Lasting Memories

Lydia Valentina Beers
July 12, 1924-Sept. 5, 2018
Palo Alto, California

Lydia Valentina Beers passed from this life on Sept. 5, 2018 in her home in Palo Alto at the age of 94 after a brief illness. Born on July 12, 1924 in San Francisco, Lydia was a mother of two daughters, Diana Margaret Beers and Elizabeth Ann (Steve) Creighton, grandmother of four, Julian Rico, Kristin Rasmussen, Emily Rasmussen (Bryan Lasley) and Natalie Rico. She is also survived by her niece Sandra Beers, her grand-niece Kelly Blackburn, and ex son-in-law, Eric Rasmussen. Lydia was pre-deceased by her father Eremi Zamanoff, her step-father Paul Alexeeff, her mother Raisa Alexeeff, and her sister Alice Beers. Beloved by an extensive family and friend group, Lydia charted an amazing life that inspired many.

Growing up in San Francisco, Lydia's early days in San Francisco were involved with church, family and school. She was fluent in Russian and benefitted from an active Russian community that helped each other survive during the depression. Lydia was accomplished in ballet and piano and continued playing until a few weeks before her death.

Lydia married Richard Beers in 1949 and moved to Palo Alto in 1957 where she remained for the rest of her life. She raised her two daughters and later took a number of full-time secretarial jobs. Eventually she became a secretary for Stanford physicist Martin Perl who she worked for until her retirement in 1994 at the age of 70.

In retirement Lydia kept up her piano skills, adding tap dance to her exercise repertoire, gardening in her classic Palo Alto yard and entertaining her family with amazing Russian recipes from her youth. Her reserved nature belied a wicked sense of humor with which she kept family members in tears of laughter.

Even in her '90s, Lydia tended her garden and wielded her kitchen prowess, hosting holiday dinners for her family. Lydia was delighted by life, and delighted the lives of those around her. We are saddened by her loss but happy for having had the opportunity to be a part of her life.