Obituaries Obituaries (August 08, 2003)

Richard O. Humphrey

Richard O. Humphrey, 63, a 30-year resident of Pleasanton, died Aug. 3 at ValleyCare Medical Center.

He was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and served in the U.S. Navy. He owned liquor stores in Pleasanton and San Leandro for 11 years and later was a wine and spirits salesman for Berberian Brothers in Stockton and Young's Market in Union City.

He owned a 1964 Corvair and had a passion for American cars of the '50s and '60s. He also collected old coins and enjoyed camping, rafting and traveling worldwide. He enjoyed showing his Tibetan Terrior at dog shows.

He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Janet Humphrey of Pleasanton; and daughter Monica J. Humphrey of Pleasanton. He was preceded in death by son James Humphrey who died May 2, 1999, in Pleasanton.

A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 12, at Graham-Hitch Mortuary, 4167 First St.

Donations may be made to Hope Hospice, 6500 Dublin Blvd., Suite 100, Dublin 94568. Gino Branchini

Gino Branchini died July 12 at his home in Livermore. He was 80.

Born in Cle Elum, Wash., on Feb. 8, 1923, to Nazzareno and Josephine Branchini, he attended Castlemont High School in Oakland. He was a merchant marine and he served in the U.S. Coast Guard. For 12 years, he worked for the American Can Co. in Oakland and later became self-employed as an insurance broker. He was an avid baseball fan, particularly of the Oakland A's.

He is survived by his wife of almost 59 years, Rose Antone Branchini; two children and their spouses, Rick and Pamela Branchini of Danville, and Janet and Joe Cristiano of Pleasanton; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

A memorial Mass was celebrated at St. Augustine Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hope Hospice, 6500 Dublin Blvd., Suite 100, Dublin CA 94568. Lillian Emily Sampson

Pleasanton resident Lillian Emily Sampson died July 28. She was 87.

Born in Highland Park, Mich., on Sept. 1, 1915, she was a homemaker. A Detroit resident for 51 years, she moved to Pleasanton four years ago.

She enjoyed dancing and bowling.

She is survived by a son, Howard P. Sampson of Solana Beach, Calif.; two daughters, Marie Melotik of Milford, Mich., and Sue Janas of Pleasanton; and seven grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, George Sampson, who died in 1983, and her parents, Joseph and Marie Lakosil.

A remembrance memorial was held at the Henry Ford Estate in Dearborn, Mich. Memorial donations may be made to Hope Hospice, 6500 Dublin Blvd., Suite 100, Dublin, 94568. Donn Richard Lipman

Longtime Sunol resident Donn Richard Lipman died July 20. He was 63.

The First Presbyterian Church elder was born on March 7, 1940, in Oakland, and was a pharmacist for 25 years. He was a member of the Alameda County Pharmacy Association and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and was an Eagle Scout.

He loved to fish and ski and he loved Lionel trains.

He leaves his wife of 39 years, Catherine Mary Lipman; three children, Kristin Kircher of Yuba City, John Lipman of Livermore and James Lipman of Napa; his parents, Daisy Dorway Barr and Elliott Lipman; his grandfather, John Barr; a brother, Roger Lipman of Benicia; and five grandchildren.

A memorial service was held at First Presbyterian Church. Memorial donations may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 150 Grand Ave., Oakland, CA 94612. Olga Diane Cortner

Olga Diane Cortner, an eight-year resident of Pleasanton, died July 24 at UCSF Medical Center. She was 48.

She was born in 1955 in Texas, and worked as a city carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in Oakland for 12 years. She was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Pleasanton, and she enjoyed painting and artwork.

She is survived by her husband of 18 years, James Charles Cortner of Pleasanton; daughters Rita Brown of San Francisco, and Danielle Vasquez of Stockton; sons Aron Aragon of Castro Valley, and Jim Cortner of San Diego; parents Joe and Eva Guera of San Pablo; brothers Ed Guera of Martinez and Joe Guera of El Cerrito; and five grandchildren.

Services were held last weekend.