City of Mayor and Council Offices
1052 Santa Clara Memorandum
The Center of What's Possible
Date: April 23, 2024
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Mayor and Council Office
Subject: Adjournment of the April 23, 2024, Council & Authorities Concurrent Meeting Adjournment
To be read by Councilmember Watanabe
Please adjourn the April 23, 2024, meeting in memory of Mary Dorothy Silveira Ristroph. • Mary Dorothy Silveira Ristroph, treasured member of the Santa Clara community, passed away at her home in Santa Clara, where she had lived since 1950. • Born to dairy-farming immigrants from the Azores Islands, Portugal, Mary's life was a testament to resilience and community spirit; her family's 40-acre dairy farm was located on Lawrence Station Road, at what is now the intersection of Lawrence and Central Expressways. • Mary had the unique honor of being one of the first children baptized at the newly- built Five Wounds Catholic Church in 1919, and was celebrated at the church's 100th anniversary in 2019, her 101st birthday.
• She wed Jake Henry Ristroph in 1942, and the couple nurtured a family of six children in their Bray Avenue home.
• Mary was a founding member of Saint Justin's Parish in Santa Clara, and long-time member of the Santa Clara Women's Club. She was honored by the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce as "Volunteer of the Year" in 1959.
• In 2023, Mary was featured in the book "De.coded - A Human History of Silicon Valley" commissioned by the David & Lucile Packard Foundation, highlighting 101 remarkable individuals from Silicon Valley. As the longest living person featured in the book, she credited her longevity to drinking milk, eating healthy foods, getting good sleep, working hard, and following her doctor's orders.
• Mary is survived by her children Ronald, Mary Bragg, Susan Herman, Elaine Cardinale, and Claire Burdick; by her grandchildren Jillian Schalesky, Katie Brudny, Brooks Burdick and Gianna Gaudini; and by 10 great-grandchildren.
• Mary's life, a living history lesson, was marked by resilience and adaptability. She inspired many with her positive attitude and will be greatly missed.
POST MEETING MATERIAL