Obituaries: Local residents who have died recently

Here are the local residents who have died recently:

Andrew “Andy” Pierson, 46, of Mountain View died on Jan. 22, 2024, following a battle with glioblastoma. Andy was a Cornell University alum, holding both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Engineering, and also earned a Master’s in Project Management from Rochester Institute of Technology. He made significant contributions to the tech industry through his work at TiVo, Harris RF, Amazon, and Meta.

Dick McEwen, 98, a Palo Alto resident who pursued an extensive education, earning degrees in mechanical and electrical engineering from Cal Tech and Stanford, and later becoming one of the first in the U.S. to receive a Ph.D. in chemical engineering in 1950. His career included impactful work as a petroleum recovery scientist and in biomedical instrumentation, notably in ultracentrifugation and protein/peptide sequencing. Beyond his professional achievements, McEwen was deeply involved in his community through volunteer work with the Palo Alto police department and local disaster preparedness initiatives. He was also a passionate musician, known for playing the piano, guitar, and trumpet. McEwen enjoyed hiking in the Bay Area with friends and hated gardening.

Jeane Greenawalt Johnson, 97, a Los Gatos resident whose involvement in 4-H during seventh grade sparked her interest in home economics, leading to a BS degree from Kansas State University and a BA from San Jose University in home economics and education. Johnson received several honors and scholarships throughout her academic career. As an active member of the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Johnson participated in various church activities and volunteered at Hope House.

Linda Kane, 70, a Mountain View resident who grew up exploring the Stanford campus with her brother Jeff, enjoying activities like swimming in Lake Lagunita and hiking to the Stanford Dish. An avid traveler and culture enthusiast, she was fluent in Italian and passionate about opera, classical literature, and reading widely. Linda worked at Stanford University, particularly with the Stanford Instructional Television Network (now SCPD), as a student services specialist. Her career was interrupted by cancer, leading to health challenges she faced with dignity and courage.

Arlene Schaupp, 89, a Palo Alto resident who was born in Japan to missionary parents, and later graduated from Occidental College in 1956 and later attended McCormick Seminary. Arlene became actively involved in the First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto, particularly advocating for LGBTQ membership and embracing social justice causes. She was instrumental in coordinating the South Bay Sanctuary Covenant and led 37 delegations to El Salvador to support education and economic aid efforts while bringing international attention to the region.

Zhiwei David Xiao, 51, a Palo Alto resident who was born in China and was the trailblazer for his family, being the first to attend college. Zhiwei graduated from Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Tsinghua University, where he met his wife, Hongxia. Pursuing opportunities in the United States, he moved to the Bay Area and worked in the Silicon Valley tech industry for over two decades, including at Cisco, Broadcom, Amazon, Zingbox, Palo Alto Networks, and Apple.

To read full obituaries, leave remembrances and post photos, go to Lasting Memories at AlmanacNews.com/obituaries