Obituaries Obituaries (September 21, 2005)

Gertrude Wallace

Braille expert

Gertrude Kivela Wallace, who lived in Menlo Park, Woodside and Portola Valley for 42 years, died September 6 in Reno, Nevada, where she moved in 1998. She was 87.

Born in Red Lodge, Montana, she attended what is now Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana, where she was president of the Alpha Literary Society. She worked at Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone National Park during summers.

During World War II, she worked for the Department of the Navy in Washington, D.C. There she met her future husband, Robert Wallace, whom she married in 1945.

The couple moved to Menlo Park in 1956. They spent many summers in small Western towns while Mr. Wallace was doing geologic research with the U.S. Geological Survey.

Ms. Wallace was a longtime volunteer for the Peninsula Braille Guild and served as its president. An expert at transcribing Braille, she helped many blind students by translating their textbooks.

During their 60-year marriage, the Wallaces traveled extensively throughout the world.

Ms. Wallace is survived by her husband, Robert, and son Alan, both of Reno. At her request, there will be no services or memorial donations.
Dominick Berardinelli

Real estate broker

A graveside service with full military honors will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, September 22, at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo for Dominick Berardinelli, a 42-year resident of Portola Valley who died September 15. He was 84.

Born in Cranford, New Jersey, he graduated from Pennsylvania State University and earned a master's degree at Stanford University.

During World War II, he served with the U.S. Army's 14th Air Force in China.

After an early career as a teacher, he was a self-employed real estate broker for 39 years, specializing in properties at the Sea Ranch, north of San Francisco, with an office in Gualala.

Mr. Berardinelli enjoyed music and reading, say family members.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Annelise Berardinelli; daughters Michelle Berardinelli of Emerald Hills, Jennifer Scher of Portola Valley, and Andrea Gillis of San Marcos; sisters Connie Gabriel of Brick, New Jersey, and Carol Donahue of Cranford, New Jersey; and three grandchildren.

Arrangements were under the direction of Redwood Chapel, Redwood City.

Carl Carlsen

Automobile dealer

A memorial service was to be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 20, at Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, 950 Santa Cruz Ave., Menlo Park, for Carl R. Carlsen.

Mr. Carlsen, who had just moved to Classic Residence by Hyatt in Palo Alto from Portola Valley, died September 13. He was 85.

Born in Boston, he graduated from UC Berkeley prior to enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. He served in the battles of Guam and Iwo Jima and attained the rank of major. Six months after returning from duty, he married Mary Louise Martin in Pacific Grove.

Mr. Carlsen was an automobile dealer in Marin County, San Francisco, and Palo Alto for more than 45 years. He is a former owner of Carlsen Volvo, Mathew-Carlsen Bodyworks and Volkswagon, Porsche-Audi and Subaru agencies. During the past 20 years he was involved in real estate development.

Mr. Carlsen had a life-long love of boats and delighted in cruising in British Columbia and Mexican waters, say family members. He was a member of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Menlo Country Club, the Palo Alto Club, and St. Francis Yacht Club.

Mr. Carlsen is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Lou of Palo Alto; brother Stan Carlsen of San Rafael; daughters Kris Wheeler of Los Altos and Leslie Tincher of Portola Valley; son Robert Carlsen of Centennial, Colorado; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Memorials in Mr. Carlsen's name may be made to World Vision at worldvision.org or the Salvation Army at salvationarmy.org.

Genevieve Gavin

Woodside resident

Genevieve L. Gavin, a resident of Woodside for the last four years, died August 26 in Woodside at age 94.

Ms. Gavin was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, and baking, say family members.

She is survived by her daughters, Barbara McGoldrich of Harwich, Massachusetts, and Janet Koelsch of Woodside; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

No funeral services will be held. Arrangements were under the direction of Redwood Chapel, Redwood City.

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