Obituaries

Lily Smit

Monte Sereno resident Lily Gleave Smit died on Aug. 30 of complications from cancer. She was 81.

She was born on June 10, 1918, in St. Helens, a town near Liverpool, England. She met her future husband, Warren Neale Smit, when he was stationed with the U.S. Army Air Corps near Man-chester. After World War II, Smit became a "war bride" by traveling by boat and train to Salt Lake City, where the couple was married in August 1946.

The Smits moved to California in 1947, first living in Alameda and later in Castro Valley, Santa Barbara, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and Saratoga. They settled in Monte Sereno in 1963.

Smit was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, working for 25 years in the children's Sunday school and primary school programs. For the past 15 years, she spent one day each week working at the Latter-day Saints Temple in Oakland. She was also an avid gardener and seamstress.

Preceding Smit in death were husband Warren and daughter Diane. Survivors include son Warren Neale Smit Jr. of Monte Sereno and granddaughters Laura Sorensen and Julianna and Carolyn Smit.

Memorial services have been held, with interment at Los Gatos Memorial Park.


Chris Dominick

Chris Dominick

Former Los Gatan Chris Dominick died of accidental drowning on Sept. 10 at his apartment complex in San Jose. He was 29.

Dominick was born and raised in Los Gatos. He attended Casa Maria Montessori and Louise Van Meter elementary school and was active in the Boy Scouts. He was a graduate of Analy High School in Sebastapol. Dominick was a client of the Hope Rehabilitation Services' Supported Living Program and was a good friend to many people in the community.

Survivors include parents Bob and Muffie Dominick of Los Gatos and brother Peter of Los Gatos.

Memorial services have been held. Donations may be made to Hope Rehabilitation Services, 1555 Parkmoor Ave., San Jose, 95126.


Betty Stahl




Betty Stahl

Elizabeth "Betty" White Stahl died in her Los Gatos home on Sept. 15 of complications of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. She was 72.

Born on Feb. 19, 1927, in Santa Rosa, Stahl was a third-generation Californian, descended from a pioneering family. A graduate of Santa Rosa High School, she married husband Edward "Ed" Stahl in 1960 and, since 1961, was the co-owner of the Travel Advisors of Los Gatos. She was also instrumental in the founding and naming of Runaway Tours Inc., the first independent tour company to cater to individuals planning trips to Hawaii and Mexico. Stahl also helped start the West Coast association of GIANTS, a travel agency cooperative, as well as All Cruise Travel.

Over the years, Stahl led groups to Africa, Turkey, China, Russia, Antarctica, Australia, New Zealand, South America and New Guinea. In July 1999, she helped escort the Saratoga Sister City group on a cruise of the Baltic Sea to St. Petersburg, Russia.

Stahl participated in the transition of St. Edwards Episcopal Church in San Jose from a mission to a parish and helped in the designing and financing of the facility. While her husband was working with Shell Oil, Stahl designed a ranch-style service station that eventually became the model design for Shell stations nationwide.

A tennis player since the 1960s, Stahl was an active participant in U.S. Tennis Association games and attended Wimbledon and U.S. Open matches several times. She served in several capacities with the Saratoga Tennis Club, helped found a women's tennis group and most recently was involved with a tennis scholarship fund at San Jose State University.

Stahl also served 10 years as a volunteer at Los Gatos' former Village House restaurant, which benefited Eastfield Ming Quong. She also supported a children's swim team, organized family tours to the Olympic Games and was active in the Inner Wheel, the auxiliary to the Los Gatos Rotary Club. She was also a founding shareholder of the original Los Gatos Weekly.

Husband Ed Stahl reports that his 6-year-old grandson, Connor Oneal, aware that his grandmother was in a wheelchair, told his grandfather, "Don't cry, Grandpa; Nana is up in heaven walking, playing tennis and turning somersaults."

Ed also said he told Connor that, since Betty enjoyed interior decorating so much, he was sure she was changing things all around in heaven. To which Connor replied, "I hope she likes gold."

Survivors include husband Ed Stahl of Los Gatos; son and daughter-in-law Eric and Marla Jochim of Wilsonville, Ore.; son Brad Stahl of San Luis Obispo; daughter and son-in-law Susan and Jim Oneal of San Jose; grandson Connor Oneal of San Jose; sister Ann Campagnolo of Scotts Valley and aunt Leona Dixon Cox of Yuba City.

Memorial services have been held. Donations may be made to the Billie Jean King SJSU Women's Tennis Endowed Scholarship Fund, 2502 Stevens Creek Blvd., San Jose, 95128-9973, or to the Forbes Norris MDA/ALS Research Center, 2324 Sacramento St., San Francisco, 94115.

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