering golf, the Winter Olympics, and soccer, the sport she loved most, according to friends.

She married David Burger in 1995 and left Sports Illustrated shortly before her daughter, Emma, was born. She worked as an editor at Bishop Books until her daughter Cameron was born in 1998.

Ms. Guard is survived by her husband, David Burger; daughters Emma and Cameron, all of New York City; her mother Gretchen Guard of Santa Fe, New Mexico; sister, Catherine Shinneman of North Hollywood; brother Tom Guard of Santa Cruz; and aunt Sarah Ballard of Seattle, Washington.

A memorial service was held August 11 at The Orensanz Foundation for the Arts in New York City. Contributions in Ms. Guard's memory may be made in her name to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 475 Park Avenue South, 21st floor, New York City, 10016, with acknowledgement requested to David Burger, 50 Walker Street, Apt. 4B, New York City, 10013.

Thomas Ricktor

Outdoor enthusiast

Thomas Blair Ricktor of Menlo Park, who loved the outdoors, died August 7 at Stanford Medical Center. He was 34.

"He enjoyed camping, hiking, fishing, snow skiing and water skiing," said his mother Mary E. Pimentel of Menlo Park.

A graduate of Menlo-Atherton High School in 1985, Mr. Ricktor attended Long Beach Junior College and worked in food management in the restaurant business in both the Bay Area and Southern California. He recently graduated as a computer technician from the OICW job-training center in Menlo Park.

He is survived by his mother Mary "Missy" Pimentel; father William T. Ricktor of Menlo Park; sister Shelly Moglia of Hermosa Beach; brothers Mark and Matthew Ricktor of Menlo Park; and a niece and nephew.

A celebration of his life was held August 11 at the Robert Battaglia home in Atherton. Memorials in Tom's name may be made to the Peninsula Humane Society, 12 Airport Blvd., San Mateo.