PEOPLE IN THE NEWS PEOPLE IN THE NEWS (June 01, 2005)

Rose Franco will celebrate her 100th birthday on Wednesday, June 8, with a party at her favorite place to dine, the Sharon Heights Golf and Country Club.

Her only daughter, Lorraine Carmassi of Hillsborough, and grandchildren, Loren Viegas of Atherton, Denis Carmassi of Menlo Park, and Carol Carmassi of Danville, are planning a lunch for 30 in the club's ballroom. All six great-grandchildren will be there, too.

The family will present Ms. Franco with a collage of pictures entitled, "This is your life," dating back to her childhood.

Born in Italy, Ms. Franco came to this country at age 3. She married Dennis Franco, a top executive of the Bank of America, who died at the age of 47 in 1958.

For the past 50 years, Ms. Franco has lived in San Mateo. Today she lives by herself in a condominium, where she "enjoys eating and drinking whatever she pleases and is the happiest person I know," according to her granddaughter Loren Viegas. "Gram has been the joy and heart of our family."

Ms. Franco spends a great deal of time in Atherton and Menlo Park with her grandchildren. She frequently attends Mass at St. Denis Church and St. Raymond Church.
Two locals named leadership fellows

Jane Williams and Frank Currie are members of the new class of 20 fellows of the American Leadership Forum-Silicon Valley.

There are 310 graduates of the program that brings together a cross section of community leaders to discuss and deal with Silicon Valley issues.

Fellows meet once a month for a year. The program also includes a one-week wilderness experience.

Ms. Williams, a Menlo Park resident, is chief executive officer of Sand Hill Advisors Inc., which provides financial services. She also serves on the Peninsula Community Foundation.

Mr. Currie, a Palo Alto resident, is an attorney and partner with the law firm of David Polk & Wardwell in Menlo Park.

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