Obituaries Obituaries (January 28, 2004)

Albert Bianchini

Co-owner Bianchini's Market

Albert Joseph Bianchini of Woodside, co-owner of Bianchini's Market at Ladera Country Shopper, died January 21 after suffering a heart attack at his Foodville Market in San Carlos, which he had owned since 1972. He was 64.

Bianchini's Market in Portola Valley opened five years ago, with Mr. Bianchini and his son Kevin as co-owners. Kevin Bianchini is also a captain with the Woodside Fire Protection District.

Mr. Bianchini, an experienced meat-cutter, split his time between the San Carlos store and the Ladera market, getting to know local shoppers while behind the meat counter. Both of his stores are upscale markets, offering many gourmet items.

Born and raised in Redwood City, Mr. Bianchini attended Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Elementary School and Sequoia High School. He was a devoted family man, whose great loves were golfing and travel, say family members. He had lived in Woodside since 1975.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Joyce Bianchini of Woodside; three children, Kathy Bianchini-Gatton of Woodside, Kevin Bianchini of Foster City, and Christopher Bianchini of Redwood City; in-laws Val and Louise Stepisnik of Redwood City; and seven grandchildren.

A memorial Mass was scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 27, at St. Pius Catholic Church, 1100 Woodside Road, Redwood City.

The family prefers donations to a charity of the donor's choice.

Margery Farwell

Owner, Farwell's nursery

Margery C. Farwell, a Woodside resident for 42 years, died January 16 in Belmont. She was 87.

Ms. Farwell was born in Oakland and lived in Alameda for 40 years. She was the owner of Farwell's Rhododendron Nursery on Skyline Boulevard in Woodside.

Ms. Farwell is survived by her daughter, Carol Farwell Faber of Upland; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and a stepsister, Minnie Lee Sass of Alameda. She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Everett E. Farwell; and a son, Gary D. Farwell.

A celebration of Ms. Farwell's life was held January 23 at the Kings Mountain Volunteer Fire Brigade Community Building. The family prefers that donations in her memory be sent to a favorite charity.

Lester Barry

Electrical engineer

Lester Barry, a resident of Menlo Park for 35 years, died January 10 at Stanford Medical Center. He was 92.

Mr. Barry graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in electrical engineering in 1935. He retired from General Electric Co. after working there for 40 years.

He is survived by his wife, Lorraine; three children, Barbara Mikkelson, Victoria Thoits and Michael Barry; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Private services have been held. The family prefers contributions to the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, cardiology department, 795 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, 94301.

Kenneth T. Larkin

Lockheed manager

Kenneth T. Larkin, a manager at Lockheed and longtime Portola Valley resident, died January 12 at The Sequoias retirement community in Portola Valley after a long illness. He was 83.

Mr. Larkin is remembered by friends and colleagues as a bright, approachable man, who even served a term as president of the Portola Valley PTA, normally a female citadel.

Born in Fowler, Colorado, Mr. Larkin earned a degree in electrical engineering at Southern Methodist University, graduating at the top of his class.

World War II soon brought the young engineer to the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., where he worked on early development and testing of radar.

In 1946, Mr. Larkin married in Houston and moved with his wife, Marjorie, to Boston, where he worked for 10 years for Raytheon. He managed radar projects and got in on the ground floor of computers, Ms. Larkin said.

In 1956, the Larkins moved to the Peninsula. They settled in Portola Valley, where they raised two children while Mr. Larkin worked as a manager at Lockheed Missiles and Space Co.

During his years at Lockheed, Mr. Larkin directed information systems in the Research and Development Division, developed electrical systems for guided missiles, and obtained several patents. "He was a guy who could see opportunities. He was a winner," said Keith Koehler, who worked for Mr. Larkin at Lockheed.

Toward the end of his career, Mr. Larkin became involved with setting up medical data systems to help doctors keep track of patient information, with an early model of the system at El Camino Hospital in Mountain View. When Lockheed spun off that division into a new company, Mr. Larkin stayed with it for a few years. He retired in 1984.

Mr. Larkin enjoyed tennis and golf, and "he loved his Rotary Club," Ms. Larkin said.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Brian S. Larkin of Moss Beach; a daughter, Carol Pahlke of Boulder, Colorado; and three grandchildren.

A private service has been held. The family suggests donations to Christ Church, 815 Portola Road, Portola Valley.

Antoinette Agrella

Tutor and piano teacher

Antoinette (Nettie) Agrella, a resident of Menlo Park since 1955, died January 11. She was 95.

Ms. Agrella moved from Revere, Massachusetts, to California with her family in 1952. She tutored many local schoolchildren in English and reading, and taught piano. She was passionate about music, the arts, and education, and loved being with children, say family members. She was Nettie to her friends and Nonnie to her children.

Ms. Agrella is survived by her children, Corinne Schultz of Modesto and Robert Agrella of Richmond; 11 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; eight great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her ex-husband, Maurice Agrella; a daughter, Virginia Agrella; and a son, Maurice "Jerry" Agrella.

A funeral Mass was celebrated January 16 at Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park, with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be sent to Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, 770 Welch Road, Suite 350, Palo Alto, CA 94304 (phone 497-8141).

Constance Larkin

Professor of nursing

A funeral Mass was to be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 27, at Church of the Nativity, 210 Oak Grove Ave., Menlo Park, for Constance M. Larkin. Ms. Larkin died January 20 at Stanford Medical Center. She was 82.

Ms. Larkin was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, and studied nursing, receiving her master's degree in pediatric nursing from the University of Pennsylvania. As a young nurse at New York Memorial Hospital she helped care for ailing baseball great Babe Ruth.

Her professor for classes at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia was C. Edward Koop, who became surgeon general of the United States during the administration of Ronald Reagan. She later taught nursing at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania.

After Ms. Larkin moved to California in the late 1950s, she taught nursing classes at Foothill and DeAnza community colleges. She retired in 1987. A good athlete, she enjoyed golf, tennis and skiing in her younger days, and kept up a daily regime of swimming and walking for many years, say family members.

Ms. Larkin is survived by her husband, Vincent R. Larkin of Menlo Park; son Vincent R. Larkin Jr. of Los Altos; and sister Joan Koerner of Tampa, Florida.

Arrangements were under the direction of the Menlo Park Chapel of Spangler Mortuaries.

Jenne Kowtko

Mother of five

Jenne Kowtko, a resident of Menlo Park since 1965, died peacefully in her sleep at her home January 20. She was 78.

Ms. Kowtko was born in Niagara Falls, New York, to Italian immigrant parents. She was raised in Rochester, New York, and attended Syracuse University.

After moving to California in 1949, she married Michael "Mike" Kowtko. A homemaker, Ms. Kowtko was proud of her five children, who all graduated from Ivy League schools. She also raised four foster children. "My mother was a educational advocate," said her daughter, Sherry Kowtko. "Her children and her grandchildren were her life."

She is survived by her children, Sherry Kowtko of Menlo Park, Eveline Kowtko of Newburyport, Massachusetts, Jacqueline Kowtko of Half Moon Bay, Michael Kowtko of Redwood City, and John Kowtko of Redwood Shores; and six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael Kowtko.

Services were held January 25. Arrangements were under the direction of Roller Hapgood & Tinney, Palo Alto.

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