Stephen Perez

Stephen James Perez died Oct. 8 in Sacramento after a long illness. He was 53.

Born June 28, 1950, in San Jose, Perez grew up in Saratoga, where he graduated from Westmont High School in 1968. He was a master carpenter and craftsman, with a love for golf, fishing, and a sense of humor.

He is survived by son Stephen Michael Perez of Sacramento; son Brandon James, daughter Genevieve Susanne, and mother Betty Perez of Reno, Nev.; father Frank Perez Sr. of Tucson, Ariz.; twin brother Tony Perez of Gualala, Calif.; brothers Michael Cornell of Reno, Frank Perez of Tucson, Jeff Perez of Lake Almanor, Calif., and Andy Perez of Valley Village, Tenn.; sister Merrilyn Tway of San Jose; and former wife and friend Lynn Lowry Perez of Sacramento.

Services have been held.

Martha Wilcox

Martha Jane Ryan Wilcox died Oct. 6 at her home in Saratoga. She was 67.

Born on July 6, 1936, in Neola, Iowa, Wilcox was an avid piano player from a young age.

Studying music at Duchesne College in Omaha, Neb., she taught music at De Forest School in Iowa and Nebraska. She married John Franklin Wilcox in 1961, and the couple moved to Saratoga in 1970. Wilcox became very active at the Sacred Heart Parish, where she played the organ and piano during weekday and Sunday Mass.

In addition, Wilcox worked with young school children in piano and was active with St. Mary's Parish in Los Gatos, where she provided music for funerals and weddings. Wilcox was also a volunteer with Our Lady of Fatima, Villa Fontana, and the Rotary Club of San Jose.

She is survived by her husband, John Wilcox, son John Wilcox Jr., daughter Julie Keeney and husband Tom, son Tom Wilcox and wife Jennifer, daughter Lori Christensen and husband Eric, and one grandchild.

Memorial donations may be made to the Young Musician's Fund through Sacred Heart Church, 13716 Saratoga Ave., Saratoga, 95070, the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 10254, Atlanta, Ga., 30368, or the Joslin Diabetes Clinic, One Joslin Place, Boston, Mass., 02215.