Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Frances Principe

Obituaries

George Sumner

George H. Sumner died Oct. 5 in his Los Gatos residence at the age of 85.

Born Nov. 10, 1912, in Milton, Mass., he grew up in New Hampshire. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. Brazier. For much of his life, he was self-employed as a real estate appraiser and insurance salesman. His hobbies included reading historical novels, gardening, fishing, clamming, lobstering and traveling on his cabin-cruiser boat.

Survivors include daughters Sally K. Thomas of Los Gatos and Sharon Rankin of Londonderry, N.H.; son George H. Sumner Jr. of Hooksett, N.H.; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Memorial services have been held. Donations may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Fund, 282 Second St., Floor 2, San Francisco, 94105.

Frances Principe

Los Gatos resident Frances C. Principe died Oct. 3 at the age of 84.

Born Jan. 10, 1913, in Catskill, N.Y., Principe was a homemaker who also owned and ran a gift shop for several years. She was also a member of the Sizzling Seniors dance troupe, with whom she averaged two performances each week at benefits, fundraisers, convalescent hospitals and schools.

She got involved with the Sizzling Seniors some eight years ago, after first enrolling in Good Samaritan Hospital's Enhance Life low-impact aerobics class. She joined the Sizzling Seniors, whose members range in age from 58 to 84, to enjoy dancing to music from many decades and genres, to stay physically fit and limber and to learn new and challenging routines.

Principe was predeceased by her husband of 45 years, Louis. Survivors include daughter and son-in-law Eileen and John Bosch of Saratoga; daughter Francine Principe and life partner Mark Bridley of Los Gatos; grandson Greg Reyes and his wife, Penny; and great-grandchildren Greg and Rebecca Reyes.

Memorial services have been held, with interment at Madronia Cemetery, Saratoga.

Russell Pierce

Russell Pierce, a former resident of Los Gatos and Saratoga, died of cancer Oct. 13 in his Edmonds, Wash., home at the age of 94.

Born March 6, 1903, in Chicago, Ill., Pierce joined the advertising firm of J. Walter Thompson Company upon graduating from the University of Chicago.

In 1929, Pierce was one of three senior vice presidents who traveled to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to open the first American advertising agency in all of Latin America. During this time he married his first wife, Elizabeth Ann Humphrey, who preceded him in death. The couple had two sons.

During World War II, Pierce served under Nelson Rockefeller in the Department of Inter-American Affairs, which promoted American interests in South America. The Pierce family later moved to California, where he established his own public relations firm, Russell Pierce and Company. Its specialty was public utilities.

In 1959, Pierce married Nancy Elsman at her family's Los Gatos home. He retired a decade later but did extensive volunteer work as well as writing.

Survivors include wife Nancy Elsman Pierce of Edmonds, Wash.; sons David Pierce of Mukilteo, Wash., Lawrence Pierce of Seattle, Wash.; Mark Elsman Pierce of Spokane, Wash.; and daughter Beth Ellen Steeves of Tacoma, Wash.

Virginia Wassum

Former Los Gatan Virginia Wassum died Oct. 16 in a Santa Cruz convalescent hospital. She was 98.

Born in Charleston, W. Va., she moved to the Santa Cruz area from Los Gatos following the 1989 death of her husband, Kemp. She was preceded in death by her son, William Hicks, a U.S. Air Force pilot who was killed during World War II. She was also predeceased by her brother and sister, Daniel Burns and Helen VanArsdale. She is survived by many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services have been held, with interment at Madronia Cemetery, Saratoga.

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