Obituaries Obituaries (February 04, 2004)

Doris O'Brien

Menlo School's 'First Lady'

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, February 9, at Stanford Memorial Church for Doris M. O'Brien of Menlo Park. Ms. O'Brien, widow of former Menlo School and College president Dick O'Brien, died January 24. She was 81.

Ms. O'Brien was born and raised in Santa Barbara where, at age 14, she met her future husband, Dick O'Brien. They were married in 1943 and moved to the Bay Area after World War II. For the next 25 years Ms. O'Brien concentrated on raising their three daughters and making a home for the family. In addition to her talents as a homemaker, her flair for entertaining won many admirers, say family members.

In 1970 Mr. O'Brien became the president of Menlo School and College in Atherton. Over the next 17 years Ms. O'Brien became the school's most enthusiastic cheerleader and served as friend and mentor to generations of students, say family members.

After her husband's death in 1989, Ms. O'Brien, who was known as "Gram" to friends and family, served as a volunteer at Stanford Medical Center and kept up with a wide circle of friends.

She is survived by her daughters, Susan Cretarolo of Bainbridge Island, Washington, Cindy Ford of Los Altos, and Sally O'Brien of Menlo Park; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Following the February 9 memorial service, there will be a reception at Menlo College. The family prefers memorials be made to a charity of choice.

Svea Ittner

Native of Sweden

Svea Ittner, a resident of Menlo Park since 1932, died January 26. At her request, no services will be held.

Ms. Ittner was born in Tolseboda, Sweden, in 1906 and came to the United States with her parents when she was six months old. She spent her youth growing up in the Pacific Northwest. She moved to San Francisco in 1923 and got a job as a "bindery girl" in a book binding shop, where she met her future husband, Albert Ittner.

After their marriage in 1928, the Ittners lived in San Francisco before moving to Menlo Park in 1932. Ms. Ittner was active with the cub scouts, and was a member of the Menlo Park Women's Club. She enjoyed traveling through the West with her husband and, later in life, took up Japanese painting.

Ms. Ittner is survived by her son, Richard Ittner of Menlo Park; and two grandsons. Her husband, Albert Ittner, died in 1983.

The family prefers donations to the American Cancer Society or a favorite charity. Arrangements were under the direction of Menlo Colonial Chapel.

Carolyn Mikkelsen

Former Atherton resident

Carolyn Mikkelsen died at her home in Aptos on January 23. She was 79.

Born in Bakersfield, Ms. Mikkelsen was a former Atherton resident, and was a homemaker. She was married to Axel Mikkelsen, who died in 1977. Family members said she enjoyed traveling the world with her husband, playing golf and being surrounded by her family. She was a member of the De Laveaga Women's Golf Group.

Ms. Mikkelsen is survived by her children, Karen Svihus of Aptos and Greg Mikkelsen of Desert Cove, Arizona; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at The House of Prayer in Watsonville. For the date and time, call 831-688-3953.
Mary Coe

Portola Valley resident

Mary Ricker (Plaisted) Coe, who was living in Honolulu during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, died January 27 in Portola Valley. She was 96.

Ms. Coe was born in Fresno and moved with her parents to San Diego. After attending business school in Los Angeles, she married Benjamin Coe, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, in 1929. The Coes traveled to many ports of call with their son, Benjamin, following the ships Maryland, Saratoga, Southard and Ross.

After Adm. Coe's retirement in 1950, the Coes returned from the Boston area to California. They lived in Los Angeles, La Jolla, and Menlo Park before moving to The Sequoias in Portola Valley. They had been married 60 years when Adm. Coe died in 1989.

Ms. Coe was a member of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. She taught and attended bible studies at both the church and The Sequoias. She was a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International.

She is survived by her son, Benjamin P. Coe of Watertown, New York; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The Coes were also guardians of Daniel J. Carver of San Jose and Saralynn Carver of Mountain View.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. March 13 at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, 950 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park.

The family prefers that donations be made to Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. Arrangements were under the direction of Roller Hapgood and Tinney in Palo Alto.

Salvador Laurel

Former vice president Philippines

Salvador "Doy" Laurel, a former vice president and senator in the Philippines, died January 27 in Atherton of complications arising from lymphoma, according to the Manila Times newspaper. He was 75.

Mr. Laurel came to the United States in June for treatment at Stanford Medical Center. His family had been staying at their Atherton home since November.

Mr. Laurel served as vice president to Corazon Aquino from 1986 to 1992. He was elected to the Philippine senate in 1967 and was named the most outstanding senator from 1968 to 1971, the newspaper reported.

An attorney, he was the son of the late Dr. Jose P. Laurel, president of the second Philippine Republic.

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