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Russell F. Scott, Jr. May 4, 1921 – June 19, 2014
Births, marriages and deaths
Lenore Richter Lenore Rebecca Richter, a Palo Alto resident, died of heart failure on June 9 at Stanford Hospital. She was 96. She was born on Nov. 12, 1917, in Worcest er, Ma ssa chusetts. She studied at Simmons College in Boston until the Depression ended her education early. For one of her first jobs, she worked at the U.S. Office of War Information. In 1943, she married Melvin Richter, whom she had met on a blind date. Following her husband’s military service, the couple lived together in the Washington, D.C., area, while Melvin worked for the Justice Department, and then later in Arlington County. She served there as the chief registrar of voters in the 1960s, sometimes registering voters at her home. When they moved to Bethesda, Maryland, in 1965, she cultivated an interest in gardening, studying landscape architecture, taking part in the Bethesda Garden Club and volunteering her skills at the National Arboretum and local libraries. She and her husband also actively participated in the Democratic Party and campaigned for various local candidates. While in Virginia, they also became involved in the education of disabled children, as their daughter, Sara, was born handicapped. In 2010, she moved to Palo Alto to join her children and granddaughter, who all lived on the West Coast. She lived at the Palo Alto Commons, making many new friends. Up until her death she remained intellectually active, often playing Scrabble and attending various music concerts. She was predeceased by her daughter, Sara Richter, in 1978 and by her husband of 57 years, Melvin, in 2000. She is survived by her daughter, Amy Richter, of Portland, Oregon, and daughter, Ruthann Richter Hammer, sonin-law, Jay Hammer, and granddaughter, Shaina Hammer — all of Palo Alto. A memorial service was held on June 13 in Bethesda, Maryland. Memorial donations may be made to Abilities United, 525 E. Charleston Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306, or the Lenore and Melvin Richter Scholarship Fund at the Boston Latin School Association, 78 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115.
Donald Joseph Ragno March 14, 1922 – June 22, 2014 Donald Joseph Ragno passed away peacefully on the morning of June 22 after a brief illness. He was 92. Beloved by family and friends, Don will be deeply missed. Born in Bingham Canyon, Utah, to Gugliemina Robbiano and Giovanni (John) Ragno of Silvano d’Orba, Italy, Don was the youngest of three children. He moved to Oakland with his family at age one, and later to Palo Alto, graduating from Palo Alto High School in 1940, where he played varsity basketball. He continued to play basketball as a student at UCLA. Don enlisted in the Navy in 1943, serving until 1946 as a lieutenant, and eventually, a commanding ofďŹ cer, aboard three USS LCIs in the AsiaticPaciďŹ c, the Philippines, and Europe. Returning to UCLA on the GI bill, Don graduated in 1946, majoring in economics. Through the years, Don often spoke of how much he enjoyed Southern California’s beaches during college. While at UCLA, he met Frances Halstenrud. They were married in 1947, and moved to Palo Alto. With his brother, Larry, Don was the owner of John’s, a popular East Palo Alto liquor and wine business started by their father, John Ragno, with a restaurant and bar next door. The business grew quickly and they opened a second store in Ladera Shopping Center in Portola Valley in 1957. Throughout his life, Don enjoyed travel. He and Fran made many wonderful trips around the globe, also returning on a regular basis to visit family in Italy, where he loved having opportunities to converse in his local dialect. Don was an inveterate student of languages, and studied Spanish and French to add to his ability to communicate easily when traveling. Two of Don’s passions were golf and basketball. He was a Stanford Golf Course member for many years, playing twice weekly in retirement until very recently. He was a loyal fan of the Stanford basketball team. Above all, Don valued friends and family. He had the ability to connect in a personal way with everyone he met, and was often described as a true gentleman. He and Fran entertained generously over many years, and his warmth toward people he knew was unforgettable. Don is survived by Frances Ragno, his wife of 66 years, his ďŹ ve sons, Brock, Matthew, John, Martin and Donald, seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Lillian, and a brother, Lawrence. A memorial service and reception will be held Saturday, June 28, at 3 p.m. in the University Room at The Vi, 620 Sand Hill Rd., Palo Alto, 94304. In lieu of owers, memorial contributions may be made toward the restoration of LCI (L) 713 c/o Amphibious Forces Memorial Museum, PO Box 17220, Portland, OR 97217. PA I D
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Born in Salt Lake City, Utah and raised in San Rafael, California. Survived by his son, Randy Scott and his grandchildren, Jordan and Jena. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth and his sister, Joyce and brother, Airston. Russell graduated USMA at West Point in 1943 and served in both WWII under General George Patton and the Korean War, rising to Lieutenant Colonel rank. He received the Bronze Star, National Defense Service Medal and United Nations Service Medal, among the decorations. Following the War, Russell completed his graduate degree in Engineering from MIT. Resident of Palo Alto for 53 years, Russell was an engineer for 32 years at Varian Associates before retiring at age 73. Russell’s zest for life and remarkable character traits served as an inspiration to all whom made his acquaintance. All are cordially invited to a memorial service to be held July 7th at 1:00 pm at Alta Mesa Funeral Home, Palo Alto. PA I D
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Bonnie Sorensen Bonnie Sorensen, a long-time Palo Alto resident and attorney, died on February 28, 2014, at her home. She was born on April 11, 1957, in Scottsbluff, Nebraska from a long line of immigrants to Nebraska who farmed that area. After graduating from High School, she married Douglas Sorensen (also from Scottsbluff) and moved to Menlo Park while Doug attended Stanford Law School. Their daughter, Alissa, was born at Stanford Hospital. After Doug passed the California Bar, Bonnie lived with Doug and Alissa in the Palo Alto Law Commune on Alma Street with 5 other lawyers, raised Alissa and obtained her Stanford B.A. When Bonnie and Doug divorced, Bonnie worked in the Stanford Pharmacology Department to support herself and Alissa. Somehow, she also managed to graduate in 1978 with a law degree from Santa Clara University School of Law. Bonnie ďŹ rst practiced law in Palo Alto at 165 University Avenue, with her good friend, Jon R. Parsons. A few years later, she accepted an offer to work as an associate with Bill Keogh in the Keogh, Marer & Flicker law ďŹ rm. She had already impressed Bill Keogh with her skill as a family law attorney. In 1989, she started her own sole practice on Park Boulevard in South Palo Alto as a California State Bar CertiďŹ ed Specialist in Family Law. From age 14, when she had her ďŹ rst job, Bonnie spent her life working hard until severe medical problems caught up with her in 2010; she was then forced by circumstances to retire. As a family law attorney, she was a consummate professional who viewed her job, not as a business, but as the means to help others. Her peers, both family law attorneys and many Santa Clara County judges, admired her keen mind and expertise, and often sought her advice and assistance. She frequently gave her time, pro-bono, to, among others, the East Palo Alto Community Clinic (in family law matters) and the Mountain View Battered Women’s Shelter. Bonnie was a vibrant, witty intellectual and raconteur who knew everything there was to know about literature, history, politics, theater, and all the “triviaâ€? one could absorb. She would quickly tell you who was the director, the choreographer, of a movie made in the ‘30’s, the 40’s and to the present. Her recall of the key lines in almost any novel one had read or any movie one had seen was amazing. She was fun to be around – what more can one ask of a person? Bonnie leaves her daughter and son-in-law, Alissa and Richard Levenberg, their children, Darren and Samantha, her mother (who died a month after Bonnie at age 93), her brother and sisterin-law, Richard and Sandee Thomas and their children. Shadow, her black cat, was a constant companion. We were fortunate to have known Bonnie and we are all now, in many ways, diminished by her death. A memorial was held on Saturday, June 21st, in Palo Alto. PA I D
OBITUARY
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