Obituaries Obituaries (June 19, 2002)

John A. Turner

Industrial psychiatry pioneer

John A. Turner, a longtime resident of Woodside and Menlo Park, died May 29 at the age of 84.

A pioneer in the field of industrial psychiatry, Dr. Turner spent half of his career consulting with some of the largest corporations in the world. In the 1960s he was instrumental in restructuring San Francisco General Hospital. For many years, he served on the San Francisco Board of Mental Health. He was a Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Society, the C.F. Menninger Foundation, and the Royal Society of Medicine.

Born in San Mateo, Dr. Turner received an undergraduate degree from Stanford University, and a medical degree from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland.

After completing his psychiatric training at the Menninger School in Topeka, Kansas, he remained on the staff of the C.F. Menninger Foundation before opening a private psychiatric practice in San Francisco in 1961.

Dr. Turner lived in San Mateo County for 75 years, the last 40 in Woodside and Menlo Park.

He is survived by his wife Agneta; a sister, Marie Morgan; a daughter, Catherine; sons Jon and Stephen; and six grandsons. He was preceded in death by his daughter Jean and his son Peter.

A memorial service was at Christ Church in Portola Valley, with a gathering afterward.
Frances Ballard Schiff

Longtime resident of Ladera, Portola Valley

A memorial service will be held for Frances Ballard Schiff on Saturday, June 22, at 11 a.m. at the Ladera Community Church, at 3300 Alpine Road in Portola Valley.

Mrs. Schiff, an active resident of Ladera for more than 30 years, died at The Sequoias in Portola Valley on March 11 after a long illness. She was 89.

Mrs. Schiff grew up in Kansas and graduated from the University of Kansas in 1935 with a major in American history. After teaching in Kansas for two years, she came to the University of California at Berkeley in 1938 to work toward a doctorate in history.

With money running low, she taught English and history at Sequoia High School in Redwood City from 1939 to 1941. She also met physicist Leonard Schiff; they married in 1941.

In 1947, the Schiffs came to Stanford, where Dr. Schiff became professor and later chairman of the physics department. For their first years, they lived in Stanford Village, a complex of World War II military housing left over from Dibble General Hospital, where SRI and Menlo Park Civic Center are located now.

The Schiffs were among the first families to move to the progressive community of Ladera, where they raised their family.

Friends remember Mrs. Schiff as bright, active, intellectual, and gracious. "She was a great hostess," recalls former Ladera neighbor Leah Chodorow.

Mrs. Schiff was active in many school, conservation, Stanford and other causes. She was a PTA president at Las Lomitas Elementary School, and led the citizens' committee to support a seventh- and eighth-grade school. She was also active in the League of Women Voters.

"She worked hard for things she believed in," says Adelaide Iverson of Menlo Park, a friend since their days in Stanford Village, and former president of the local League of Women Voters.

Mrs. Schiff is survived by a daughter, Ellen Schiff of Sonoma; a son, Lee Schiff of Corralitos, California; and two grandsons.

The family suggests donations to The Nature Conservancy, 4245 North Fairfax Drive #100, Arlington, VA 22203-1606 ; or the Ladera Community Church endowment fund.
(With 6p mug, scanned by Catherine) Walter Kirk

Horseman and volunteer

Walter E. Kirk, 84, who was named "Horseman of the Year" four times by the San Mateo County Horsemen's Association, died at his home in Redwood City on May 13. A memorial service was held June 8 at the Mounted Patrol grounds in Woodside.

Mr. Kirk was raised on a farm in Iowa, where he learned to ride and handle horses. He was a decorated veteran of World War II and served in the Philippines and in Okinawa. In 1946 he and his wife, Rita, moved to their home in Redwood City, which is still the family residence.

In the 1970s Mr. Kirk joined the San Mateo County Horsemen's Association and became a board member. In 1988 he was elected sergeant-at-arms, and held that position until his death. He was known for cooking for group rides and overnight rides at Jack Brook horse camp.

For many years he organized Horsemen Association volunteers who directed parking cars at Tally Ho from horseback. He volunteered by cooking and working the gates at the annual Junior Rodeo. He often fed and cared for other people's horses when needed. Mr. Kirk was a member of the American Legion, Post 105, an avid bowler, and president of his league for 25 years.

Mr. Kirk is survived by Rita, his wife of 60 years, and brother Earl Kirk of Lincoln, Arkansas. Memorials and donations of horse tack in his name may be made to National Center for Equine Facilitated Therapy, 5001 Woodside Road, Woodside, 94062.
Ellen Peavey

Traveler and volunteer

A memorial service for Ellen Peavey, a 53-year resident of Menlo Park, will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 21, at Nativity Church in Menlo Park. Mrs. Peavey died on June 1 at the age of 88.

Born in Manchester, England, Mrs. Peavey immigrated to the United States at the age of 8 with her mother and sister. She was raised in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and eventually gained U.S. citizenship.

She married Frank Peavey before moving to Menlo Park with her young family in 1949. Mrs. Peavey was medical secretary to the director of surgery and emergency at Stanford University Hospital for many years.

After retirement, Mrs. Peavey traveled extensively in Europe. She spent time in England, a nation that retained sentimental value for her even after 80 years of residence in the United States, family members said. She also enjoyed gardening, reading, and crossword puzzles, and dedicated time to Little House Senior Center, Nativity Thursday Group, Catholic Daughters of America, Vallombrosa Retreat Association, and Nativity Church, the family said.

Mrs. Peavey is survived by two sons, Frank Peavey and Brian Peavey; two daughters, Lisabeth Peavey and Joan Hughes; three grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by a son, James Peavy, and a grandson.

Arrangements were under the direction of Menlo Colonial Chapel, Menlo Park.
Joseph John Rossini

Warehousing company owner

Joseph John Rossini of Atherton died of natural causes on June 13 at the age of 87.

A native of Chicago, Mr. Rossini worked for more than 50 years in the trucking and warehousing industry. He was the owner of Accurate Cartage Warehousing, with offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles. He was a longtime member of the Italian Catholic Federation of Southern California.

He is survived by Mildred Rossini, his wife of 66 years; daughters Geri Nicholas and Marilyn Faries; a son, Vincent Rossini; a sister, Elda Grippi; and seven grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial was held June 17 at the Church of Nativity in Menlo Park