Santa Clara Magazine

Steven Emerson Curtis M.S. ’77, our wonderful husband, father, Papa, and hero, passed away on January 5, 2013 after a courageous eight-year battle with cancer. He valiantly inspired others and proved that this is still a day of miracles. Steve was born in Salt Lake City on March 16, 1948 to Reuben Emerson and Alice Call Curtis. He graduated from Highland High School and served an LDS mission to Northern Germany. He married his eternal sweetheart, Janice Derrick in the Salt Lake Temple. He graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in electrical engineering and received a master's degree from Santa Clara University in California. He spent the majority of his career designing medical imaging equipment and managing research and development departments. He loved solving mathematical engineering problems and was granted many patents. Steve was a man of absolute integrity. He had sound judgment and great wisdom. He possessed charity for all and so appreciated the love and prayers offered for him during his health struggles. He left a legacy of love, service, humor, and devotion to his family. He endured to the end with steadfast faith in the Savior and a testimony of the gospel. He was without guile and was a true disciple of Christ. Steve loved gardening and his beautiful flowers were legendary. He passed on his love of camping and hiking in the mountains and national parks to his family. He loved music and sang every chance he had in choirs, quartets and duets with Jani and was an excellent choir director. He enjoyed traveling and saw much of the world. He delighted in the scriptures and was continually immersed in them. He had an extensive knowledge of the gospel and lived its principles with exactness. He served faithfully in many callings, but his favorite was teaching, where he constantly bore his testimony of the love, kindness, and mercy of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He will be deeply missed by his wife, Jani, their children Michael (Rochelle) Curtis, Matthew (Brooke) Curtis, Alisa (Kevin) Bolander, Jennifer (Alan) Stout, and 14 grandchildren. 

Joan Marie Vellequette M.A. ’77, a resident of Los Altos, Calif. for 51 years, passed away peacefully on Nov. 13, 2012. Joan is survived by her loving husband, Murlin Vellequette MBA '68, her sister Margaret Bouthillier (& husband Conrad), her brother-in-law Roger Vellequette, her sister-in-law Bernadette Hall, and her eight children: Joseph Vellequette (& wife Suzy), John Vellequette, David Vellequette (& wife Mary), Mary Singleton (& husband D.J.), Ann Frates, Mark Vellequette '86, MBA '91 (& wife Mary Beth), Michael Vellequette (& wife Kim), and James Vellequette. Joan was blessed with 21 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren - all of whom she loved deeply. Joan had a knack for remembering everyone's birthday, graduation, and anniversary - while making it all look easy. Born Joan Marie Lynch in Chicopee, Mass., her family later moved to Michigan where she attended the University of Detroit as a Chemistry major graduating in 1951. Joan dated Murlin Vellequette in college and they married in 1952. Over the next 9 years, they lived in Huntsville, Detroit, Fort Wayne, Cincinnati, and then moved to California in 1960 when Murlin accepted a position with Fairchild Semiconductor. In Los Altos, they bought one of the first homes in the Highlands area, where they made many close friends in that great neighborhood. Recently, with family and some long-time friends, Joan and Murlin celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, a true milestone of enduring love. Early on, Joan worked as a Chemist for Ethyl Corp., and then devoted herself to the whirlwind of raising eight children. Joan returned to college and obtained a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University in 1977. She also volunteered for many years with the St. Simon Catholic Parish ministries, the El Camino Hospital Auxiliary, and for St. Francis High School. Later on, she enjoyed being the office manager and psychological testing coordinator for the Behaviordyne Pyschological Corp. in Palo Alto, and she also acted as the bookkeeper for the family business. Joan's personal interests varied from celebrating and quietly helping her family, to frequent travels, to being an extremely avid reader. Her travels included India, Europe, China, Australia and many trips with family to destinations all over the US. Annual summer trips to Myrtle Beach were a favorite, and no one will ever forget seeing Joan and Murlin parasailing together way up in the sky during one terrific Vellequette & Bouthillier Family Reunion. Joan was always selflessly full of life and love, and she will be dearly missed by all who knew and cherished her.