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Diane Shaff
Births, marriages and deaths
Helen Smith Helen Virginia Smith, a teacher, artist and Palo Alto resident for 60 years, died suddenly on July 12. She was 92. She was born Helen Rising on Oct. 18, 1921, in Champaign, Illinois. When she was a toddler her family moved to California, where she was raised in Beverly Hills. In her youth, she played piano and learned to act. At Beverly Hills High School she performed alongside entertainer Betty White in a production of “Pride and Prejudice.â€? She studied drama and English literature at the University of California, Los Angeles, for three semesters before trying out acting in San Francisco on a radio show called “The Great Gunns.â€? It was canceled after six months, and she returned to Beverly Hills, deciding not to pursue acting further. In September 1940, she married Phil de Barros, a former high school classmate, with whom she had two children, Philip and Paul. The couple divorced in 1948, and she went back to school at UCLA to earn a teaching degree. There she met Hershel D. Smith, who was studying chemistry, and they married on August 12, 1951. In 1952 the family moved to Menlo Park, so that she could take a position teaching first grade in the Ravenswood School District and Hershel could continue medical school. They moved to Palo Alto in 1954. She taught for five years at Willow, CostaĂąo and James Flood elementary schools before she began working in the district office, helping teachers with their reading programs. She retired around 1976. Later in life she became involved with the Palo Alto Art Club (now the Pacific Art League), studying with Howard Brodie, Mitchell Johnson and others. She loved the watercolor medium, as well as sketching and sumi-e brush painting. She was president of the club for two years, beginning in 1982. She and Hershel also volunteered with the Friends of the Palo Alto Library. She is survived by her husband, Hershel, of Palo Alto; her brother, Lucien Rising, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; her sons, Paul de Barros of Seattle and Philip de Barros of San Diego; her nephews, Greer Rising of Virginia and John Rising of Colorado Springs; four grandchildren; and one greatgranddaughter. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
Richard Patrick Brennan Resident of Palo Alto Richard Patrick Brennan, journalist, editor, author, adventurer, died at his Palo Alto home on July 4, 2014 at age 92. He led a full life, professionally and personally. He was born and raised in San Francisco, joined the Army during World War II after which he majored in English at San Francisco State on the GI Bill and then became a journalist for the Ukiah newspaper. His career as an editor began in the aerospace industry in Southern California where he gained experience and several lifelong friends. Lockheed brought him back to Northern California. Adventure always beckoned in the form of long “leaves of absenceâ€?: trekking through Europe, skiing in Aspen, sailing on a schooner. Later, he became Chief Editor at IDA (Institute for Defense Analyses) in Washington DC for four years before returning to California for good in 1972 and working as a consultant on transportation, environmental and technology assessment issues. The next phase of his life included co-authoring a book on The Future of the Automobile. And he wrote three books on science for the layman (John Wiley & Sons). The last in the series, published in 1997, was Heisenberg Probably Slept Here, a layman’s guide to physics. A new adventure in 1987 was this Irish bachelor’s marriage to Carolyn Fratessa in Termonfeckin, Ireland with Carolyn’s cousins in attendance. He is survived by his wife of almost 27 years and an extended family of great friends, new and old; his brother, Jim, predeceased him. He spoke of science and literature with equal joy. We will miss his quick wit and intelligence. He was unique. In lieu of owers contributions may be made to the Rosalie Rendu Center, 1760 Bay Road, East Palo Alto, CA 94303 or Abilities United, 525 E. Charleston Road, Palo Alto, CA 94306. A memorial mass will be held at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Palo Alto on Thursday July 31 at 4 pm with reception at Allied Arts in Menlo Park to follow. Burial will be private. PA I D
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Diane Shaff, 66, died June 25 at her home in Palo Alto, CA. She was born in Glendale, CA to Ada and Jay M. Shaff, moving to Iowa for the remainder of her childhood. Diane graduated from the University of Iowa and received her Masters in Art from Northern IL University. While at University of Iowa, she played bagpipes with the University of Iowa Scottish Highlanders Bagpipe Band. She taught art in Chicago area schools and later in San Jose, CA. She was Vice President of the Franklin McKinley Educational Association and participated in the California Council for the Arts - Teachers Project. She was active in her community as a long time Board member and President of the HOA. Diane had a passion for her cats, succulent garden, and painting in watercolor. She was a voracious reader of mysteries and a long time Stanford Women’s basketball season ticket holder. Diane is survived by her wife, Karen Hawkins, stepdaughter Cheryl D. Hawkins ( John Fabiani ) of Alameda, CA, stepson Paul D. Hawkins ( Pauline ) of Brevard, NC, father Jay M Shaff of Bettendorf, Iowa, brother Jay M. Shaff Jr. ( Sharon ) of Dallas, Texas. Diane was much loved by her many relatives and friends. She was a most gracious, pleasant and witty woman with a big smile. She will be missed by her wife of 30 wonderful years. A memorial service and burial will be held in Bettendorf, Iowa on July 27 at 2 pm. A local memorial will be held in Palo Alto on Aug. 10 at 2 pm. Contact Spangler Mortuary of Los Altos for details: 650948-6619 In lieu of owers, memorial donations may be made to the National Museum of Women in the Arts. PA I D O B I T UA RY
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that on Monday, August 4, 2014, a public hearing as required by Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 will be held with respect to the proposed issuance by the California Municipal Finance Authority of its revenue bonds in one or more series in an amount not to exceed $23,000,000 (the “Bondsâ€?). The proceeds of the Bonds will be used to: (1) ďŹ nance the acquisition, construction and equipping of Stanford Affordable, a 70-unit multifamily rental housing project located at 2450, 2470 and 2500 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, California; and (2) pay certain expenses incurred in connection with the issuance of the Bonds. The facilities are to be owned by the Palo Alto ECR Partners, L.P., a California limited partnership and operated by Related Management Company, L.P. The Bonds and the obligation to pay principal of and interest thereon and any redemption premium with respect thereto do not constitute indebtedness or an obligation of the Authority, the State of California or any political subdivision thereof, within the meaning of any constitutional or statutory debt limitation, or a charge against the general credit or taxing powers of any of them. The Bonds shall be a limited obligation of the Authority, payable solely from certain revenues duly pledged therefor and generally representing amounts paid by the Borrower. The hearing will commence at 7:00 p.m. or as soon thereafter as the matter can be heard, and will be held in the City Hall Council Chambers, City of Palo Alto, 1st Floor, 250 Hamilton Avenue, Palo Alto, California. Interested persons wishing to express their views on the issuance of the Bonds or on the nature and location of the facilities proposed to be ďŹ nanced may attend the public hearing or, prior to the time of the hearing, submit written comments. Additional information concerning the above matter may be obtained from, and written comments should be addressed to, City Clerk, City of Palo Alto, 250 Hamilton Avenue, 7th Floor, Palo Alto, California, 94301. Dated: July 18, 2014 ĂœĂœĂœÂ°*>Â?Âœ Â?ĂŒÂœ"˜Â?ˆ˜i°VÂœÂ“ĂŠUĂŠ*>Â?ÂœĂŠ Â?ĂŒÂœĂŠ7iiÂŽÂ?ÞÊUĂŠ Ă•Â?ÞÊ£n]ÊÓä£{ĂŠU Page 19