Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 12, at Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park for Carlos Lopez, former president of Menlo College.
Mr. Lopez, who served as the seventh president of Menlo College from 2004 through 2006, died March 5 at his Menlo Park home due to complications from cancer. He was 76.
A reception will be held in the Russell Center Great Room at Menlo College following the service.
A resident of Menlo Park for more than 50 years, Mr. Lopez was the great-great-grandson of Faxon Atherton, for whom the town of Atherton was named. Mr. Lopez’s great-grandmother, Isabel Atherton Edwards, a daughter of Faxon Atherton, moved to Chile where Mr. Lopez was born and raised.
Several streets in Atherton are named after the Atherton children.
Young Carlos Lopez came to the Peninsula in 1954 as a student at Santa Clara University. He received a master’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a doctor of letters from the Inter-American University in Mexico.
He worked at Menlo College from 1962 to 2009, having served as chairman of the Humanities Department, faculty member, director of athletics, and soccer coach.
Professor Lopez, often referred to as “Senor” by his former students, was asked to assume the role of president at Menlo College during a transition period.
“Carlos stepped up to the plate at a time when the campus needed stability,” says President G. Timothy Haight. “We are all saddened by the loss of Carlos, but we are also inspired by his devotion to our students and the Menlo community.”
Mr. Lopez was a mentor to many Menlo students, led study abroad programs to Europe and South America, and was instrumental in developing educational exchange programs with universities in Chile and Mexico, school officials say.
He was the author of 13 books about California and Chilean history. His most recent book, “El Real Ejercito de California,” is about the Royal Spanish Army in California.
A devoted soccer fan, “Carlos could be found watching the men’s and women’s soccer games at Carlton Field cheering the Oaks on,” recalled President Haight. “He remained highly enthusiastic and would critique the play of our athletes. Carlos loved the game.”
Mr. Lopez is survived by his wife of 50 years, Eveleen, of Menlo Park; children Andrea, Elena and Larry; and three grandchildren.
Tributes in Mr. Lopez’s name may be made to the Carlos Lopez Endowed Scholarship Fund at Menlo College.
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