Obituaries Obituaries (November 20, 2002)

Ben Eastman

Former Woodside councilman, Olympic medalist

Ben Eastman, a former Woodside resident and member of its first Town Council, died in October in Hotchkiss, Colorado. He was 91.

Born in San Francisco in 1911, Mr. Eastman attended Burlingame High School and graduated from Stanford University in 1933.

He competed in track during college, and at one time held eight world records in middle distance races and relays, family members said. His record of 46.4 in the 440-yard went unbroken for more than 40 years, according to the Associated Press.

He competed in the 1932 Olympic Games, held in Los Angeles, and won a silver medal in the 400-meter race.

A Woodside resident from the mid-1940s until 1959, Mr. Eastman was involved in the incorporation of Woodside in 1956 and was a member of its first Town Council.

He moved with his family to Hotchkiss, Colorado, in 1959 and planted a fruit orchard, which he operated for the rest of his life.

Mr. Eastman is survived by his wife Edwina of Hotchkiss; his sons Ben Eastman Jr. of Denver, Gary Eastman of Fort Collins, Colorado, and Peter Eastman of Hotchkiss; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Barbara Albertson Wildman

Community volunteer

A memorial service for Barbara Albertson Wildman, a longtime Menlo Park resident, is set for 1 p.m. Monday, December 2, at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, 950 Santa Cruz Ave.

Ms. Wildman died November 15 of cancer at age 76.

Born in Toledo, Ohio, she began her career in the production department of leading news magazines in New York. A job offer from Sunset magazine brought her to the Peninsula, where she married Jack Savage Wildman and became a devoted wife and mother, family members said. She later returned to work at SRI in Menlo Park.

She served as the president of the Encinal School PTA, taught Sunday school at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, and staffed the church's information booth. She also worked with Project Read at the local library. She was an enthusiastic tennis player and a member of the over 50, low-impact aerobics class at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church for many years.

She is survived by her husband Jack; and their sons Matthew Wildman of Redwood City and Douglas Wildman of San Francisco.

John Burleigh Fearing

Atherton resident, Air Force veteran

John Burleigh Fearing, a longtime Atherton resident, died November 11. He was 74.

Born in Ticonderoga, New York, he attended Kent School in Connecticut and graduated from the University of Virginia. Mr. Fearing also served in the U.S. Air Force in Korea. He moved to Menlo Park in 1962, and to Atherton six years later.

Mr. Fearing is survived by his wife of 51 years, Joan Catron Fearing; his daughter Judy Fearing Zierick of Malibu; and his 101-year-old mother Fitzallen Kendall Fearing of Macon, Georgia.

A memorial service was held at Valley Presbyterian Church in Portola Valley, with arrangements by Roller, Hapgood & Tinney. His family prefers memorial donations be sent to Cardiac Therapy Foundation, 4546 El Camino Real, Suite 218, Los Altos, CA 94022.

Ruth Bach

Needlework expert

Ruth Jacqueline Bach died November 2 at the Sequoias health center in Portola Valley. She was 88.

Born in Jackson, Michigan, she received a bachelor's degree in library science from Grinnell College, where she met and married George Leland Bach, who went on to become Frank E. Buck professor of economics and public policy at Stanford's Graduate School of Business.

Mrs. Bach excelled in needlework. Many of her embroidered, quilted and needlepoint projects won awards. She pursued her love of music by supporting the Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra, the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and other classical music organizations. She was a member of the Music Club of Stanford, the Stanford Business School Wives and the Stanford Women's Sewing Group.

She is survived by her children, Christopher Bach of Springfield, Virginia, Barbara McCardle of Pebble Beach, Susan Nolan of Palo Alto, and Timothy Bach of San Francisco; nine grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Bach.

Gertrude Roller

Organist

Gertrude C. Roller, a self-taught musician, died November 12 of congestive heart failure at her home in Menlo Park. She was 87.

Born in 1915 in Palo Alto, she played the organ and piano as a young woman at the First Lutheran Church in Palo Alto. She also played the piano and accompanied the men's chorus and choir at the Peninsula Bible Church.

Mrs. Roller was an organist at Roller & Hapgood Funeral Home in Palo Alto for 42 years.

She is survived by her daughter Linda Christine Crockett and one grandson.

Services were held November 18 at Roller Hapgood & Tinney Funeral Chapel.

Memorials in her name may be made to the Humane Society of the United States and the Santa Clara County Humane Society.

Evelyn Cebula

Registered nurse

Evelyn Cebula, a 43-year resident of Woodside, died November 8. She was 77.

A native of New Bedford, Massachusetts, Mrs. Cebula was a registered nurse at Sequoia Hospital for 20 years. She and her late husband, Henry, organized and directed the bingo games for Sequoia Hospital Foundation at the American Legion Hall in Redwood City. She was a member of St. Mathias Catholic Church in Redwood City, and the California Nurses Association.

Mrs. Cebula enjoyed reading mystery novels, playing bingo, and spending time with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughters Susan Garnsey of Antioch, Janet, Carol and Wanda Cebula of Woodside, and Victoria Brignetti of San Francisco; four grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Her husband Henry died in January.

A funeral Mass was held November 13 at St. Matthias Catholic Church. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or Mission Hospice. Arrangements were under the direction of Redwood Chapel in Redwood City.

Evelyn Reif

Menlo Park resident

A memorial service for Evelyn Reif is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday, November 19, at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, 950 Santa Cruz Avenue.

Mrs. Reif, a Menlo Park resident, died November 13 following an illness resulting from a stroke she suffered five years ago. She was 89.

She was preceded in death by her only child, Richard A. Reif, in 1995.

She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Michael L. Reif; her daughter-in-law Debra Reif; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.