Obituaries Obituaries (February 12, 2003)

Dr. Robert Jamplis

Former president, Palo Alto Medical Foundation

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, February 18, at Stanford Memorial Church, Stanford University, for Dr. Robert W. Jamplis. Dr. Jamplis, the first president and chief executive officer of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, died February 3 in his Woodside home after a lengthy illness.

Dr. Jamplis devoted his medical career to the Palo Alto Medical Clinic, which became the Palo Alto Medical Foundation in 1981. As its first president and chief executive officer, he led the development of the new Palo Alto Medical Foundation complex, which was completed in 1999.

"Jamp" as he was known by his friends, was born in Chicago, where he was educated from kindergarten through college at the University of Chicago, where his father was a pediatrician and professor of pediatrics. He was the University of Chicago's quarterback and received the Sports Illustrated Silver Anniversary All-American Award in 1965.

He moved from football hero to thoracic surgeon, attending the University of Chicago School of Medicine for his doctor of medicine degree, then the Mayo Clinic for advanced training in general and thoracic surgery.

Dr. Jamplis served two tours of duty as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific theater, from 1944 to 1946, and was recalled to service for the Korean War from 1952 to 1954.

During the Korean War, Dr. Jamplis served at the Naval Hospital on Treasure Island. During his 18-month assignment at Treasure Island, he was contacted by one of the early partners of the Palo Alto Clinic and he "moonlighted" there.

After completing his military service, Dr. Jamplis stayed in the Bay Area and joined the Palo Alto Clinic. He became the executive director of the clinic in 1965. In the late 1970s, Dr. Jamplis began pursuing his vision of the clinic becoming "the Mayo (clinic) of the West." In 1981 he and others founded the nonprofit Palo Alto Medical Foundation, of which the original Palo Alto Clinic is a component. He retired in 1999 when the foundation moved onto its new campus.

Dr. Jamplis served as clinical professor of surgery at Stanford, where he took part in the surgery teaching program. He wrote two books and more than 50 papers on the subject of thoracic surgery.

He received numerous honors and awards including serving as president of the San Francisco Surgical Association, president of the Western Thoracic Surgical Association, and president of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. In October, 2002, he received the John W. Gardner Visionary Award from Pathways Hospice Foundation.

Dr. Jamplis was a member of the Menlo Country Club, Menlo Circus Club, Bohemian Club, Pacific-Union Club, and Rancheros Visitadores.

Dr. Jamplis is survived by his second wife, Cynthia Soles, of Woodside; son, Mark Jamplis of Atherton; daughter Elizabeth Bluestone of Pacific Palisades; three stepsons, Ewing, James and Cavin Philbin; and five grandchildren. His first wife, Roberta, whom he married in 1947, died in 1995.

Memorials in Dr. Jamplis' name may be made to Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Office of Philanthropy, 795 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94301.

Kevin Fidge

Former Portola Valley resident

Kevin Fidge, 30, who was looking forward to his marriage to Wendee Johnson of Los Gatos on May 30, died February 1 in Denver. He was the innocent victim of gun violence while attempting to help diffuse a domestic altercation, family members said.

Mr. Fidge lived in Portola Valley from 1989 until 2002 and attended Woodside High School and Canada College. A graduate of the University of California at Davis with a degree in rhetorical communications, he was an outdoorsman who enjoyed fly fishing, golf, snowboarding and mountain biking, the family said.

Mr. Fidge is survived by his mother Claudia Ludwig of Keizer, Oregon; sister Korrie Fidge of Denver; a grandmother and a great-grandmother of Keizer; his fiancee Wendee Johnson; stepmother Marilyn Fidge of Portola Valley; half-brothers Matthew and Jonathan Fidge of Portola Valley; and step-grandparents Alma and Arnold Tudal of St. Helena. He was the son of the late Timothy Fidge.

A memorial service will be held at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Los Altos; the date is pending. Memorials in Mr. Fidge's name may be made to Ronald McDonald House; or the Alliance for the Wild Rockies, Box 8731, Missoula, Montana 59807.

Janet Anne Duggan

Active in the community

A celebration of the life of Janet Anne Duggan of Woodside, who died February 1, will be held Saturday, February 15, at the Mounted Patrol Grounds in Woodside. Friends are asked to call 329-0779 for more information.

Mrs. Duggan moved to Woodside with her family in 1964 and spent the early years raising her three children, Shellie, Charles and Susan, all of whom attended Woodside Elementary School and Woodside High School.

She and her husband, Lowell, participated in many school and community functions. They belonged to the San Mateo County Mounted Patrol, the Shack Riders, the San Mateo Horsemen's Association, the Air Squadron and the Woodside Village Church.

After her children had completed college, Mrs. Duggan earned her associate degree from Canada College. She excelled in watercolor and oil painting and collected a shelf full of tennis trophies, say family members. She earned entry into the Guiness Book of World Records by taking part in the longest line dance on record as part of a Redwood City Fourth of July parade.

Mrs. Duggan is survived by her husband of almost 60 years, Lowell Duggan; children Shellie, Charles, and Susan; and two grandsons.

Lawrence Mattison

Manufacturer's representative

Lawrence C. "Laurie" Mattison of Menlo Park died of cancer February 1 at the Palo Alto Veterans Affairs hospital. He was 88.

Mr. Mattison was a native of Beloit, Wisconsin, and grew up in Rockford, Illinois. He attended the Mercersburg Academy, the University of Michigan and the University of California at Berkeley. He married Ada Dean "Trim" Ramsey in 1944.

During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps and maintained a lifelong interest in flying. He worked for more than 40 years as a manufacturer's representative for Mattison Machine Works of Rockford, the family business.

After moving to California, Mr. Mattison became a member of Rotary No. 2 in San Francisco and the Palo Alto Elks Lodge. He also had a summer home at Fish Lake, Utah.

Mr. Mattison is survived by his wife Trim of Menlo Park; his children, C. Lawrence "Laurie" Mattison of Los Altos, John Mattison of Salt Lake City, Mary Courtney of Twin Falls, Idaho, and Richard Mattison of San Francisco; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

A memorial service was held February 7 at Spangler Mortuary in Menlo Park. Memorials in Mr. Mattison's name may be made to the VA Hospice Care Center, 3601 Miranda Ave., 100-2C, Palo Alto, CA 94304; or to a charity of choice.

May Stauffer Gravenhorst-Brouwer

Former Menlo Park resident

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 15, at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church for May Stauffer Gravenhorst-Brouwer. A reception will follow.

Mrs. Gravenhorst-Brouwer, who lived in Menlo Park off and on from the 1940s, died January 28 at Kaiser Hospital in Santa Clara at age 85. She had lived in Soquel for the past 12 years.

A native of San Francisco, Mrs. Gravenhorst-Brouwer was a top fashion model in San Francisco during the 1930s, and often modeled at the Palace Hotel, says her daughter, Martha Brouwer. She also had a beautiful singing voice, and was an artist creating wearable art, according to her daughter.

When living in Menlo Park she enjoyed going on mission trips with Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. She was also a real estate investor.

Mrs. Gravenhorst-Brouwer is survived by her children: Martha Brouwer of Menlo Park, Peter Gravenhorst of Menlo Park, and Paul Gravenhorst of Soquel; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Dorothy Campbell

Former Menlo Park resident

Dorothy G. Campbell, 89, who moved from Menlo Park to Oregon 10 years ago, died February 3 in a San Jose nursing home. Mrs. Campbell returned to the Bay Area five years ago.

She is survived by her daughter Angel-Marie Treadaway of Scottsdale, Arizona; son Dr. Mark F. Campbell of Redwood City; and four grandchildren. She was the widow of the late Floyd W. Campbell. At her request there will be no funeral services.

Charles Merrill Halverson

Menlo Park resident

Charles Merrill Halverson, a longtime resident of Menlo Park, died on January 31, at the age of 88.

A native of Oregon, Mr. Halverson was a captain in the U.S. Army and a World War II veteran. He worked in advertising and public relations for American Standard in New York City.

After moving to Menlo Park, Mr. Halverson was self-employed in marketing and advertising in San Francisco.

He was proceeded in death by his wife, Stephanie V. Halverson, and many nieces and nephews.

Private services were held at Alta Mesa Cemetery. The funeral arrangements were handled by Roller, Hapgood & Tinney of Palo Alto.