People

Los Altos Troop 31 recently recognized four members for earning the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement attainable in the Scouts BSA program. Since its inception in 1911, only 4% of Scouts have earned the rank after a lengthy review process.The new Eagle Scouts and their projects:• Scott...

August 5, 1931 – April 14, 2026Robert Wyatt Shaffer, known to all as Bob, passed away on April 14, 2026, at The Forum at Rancho San Antonio in Cupertino, California. Prior to the move to the Forum the family resided in Los Altos, California...

Celebrating the Los Altos Library Endowment’s 12th year of service, the board of directors posed recently for an official portrait. The endowment’s contributions include The Virginia Whipple Collection, honoring the library’s most generous benefactor. The collection features the complete set of Great Courses offered...

July 25, 1923 - March 3, 2026Floyd Sylvan Kessler was born on July 25, 1923 in McKeesport, Pennsylvania and passed away on March 3, 2026 in Los Altos, California. He was 102.He attended George Washington University in Washington DC taking courses in the Department...

Collette Simko and Brian KnaussCollette Simko and Brian Knauss were married June 8 at San Francisco City Hall.The bride is a native of Los Altos Hills. She resided in Spain and Tucson, Ariz., during studies at the University of Arizona. She lived in South...

October 9, 1938 – July 2, 2026Paul Bartlett Van Buren was born in Minneapolis, MN, on Oct. 9, 1938, to Ervin P. and Mae (Bartlett) Van Buren, residents of Dell Rapids, SD.He attended Dell Rapids Public Schools through his first year of high school...

May 12, 1930 - February 6, 2026Donald (Don) Plouff, a longtime Los Altos resident and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family on February 6, 2026, at the age of 95.Born May 12, 1930, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Herbert...

Dana Swirsding and Michael PritchettDana Swirsding and Michael Pritchett have announced their engagement to be married Sept. 19 at Moloa’a Beach in Kauai, Hawaii.The bride-to-be is the daughter of Carl and JoAnne Swirsding of Los Altos. She graduated from Mountain View High School, earned...