IN MEMORY

This page is dedicated to those who gave so much to the Society and the Genealogical Community in General. 

In Memory of Sandra Jane “Sandy” Shafer who passed away on July 27, 2008

Sandy  served as President of the Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society from 1988-1990, Recording Secretary in 1992, Program Chairman from 1995-1997, and helped plan SCCHGS’s 40th anniversary celebration in 1997. She also served as a Library Genealogy Consultant in the early 1990s, and in the mid-1990s coordinated an Irish Interest Group that met at Mission Branch Library. If someone needed help or suggestions with Irish genealogy research, Sandy was the ‘go to’ person. In April 1996 Sandy arranged for Brian Trainor, the Research Director of the Ulster Historical Foundation in Belfast, Ireland to give a workshop on Irish Research in Mountain View. Sandy was also an author; in 1989 her book, A Garvey Family: from Ireland to Essex County, New York, their descendants and allied families was published by Gateway Press of Baltimore, Md. She also wrote book reviews and articles for genealogy periodicals. She served as a program speaker for SCCHGS and for other society’s program meetings. In 1998 Sandy passed her certification to qualify as a ‘Certified Genealogical Specialist’. Her professional genealogy commitments grew, causing her to become less active in SCCHGS. However, she still contributed occasional book reviews and articles to the SCCHGS newsletter and came to special events at the Library, including the Society’s 50th anniversary party in May 2007.

Sandy had a great sense of humor—fellow professional genealogist and author Kay Ingalls shared this anecdote:

My all time favorite anecdote from many genealogist's travels is the one Sandy told about a research road trip in Pennsylvania (I think it was PA). She was traveling with her cousin and it was about lunch time, so they pulled off the highway into a small town whose name they didn't know how to pronounce. They pulled into a Burger King and after giving their orders to the clerk, Sandy's cousin said to the clerk, "How do you pronounce the name of this place?" The clerk very slowly replied:"Burrr-gerrr-King."

Her contributions to SCCHGS and the Library were very much appreciated. Our deepest sympathy is extended to her family.

In Memory of Ann Ferguson Alder who passed away on September 6, 2008

Ann Alder served as Society Librarian of the Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society from the 1980s through 2003. She strengthened the genealogy book collection in the Library during her years of service and kept up with electronic and computer developments in genealogy. She was also a member of the “Tuesday Morning” volunteer team who walked Oak Hill Memorial Park in the 1980sto create a record of information on tombstones. For her many efforts, she received the Volunteer Recognition Award from the Junior League of San Jose.

Illness prevented her from enjoying the new Santa Clara Central Park Library, but she continued to serve as the Society’s Head Librarian Emeritus and would occasionally visit the Library. She often sent flowers for the Service Desk in the Heritage Pavilion that were freshly cut from the beautiful garden at her Santa Clara home.

In 2005 Ann made a major donation to the Library to buy books in memory of a beloved brother. The many books bought at that time carry this bookplate: In memory of Francis Lloyd Ferguson III, Survivor of the Battle of the Bulge, 60-year Disabled American Veteran, Life-long reader and collector of books, devoted uncle and beloved brother of Ann Alder.

In recent years, Ann and John Alder moved to Santa Cruz to be near their daughter. In February, an 80th birthday party was held for Ann, and several Library staff members and SCCHGS members attended. Her significant impact on the book collection and many other contributions of time are deeply appreciated by the Society, and our sympathy is extended to her family.