In Our Care
Dorothy Ford Marlin
Dorothy Ford Marlin (“Dee”) died at home on October 29, 2022 at the age of 95.
A longtime resident of Mill Valley, Dorothy was born in New Haven, Connecticut on August 9, 1927 to Dorothy Hugo Ford and Frank William Ford. She grew up in White Plains, New York, one of five children. She attended White Plains High School and graduated from Miss Hall’s School in Pittsfield, Massachusetts in 1945. She graduated from Vasser College in 1948 after completing an accelerated three-year program that had been established for wartime. After graduation from Vasser, she moved to Mill Valley to live with her sister, Lorraine, and brother-in-law, Ed, and taught at the Bayview School in San Francisco. Ed introduced his best friend, (George) Emery Marlin (known to family as “Tag”) to Dorothy, and Dorothy and Tag were married on April 24, 1949 at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Mill Valley. Their wedding reception was held at the Mill Valley Outdoor Art Club. Their first home together was on Hazel Avenue, on the slopes of Mt. Tamalpais; Dorothy taught at Old Mill and Park Schools in Mill Valley until the birth of their daughter Lorraine in 1951. Their daughter Barbara was born in 1953. Dorothy and Tag moved to their home in Tamalpais Woods in 1956, where they raised their family and enjoyed views of Mt. Tamalpais and Richardson Bay. The family’s favorite weekend activity was to drive out to Muir Beach and hike along the shore over the rocks, fish for perch, and cook lunch over a campfire.
Dorothy taught at Spring Valley School in San Francisco for 31 years, until her retirement in 1987. Above all, she prized excellence in education. Dorothy loved classical music, especially opera, and enjoyed reminiscing about the opera performances that she had attended at the “Old Met” in New York City, beginning with a performance of Carmen conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham, when she was just 14 years old. After moving to California, she became a regular subscriber to San Francisco Opera, attending performances with Tag and later with her two daughters. She continued to attend the opera regularly until she was in her early 90’s. By sheer coincidence (or not), the first SF Opera production that she attended with her daughters, in the early 1960’s, was Hansel and Gretel, and the very last production that she attended, accompanied by her daughters, was of that same opera, in the fall of 2019. (Moreover, she was thrilled to attend a performance of Hansel and Gretel in 2004 in which one of her grandsons, as a member of the SF Boys Chorus, sang in the role of one of the gingerbread children.)
After Tag’s death in 2012, Dorothy reinvented herself in many ways, creating the perky nickname “Dee”. Her intrinsically social and extroverted personality blossomed anew, and she made wonderful new friends who enriched her life immeasurably and brought her great joy in those later years.
Dorothy is survived by her daughter Lorraine Massa, MD and her husband Stephen Massa, MD of Burlingame; daughter Barbara Marlin-Coole of Petaluma; five grandchildren: Sean Marlin Leary, Nicholas Marlin Massa, Felicity Constance Massa, William Arthur Coole, and Luka Elizabeth Coole; and by loving nieces and nephews. Her husband Tag preceded her in death, as did her four siblings: Lorraine Ford Lee, Frank William Ford, Jr.; her fraternal twin Janice Ford Boyle, and Lois Ford Vochoska. She was also preceded in death by her nephew Frank William Ford III and her niece Diana Siemens.
A private ceremony will be held at Fernwood Cemetery and Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Dee’s memory to Miss Hall’s School, Vasser College, or SF Opera.
Debra Barnes
April 24, 1952 ~ November 19, 2022
Debbie Barnes was born in Long Beach, California. Educated in public schools by a post war family that valued education, she was successful at high school, University of California Santa Cruz and University of California Berkley. She received her PhD in Endocrinology at Berkeley, taught Anatomy and Physiology at Berkeley, Mills, California School of Podiatry, and finally at her favorite, Contra Costa College for 35 years. She taught generations of nurses and other health professionals. Many moments later in her life reacquainted her with her students when she was a patient.
Debbie was able to travel extensively, namely 4 times to Botswana for animal viewing, but also relationships with Setswana who have become great friends.
Debbie was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2018 and her life saved by treatment and surgery at UCSF. She found Dr. Oliver Dorigo, at Stanford in 2019 and was in essential remission from stage 4 until a routine scan in December 2021 demonstrated pancreatic cancer. Unfortunately she had too many metastases even after adjuvant chemotherapy. The oncology department was less than supportive, but she persevered. She decided that chemotherapy side effects were too much in August, and her symptoms progressed to where she suffered a great deal despite a robust hospice effort by Continuum Hospice of Concord. She had fought the battle and was getting no better. She maintained control to the end. A wish for all of us. With all my love Debbie, Bill. We thank all who loved her, and all who cared for her.
Peter Schmid, M.A., Ph.D.
September 5, 1927 ~ October 5, 2022
My father Dr. Peter Schmid died peacefully in his sleep on October 5, 2022, after a fulfilling and long life.
Peter was born in Bern Switzerland in 1927 to Julie Schmid and Edwin Schmid, M.D.. He spent his childhood with two sisters Heidi and Gertrud as well as other extended family along the shores of Lake Thun. Peter graduated from the Institute of Technology in Winterthur, Switzerland in 1949 with masters in both Chemistry and Chemical Engineering. After graduation, he worked in Basel conducting important research in the pharmaceutical industry. He assisted in the development of many findings, leading to medicines we still use today. He was married to his wife Charlotte on July 3, 1954 in Zurich, Switzerland. In 1955 Peter and Charlotte moved to the United States to continue his studies and with the intent of staying for only two years. He and Charlotte first moved to Syracuse, New York. However, after being accepted at U.C. Berkeley, and UCSF, they decided to move to San Francisco. Peter and Charlotte drove cross-country admiring the nature and landscape along the way. Studying with Dr. Melvin Calvin, Peter earned an additional masters degree and then a Ph.D in biochemistry
from the University of California, Medical Center, San Francisco in 1963. From about 1963 thru 1967 he worked for the U.S. Naval Radiological Institute before being appointed Senior Investigator at the Letterman Army Institute of Research in San Francisco. Peter devoted his over 30 year career to medical research and has published over 30 related scientific papers. While his focus and specialty became skin biology (medical research, radiobiology) and its related illnesses, he devoted much of his research and time to alternative medical healing systems as well as eastern healing philosophy. Peter and Charlotte settled in Terra Linda (Marin County), around 1964. Peter, as a member of the Santa Margarita Homeowners Association, was instrumental in the development and conclusion of an open space initiative which saved the Terra Linda/Sleepy Hollow ridge from development and to this day is permanently designated open space for all members of the Marin and San Rafael communities to enjoy and cherish. He contributed to the then Dixie School District as an advisor in the 1970’s. He was a member of many scientific organizations and a faculty mentor with Columbia Pacific University for masters and Ph.D candidates. His studies in eastern and Tibetan philosophy lead him also to many a day playing the Tibetan singing bowls in mediation. He loved classical music, nature, and photography.
Upon his retirement from medical research, he continued to contribute to his community by becoming a senior peer counselor with Marin Community Health (H&HS). As a Senior Peer Counselor, Peter helped numerous frail elderly clients work on problems of aging, such as depression, isolation, and failing health. The co-director of the Senior Peer Counseling program was quoted as saying “Peter is a wonder. He is so quiet and self-effacing that you hardly know he’s working...”. Peter was recognized for his service in 2000 and again in 2009 when he was awarded Outstanding Volunteer of The Year 2009-2010 by the Marin County Board of Supervisors. He gave thousands of hours and over eighteen years of service before, because of his own failing health, could no longer serve.
My father always served. He was a kind, gentle and quiet soul with a brilliant mind. There were many times he did not speak when spoken to, but just smiled and laughed with what felt like a deeper understanding of the actions around him. Of course his sense of humor in this regard was different than most. At times when asked “how are you”, he would answer “delicious”. Peter was a wonderful, patient and loving husband, father, brother, grandfather, mentor, and friend. The world is a better place for him having been here. If I can be half the man he was, I will be grateful. We all miss him terribly.
He leaves behind his wife of over 68 years Charlotte, Son Peter A., Daughter-in-law Angela, Daughter Christine Geissberger (Schmid), Son-in-Law Marc, grandsons Justin and Robert Geissberger, granddaughter Anika Geissberger, nephew Stephan Rosenberg, niece Vanessa Rosenberg, cousins Verena Rutishauser (Schmid) and Ulrich Schmid. He also leaves behind other extended family, many friends and persons he helped along the journey of life.
In keeping with his beliefs and his direct wishes there will not be a funeral or service. His ashes will be scattered privately in the places he loved in accordance with his specific wishes. In lieu of flowers or a service that is typical, my father would ask that you contribute to your favorite charity in his name or pass on your gift to others in need by giving back to your community or volunteering some of your time.
Charlotte Lynn Jolly
Memorial Service
Friday, October 14, 2022 ~ 11 o'clock
On Tuesday, October 4th 2022, Charlotte Lynn Jolly of San Francisco, CA lost her battle with cancer at the age of 66. She was born in Bakersfield, CA on November 23rd 1955, to Eugene Smith and Barbara (Baker) Ross. She was adopted along with her sister, Janice, by Barbara’s second husband, Otis Ross. Her family moved around a lot due to Otis’ service in the Navy, but they eventually settled in Alameda, where she graduated from Encinal High School in 1973.
She later moved to San Francisco, where she worked as a teller for the IBM Credit Union. There she met her future husband, Alan Jolly, who would always find ways to make his transactions with her. The two of them married in May of 1984. She was an outstanding mother to their 3 children, always available for the PTA or a school concert or science fair. She was also a mother to all who needed her, from her niece, Jennifer, to her children’s friends. She shared love with anyone who darkened her family's doorstep.
She worked as a travel agent for Runaway Tours for several years, where she very much enjoyed the travel perks she earned. She also enjoyed gardening and spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her father Otis, her mother, Barbara and her sister Janice. She is survived by her husband of 38 years, Alan, her daughters Catherine Chin of San Francisco, and Alicia Goddard of Alameda, her son, Ian Jolly of San Pablo, and her 4 grandchildren, Brandon, Logan, Jackson, and Kaitlyn.
Services will be held at Fernwood Funeral Home at 301 Tennessee Valley Road, Mill Valley, CA on October 14th, 2022 at 11 o’clock in the morning. Per her wishes, she will be cremated following the ceremony, and her ashes will be mixed with the soil at the base of a young redwood tree at Better Place Forests in Santa Cruz, CA.
Tom Ashley
June 10, 1949 ~ August 19, 2022
Tom died on August 19 from complications of Parkinson’s disease, the effects of which he fought valiantly for 16 years. He continued to go skiing, rock climbing, hiking and boogie boarding and played tennis and bridge for many years after his diagnosis primarily because of his wonderful friends who looked after him and picked him up when he fell down. He very much looked forward to outings and trips with his friends and they contributed greatly to his happiness.
Tom was born in Vienna, Austria to Frances and Eric Ashley. His family immigrated to California and settled in Hillsborough when Tom was two years old. He attended Lick Wilmerding High School in San Francisco and went on to Columbia University in New York City where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and a Master’s of Business Administration. He worked for Chase Manhattan Bank in New York for a few years before returning to California to work for the Federal Reserve Bank. He spent most of the next 35 years of his career at the Bank of America.
Tom met his wife, Lois, on a Sierra Club hike from Tennessee Valley to Muir Beach. There he spontaneously invited her for a glass of wine at the Pelican Inn. They were married at the Falkirk House on Memorial Day in 1981 and moved to Mill Valley where their son Brian was born.
Tom loved to volunteer. He was on the Mill Valley School Board for eight years, the Mountain Play Board for 12 years and the Scott Valley Swim and Tennis Club Board for 25 years. He also coached almost every baseball, soccer and roller hockey team his son played on. He was an excellent cook and loved feeding people, a skill his son Brian developed as well. Tom valued sitting down to dinner as a family every evening and prided himself on preparing home cooked meals even after long days of working and commuting. No family celebration or holiday was complete without one of Tom’s Viennese almond flour cakes. Everyone was thrilled when he brought his famous chocolate chip cookies to potlucks.
Tom was a kind and gentle soul, quiet and a deep thinker. He rarely had a bad word to say about anyone. He had a dry sense of humor which was enjoyed by many. Tom was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend and the world is a better place for his having been here. We all miss him terribly.
He leaves behind his wife Lois, son Brian ( Julia ), sister Peggy (Jeff ), grandsons Rowan and Spencer, granddaughter Hannah, two nieces Eva and Christine ( Ricard ), a nephew Andy (Jenny ), cousins Mary ( John ) and Jim (Shirley) and six grandnephews and a grandniece.
In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a contribution to Kiddo or The Mountain Play Association, two organizations that Tom believed in and supported.
Ethel Anne Schaaf
June 21, 1926 ~ June 17, 2022
Ethel Anne Schaaf (Knapik) passed on peacefully and surrounded by family on June 17, 2022 at the age of 95, ready for her next adventure. She is deeply loved and profoundly missed. She was born in Cleveland on June 21, 1926, to John and Anna Knapik, teenage emigrees from what later became Czechoslovakia. Ethel was the youngest of 8 children and grew up during the Great Depression, which strongly affected her belief in hard work and her gratefulness for what she had. After graduating in Cleveland from Notre Dame Academy in 1944 and St. John Hospital School of Nursing in 1947, she took her first plane flight to Los Angeles, wearing a suit, matched hat, and white gloves. In this land of strawberry farms and orange groves, she met the love of her life, Frederick Schaaf, a Veteran’s Hospital surgeon, as she was passing him sterile instruments in the operating room. They married in Santa Barbara, California on September 3, 1950. Their mutual delight, passion, and deep respect continued until Frederick passed on 63 years later. In the mid-1950’s they moved to northern California, first to the untracked hills of Redwood City, then to the quiet towns of Palo Alto and Menlo Park, where they raised three children. Although devoted to her husband and family, Ethel was always eager for new opportunities to learn, to help, and to care for others. After working as a nurse, she signed up–again as a nurse–for the local schools. Ethel was also active in scouting, numerous church activities, along with neighborhood and school committees, and later became a Spiritual Care Counselor at Stanford Hospital. Always absorbed by artistry and beauty, she volunteered as a docent for the Stanford Museum of Art for 24 years. During this time, she enrolled at the College of Notre Dame in Belmont, California, receiving her BA in Art History at the age of 60. She was charmed and excited by the young schoolchildren into whose classes she brought the museum teaching portfolio of ancient Chinese art. During these years, Ethel and her darling Fred were drawn to experience new people and cultures around the world, sometimes with their children. They traveled to Europe, Mexico, and Canada, across the US and back, through the Northwest passage in Alaska, to the newly opened China, various islands of Hawaii, Russia, the South Pacific, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, Israel, and Egypt. In her mid-eighties, Ethel moved to a supportive living community in Marin County, close to her daughter and family. There she lived each moment with grace and gratitude. Our beloved Ethel is survived by her son, Gregory Schaaf; her daughter, V. Mylo Schaaf (and husband Daniel Lowenstein); her grand-son, Stefan Lowenstein; her grand-daughter, Mira Lowenstein; her dear niece, Annette Gadus; as well as other members–loved and too numerous to name–of her family and of Frederick’s family; and finally, her treasured friends, including members of the Church Ladies from Saint Raymond’s Catholic Church. Small private memorial services have been held at Fernwood Cemetery in Mill Valley, California and at Alma Via in San Rafael. She is pre-deceased by her husband, Frederick Schaaf, and her son, Brian Schaaf. Any memorial contributions can be sent to the College of Notre Dame, Belmont, California, or to the charity of your choice.
