Patricia Mary Richert
Patricia Mary Richert of Saratoga died Feb. 24 at Valley Medical Center of natural causes. She was born on Jan. 28, 1929, in Santa Cruz.
She is survived by her husband, Carl; two daughters, Barbara Jonte of Jacksonville, Fla., and Carole Hathaway of San Jose; a son, Doug Richert of Mooresville, N. C.; two grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Richert's occupation was homemaker, but, said daughter Barbara, "she was more than that. She was our loving mother. She would do anything for us. She was my best friend."
She and her husband lived in Saratoga for 47 years, and they would have marked their 50th wedding anniversary in June.
Twila Edith Venuti
Twila Edith Venuti, a longtime resident of Monte Sereno, passed away Feb. 12 at Los Gatos Community Hospital after a long battle with cancer.
She was born Dec. 12, 1921, in Clay Center, Kansas. She married Bill Venuti on Sept. 7, 1949, and they moved to Boulder, Colo., where both attended the University of Colorado.
The family moved to Monte Sereno in 1962, and from 1964 to 1966, the family lived in Bangkok, Thailand, where Mrs. Venuti taught English to Thai students. In 1969, she received her master's degree in special education and a teaching credential.
From 1969 to 1987, she taught special education at schools in the San Jose area. After retiring, she remained active in the community through her volunteer work with Art Docents of Los Gatos; WATCH, a safe house for battered women and children; and the Italian American Heritage Foundation.
"She lived a life of grace, and all who knew her were touched by her generous and forgiving spirit," said her daughter-in-law Kristin Venuti.
She is survived by husband Bill; her children, David, Paul, Stephen, Tom, Lisa and Philip; and seven grandchildren. A private family service was held.
George Russell Palus
George Russell Palus died Feb. 25 of natural causes at Los Gatos Community Hospital. He was born in Chicago, Ill., in 1914. He was a 1939 graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy.
He was a longtime Saratoga resident and a highly decorated war veteran. He was a retired U. S. Navy pilot and squadron leader. He served in the Navy for 24 years and then worked as an IRS agent for 10 years.
He leaves his wife, Margaret, and five grown children: Donald A. Palus of Belmont; Peter Palus of Incline Village; Karen Couzens of Gladstone, Ore.; Susan Rugg of Holly, Mich.; Kathleen Palus of Santa Clara; a step-daughter, Carol L. Johnston of Morgan Hill; and three grandchildren.
"He was a wonderful father, and he had many hobbies. He loved golf, and up until his hospitalization, he played racquetball twice a week. He did everything well," said his wife.
The family requests that donations in Mr. Palus' name be sent to the U. S. Naval Academy, Class of 1939.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, March 5, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.