September 22, 2004

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Publication Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Obituaries

Dr. Adam Borden Polson, a longtime resident of Portola Valley, died September 4 at Sharon Heights Care and Rehabilitation Center in Menlo Park after a long illness. He was 91.

The fourth child of William and Margaret Polson, he was born June 1, 1913, in Hoquiam, Washington. He married Mary Hague Babson in 1937. They divorced right after World War II, and he married Jeanne Evans in 1948 in Palo Alto.

Dr. Polson graduated from the University of Oregon in 1934 and received his medical degree in 1938 from the University of Oregon Medical School in Portland. After residencies in pediatrics at Denver and Los Angeles children's hospitals, he started practicing in 1941 in Westwood Village, just south of the University of California at Los Angeles.

When World War II broke out, he volunteered to serve in the Army Air Force Medical Corps. During the war, he was stationed at several air bases in the western United States.

From late 1945 to 1961, Dr. Polson practiced pediatrics in Westwood Village. He participated in the establishment of the subspecialty of pediatric cardiology, family members said, and was a member of the clinical faculty of UCLA Medical School. He also served as pediatric chief of staff of St. John's Hospital in Santa Monica.

In 1961, Dr. Polson and his family moved to Portola Valley, and he entered a residency program at Stanford Medical School in child and adult psychiatry. Upon completing the program, he started a private practice in Menlo Park. Later, he joined the staff of the San Mateo County Health Department. Dr. Polson retired in 1978.

As an avid gardener and lover of nature, Dr. Polson enjoyed tending his roses, dahlias and gardens in both Southern California and Portola Valley. In addition to gardening, he spent many hours in the kitchen, inventing countless recipes that quickly became family favorites, relatives say.

This creative instinct and good taste extended into his passion for art and literature, family members say. While his extensive library encompassed all genres of writing, Dr. Polson had an affinity for poetry, especially the verse of the Indian poet Tagore. He was a connoisseur of fine cuisine, inspiring literature and good company.

The family will have a memorial gathering on September 25.

Dr. Polson is survived by his wife, Jeanne; four children, Adam Polson Jr. of San Jose, Janet Smith of Portola Valley, Alex Polson of University Place, Washington, and Peter Polson of Boulder, Colorado; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

The family prefers that donations be made to the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District or the donor's favorite charity.

Wayne Michael Bridgeman
Sharon Heights resident, businessman

A celebration of Wayne Michael Bridgeman's life will be held on Tuesday, October 5, at 3 p.m. in the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, where he served as an elder.

Mr. Bridgeman died September 11 in Menlo Park after a long illness. He was 80.

Born in Santa Ana, Mr. Bridgeman grew up in Marin County and San Francisco. After graduating from Polytechnic High School, he joined the Marines. He was wounded on Iwo Jima and was awarded two Purple Hearts and a Presidential Unit Citation for bravery under fire.

He worked for Kaiser Aluminum in West Virginia and California, and for Prudential-Bache Securities in Palo Alto before retiring.

The Bridgeman family moved to Sharon Heights in Menlo Park 37 years ago. A member of the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club for 35 years, he enjoyed golf as his main recreation. He was also very interested in the lives of his wife, children and grandchildren, according his family. As an elder in the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, he served in a variety of roles for many years.

Mr. Bridgeman is survived by his wife of 52 years, Margaret Bridgeman; sons Wayne of Corpus Christi, Texas, Jeffrey of Solvang, and David of Salt Lake City; and eight grandchildren.

Arrangements were made by John O'Connor's Menlo Colonial Chapel.

Gaby Marie Klimenko
Longtime Menlo Park resident

Services for Gaby Marie Klimenko, who lived in Menlo Park for the past 42 years, were held September 18 at the Chapel of the Serbian Cemetery in Colma.

Mrs. Klimenko died September 11 at Kaiser Hospital in Redwood City. She was 85.

Born in Paris, Mrs. Klimenko worked as an office clerk for 20 years for Shell Oil Company in San Francisco until she retired in 1963.

She is survived by her sons, Christian Klimenko of Menlo Park and Nicholas Klimenko of Santa Rosa, two grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. She was preceeded in death by her husband, George Klimenko, in November 1998.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pets in Need, 853 Fifth Ave., Redwood City, CA 94062.

Arrangements were made by the Woodside Chapel of Crippen & Flynn.

Manuel Ramies
Portola Valley resident

Manuel Ramies, who lived in Portola Valley for many years, died September 8. He was 86.

He worked in the area as a landscape gardener, and was a longtime member of Our Lady of The Wayside church in Portola Valley.

He is survived by his sisters Mary Garcia and Laura Mangini, and a brother, Martin Ramies.

The funeral service was held September 13 at the Woodside Chapel of Crippen & Flynn in Redwood City. Interment was at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Menlo Park.

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