Santa Clara Magazine

Page Humphrey Vernon J.D. ’81 died Wednesday, February 20, 2013, in her home. It was a beautiful sunny morning, much like Page herself.
Page was born in Warsaw, NY, April 30, 1952 where she grew up with her parents Harriott Page Humphrey and Wolcott J. "Bud" Humphrey Jr., both deceased, and five brothers, Wolcott J. "Jay", deceased, Peter, John, Tom, and Mark Otis. In a house with five brothers, who called her "Princess", she learned to hold her own and was known for her sharp elbows.
Page loved her brothers, their wives, and families. She was the beloved "Aunt Page" to her nieces and nephews whom she loved deeply: Wolcott, Jamie (husband Todd and her children), Chris, Page, Katie, Thomas, Joe, Arielle, Haley, Jessica, and Danielle. She was overjoyed to spend time with these and her Summerlin kin, John, Tina, and John, Jr., at their family reunion in January 2013.  Page and her husband Jim were married October 10, 1981 in Warsaw, NY. They have resided at their home in northern Chatham County since 1983. Their children, Benjamin Tyler and Amos Alexander were born in 1984 and 1985 respectively and attended Chatham County schools through graduation. Ben is a law student at the University of Colorado-Boulder Law School. Amos is an actor and writer in Brooklyn, NY.  She was a loved member of the Vernon family, a daughter to Jim's mother Nancy and his father Charles, a friend and sister to her husband's siblings Eleanor, Catharine, Fox, and Patrick and their spouses. She cherished her time with her nieces Allison, Susanna, and Kate. Page enjoyed countless wonderful days with her family at their mountain cabin, "Sandy Bottom," in Celo, NC.  Over the course of more than thirty years in and around Chatham County, NC, Page built a large community of friends, with whom she enjoyed music, dancing, food, and the outdoors. She especially loved her time spent at the beach, in the mountains, and in the yard with the "Five Families."  Page graduated from Trinity College in 1974, and Santa Clara University School of Law in 1981. She began her career in Chapel Hill in 1981 as assistant district attorney for Orange and Chatham Counties. While raising a family, she wrote for the UNC School of Government before joining the law firm of Barber, Bradshaw and Vernon in 1991 where she practiced until 2002. Her special interest in children and education then led her to the Juvenile Criminal Law Clinic at the UNC School of Law and later Duke University School of Law's Children's Education Law Center. After several years as a volunteer guardian ad litem, Page was elected District Court Judge and served from 2008 through 2011. The judge's robe fit Judge Vernon perfectly and she wore it with dignity, grace, and professionalism. Even her closest friends found it easy to call her "Judge". 

David Louis Normandin '81, resident of San Jose, passed away suddenly of natural causes on November 20. He was known for his generosity, heart of gold, and spontaneous free spirit.   David was born June 1, 1957, in Colorado Springs, Colo., graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory in 1975, and earned a business degree from Santa Clara University in 1981.  He worked at Normandin Chrysler Jeep and Dodge in the Customer Service Department for many years, and spent his recent years caring for his two children as well as working as a jack-of-all-trades. He touched the lives of those who knew him with his kindness, generosity and sense of adventure. He often pulled up to his family members' driveways in his van, blasting classic rock music and inviting them along to catch frogs with him. He had a deep love for nature, and enjoyed visiting Yosemite for fishing trips. David approached the prospect of helping others with unbridled enthusiasm, from moving his niece into her college dorm room to spending hours painting fences or working on projects at his siblings' and friends' houses. He also had a sharp focus for creativity - the Christmas lights that adorned his home each year became famous throughout the neighborhood. Visits with David would usually involve some great barbeque (lots of meat), plenty of laughter, and at least one adventure.  David is survived by his wife Michelle, and is the adored father of Tristan and Sarah. He is also survived by his parents Lon '81 and Peggy Normandin and siblings Caren Normandin '79, Lisa McHugh '81, Mark Normandin, Diane Azevedo, and Paul Normandin. He was a beloved uncle to 16 nieces and nephews. He will be sorely missed.

Anne Jeanette Anderson M.A. ’81, 79 years old, of El Granada, Calif., died on January 21. She was born on May 2, 1933, in Worchester, Mass. to Gilbert Ralph LaPoint and Gladys May Porter of Westborough, MA. She graduated from the New England Deaconess Hospital School of Nursing on Oct. 10, 1954 and subsequently married William Anderson on Oct. 30, 1954. She then spent two years working as an RN followed by 19 years raising a family. She graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing on June 8, 1973 followed by a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of California in San Francisco on June 25, 1978. During the time she pursued additional degrees in nursing, she was working as nurse and developed a special interest in the problems of the elderly. This led to an additional Master of Arts degree in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from the University of Santa Clara June 11, 1981 after which she worked several years in private practice with Menlo Counseling Associates. Anne is survived by her husband, William, by three children, David of Racine, WI., Carolyn of Champaign, IL and Kevin of El Granada, CA, and by four grandchildren, Geoffrey and Britta in WI and Sarah and Christopher in IL. Anne's greatest legacy is the love and care she lavished on her family. She is also survived by her siblings, Marilyn of VA and Gilbert of FL. Anne's love and care was also lavished on her patients and clients. She went into one of the caring professions at the beginning of her carrier and continued in them throughout her life. She was motivated by the love of Christ and what God had done for her in the person of Jesus Christ. From her high school days she had a desire to serve as the hands of Christ in caring for the needs of people.

Daniel "Danny" P. Lawless ’82—our beloved father, son and brother—left this life and entered eternal life on Friday, February 22, 2013. Danny was born in Phoenix on August 7, 1960. He attended Brophy College Prep and graduated from the University of Santa Clara in 1982. Danny worked his entire career as a financial consultant. Danny is survived by his beautiful children, Dylan and Megan, his former wife and mother of their children, Hallie Lawless, his parents David and Ellen Lawless and siblings, Tom Lawless '77, J.D. '82 and Cathy Gaudreau (Bill). Danny was a great golfer and two time winner of The Men's Club Championship at Arizona Country Club. He was also a life member of the Phoenix Thunderbirds. Danny loved life, his family and his many friends. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten. Our family appreciates the enormous outpouring of love for Danny. Rest in peace our beloved Danny!

Roger A. Parshall J.D. ’83, passed away on Feb. 8, 2013, in Arcata Calif. After his graduation, he practiced law in Humboldt County, originally as a public defender. In recent years, he came to support the Occupy Movement locally. A native of Detroit, Mich., he is survived by his younger sister, Nanci Parshall. He is remembered as a good friend by all his law school classmates.

William Bede Morrissey ’89, 46, passed away suddenly on January 30, 2013 at the Raymond G. Murphy Veterans' Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Born on January 7, 1967, Bill attended Our Lady of the Assumption School and Aquinas High School before being awarded a full ROTC Scholarship to Santa Clara University in 1985. He graduated in 1989 with a degree in Political Science and a commission as a US Army officer. A decorated veteran of Desert Storm and Airborne Graduate, Bill was a Captain in the U.S. Army for 8 years which included assignments in Turkey & South Korea. He was a compassionate person who loved nature, was especially fond of dogs, and was always on the alert for opportunities to help others. Bill was preceded in death by his father, Jere Morrissey J.D. '56 and his cousin Thomas J. Morrissey. He is survived by his mother Patricia Morrissey, brother, John Morrissey; son, Robert Bede Morrissey and Robert's mother Marjorie Jorgensen. Also surviving him are his uncle, Brian (Janet) Morrissey '62, his cousins, Joan, Michael, Sean (Veronica) Morrissey and many other relatives and friends. A bright light has disappeared from us. We are the poorer for his absence.