Obituaries Obituaries (January 02, 2002)

Milton C. Iverson

Stanford athletics enthusiast

Milton C. Iverson of Menlo Park, a longtime supporter of Stanford University and Stanford athletics, died December 15. He was 76.

Mr. Iverson graduated in 1949 from Stanford University, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity and played on the varsity basketball team.

Over the years, he was a substantial contributor to Stanford athletic facilities, and sponsored numerous Stanford athletes in football, basketball, water polo and volleyball.

"Milt was a great friend to the Stanford community and Stanford athletics, especially basketball" said Mike Montgomery, Stanford men's basketball coach. "He was an integral part of our basketball success, contributing not only financially to provide scholarship opportunities, but also serving as a mentor for young players as they looked for experience in the job market."

A second generation San Franciscan, Mr. Iverson was a graduate of Lowell High School and had been involved in commercial real estate on the Peninsula for more than 30 years.

He served in the Navy during World War II, from 1943 to 1946, and then in the Naval Reserve until 1949.

He and his wife, Nellie Jo Iverson, moved to Ladera in 1957, and later moved to Sharon Heights.

In addition to his wife of 52 years, Mr. Iverson is survived by his four children, Steve Iverson of Redding, Kristine Valk of Redwood City, Ann Iverson of San Carlos, and Bruce Iverson of Salt Lake City; and eight grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother and sister, Scott and Jennifer Iverson.

Private services have been held. Memorial donations may be sent to St. Anthony's Padua Dining Room, 3500 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park CA 94025.

Anita Zumach

Community volunteer

Mary Anita Zumach, one of the first residents of Sharon Heights, died December 21 at her home in Atascadero. She was 85.

Mrs. Zumach lived in Menlo Park from 1960 to 1973, when she moved to Carmel Valley. In ill health, she relocated in Atascadero in 2000 to be closer to her daughter, Mary Pat George.

Mrs. Zumach was born in Baltimore and grew up in Forest Hills, New York. After completing high school she went to work at Macy's in New York City, where she was hired by company president Adam Gimbel and rose to the position of buyer.

In the early 1950s she was hired by Saks Fifth Avenue as a buyer of children's clothing for its Beverly Hills store. Many movie stars, including Judy Garland and Lucile Ball, came to her for their children's clothes.

In 1952 she was married to William Zumach. The couple moved to Bakersfield and later to Endicott, New York. They returned to California, moving to Sharon Heights.

Mrs. Zumach was the first president of the Women's Guild at the new St. Denis Catholic Church and was active at La Loma and La Entrada schools, which her daughter, Mary Pat, attended. Mrs. Zumach helped set up libraries in both schools. She also was active in the American Cancer Society and the Crippled Children's Auxiliary.

After the Zumachs moved to Carmel Valley, they were tireless volunteers and benefactors of the Community Hospital of Monterey. Mr. Zumach died in 1992.

Mrs. Zumach is survived by her daughter, Mary Pat George, and son-in-law, Ron, of Atascadero; brother Joe O'Brien of Uncasville, Connecticut; sister-in-law Jeanne O'Brien Rodgers; and many nieces and nephews.

Services were held December 29 at St. William's Catholic Church in Atascadero. Memorials may be made to Hospice Partners of the Central Coast, 277 South St., Suite R, San Luis Obispo, CA 94301.

Fred Phillips Naber

President, Management Resources Co.

Fred Phillips (Phil) Naber, a 35-year resident of Menlo Park, died of pneumonia December 19. He was 74.

Born in Chicago, Mr. Naber graduated with a bachelor of science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master of business administration from Northwestern University.

He was an industrial engineer with Bell & Howell Co., and then held general management positions as an associate of Booz, Allen & Hamilton in Chicago, then Booz, Allen & Hamilton International in London.

In 1967 he moved to Menlo Park, where he joined Management Resources Co. Inc. He retired as its president in 1993.

In retirement, Mr. Naber served as a volunteer for Stanford University's "English in Action" program and Menlo Park Library's "Project Read" program. He also served on the Community Editorial Board of the San Mateo Tribune and was treasurer for the Stanford Hospital Auxiliary, managing its loan program for medical residents.

He is survived by his wife Joan; his four children, Fred Naber of Herndon, Virginia, John Naber of Pasadena, Nancy Naber Campbell of Scottsdale, Arizona, and Robert I. Naber of Los Gatos; and five grandchildren.

Services will be private. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Frontal Lobe Dementia Research, located at 2065 West El Camino Real, Mountain View, CA 94040.

Leah L. Callaghan

40-year Atherton resident

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 12, at Church of the Nativity, Menlo Park, for Leah L. Callaghan who died December 16 at her home in Atherton. She was 83.

Mrs. Callaghan was born in Dayton, Nevada, and worked for the state of Nevada before marrying Edward Callaghan in 1946. The Callaghans lived in Reno until they moved to Atherton in 1960.

Mrs. Callaghan volunteered at the Encinal School library and later worked at the Atherton Library for 15 years until she retired in 1984. She was an active member of a study group at Church of the Nativity for many years. Mr. Callaghan died in 1997.

Mrs. Callaghan is survived by her daughters, Kathleen Callaghan of Sunnyvale, Sheila Callaghan of San Mateo, and Erin Callaghan of Redwood City. The family requests no memorial donations.

Hilde Biermer

Native of Germany

Hilde Biermer, former Menlo Park resident, died December 23 at age 94. Mrs. Biermer came to California from her native Germany in 1938. She lived in Menlo Park from 1971 until moving to Palo Alto Commons in 1998.

Mrs. Biermer, widow of the late Dr. Hermann Biermer, is survived by daughters Helga Medearis of Palo Alto and Ilse Newman of Sequim, Washington; brother Otto Stapelfeld of Neumuenster, Germany; five grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Private services will be held. Arrangements were under the direction of O'Connor's Menlo Colonial Chapel.

Mary Louise Corbus

Former Menlo resident

A memorial service will be held in San Francisco on Monday, January 7, for Mary Louise Corbus, who died recently in Juneau, Alaska, while visiting her son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Katie Corbus. She was 91.

The service is set for 3 p.m. at the Chapel of Grace, Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., San Francisco.

She was born and raised by a pioneering family in Stockton, California, her family said. She attended Stanford University, where she graduated in 1933 and met her future husband, Bill Corbus Sr. They were married in 1935.

They initially lived in San Francisco and later moved to Menlo Park, where their two sons, Bill and Barc, were raised.

In 1965, the couple moved to New York City, where Mr. Corbus worked for the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. Upon his retirement they returned to San Francisco. Mr. Corbus died in 1998.

Mrs. Corbus was active in church and charitable organizations.

In addition to Bill and Katie, she is survived by her son Barc and his wife, Priscilla, of Arvada, Colorado; two grandsons; and three great-grandsons.

Memorials may be made to the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, 770 Welsh Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
Lloyd Hilligoss

Former Atherton resident

A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Olivet Memorial Park, 1601 Hillside Blvd., Colma, at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, January 3, for Lloyd Jack Hilligoss of Santa Rosa. Mr. Hilligoss died December 21 of injuries suffered in an auto accident December 1 near Stockton. His wife, Mary Lou, died instantly in the same accident.

While a resident of Atherton from 1965 to 1984, Mr. Hilligoss was an active member of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church for 19 years and the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club.

Mr. and Mrs. Hilligoss worked as a team to build and operate one of the largest carnival companies in the United States, Fun Fair/Foley & Burk Combined Shows, out of Redwood City.

In 1985, the Hilligosses moved from Atherton to Sebastopol, and later retired to their home in Santa Rosa.

Mr. Hilligoss is survived by his four children: Greg Hilligoss of San Jose, Stephanie Henon and her husband, Ron, of Sebastopol, Robert Hilligoss of Santa Rosa, and Tom Hilligoss and his wife, Kate, of Redwood City; a sister, Charlotte Reynolds of Long Beach; and eight grandchildren.

Memorials in Mr. Hilligoss' name may be made to Knox Presbyterian Church in Santa, Rosa where the Hilligosses attended church.