06/20/95
CONTACT: Stanford University News Service (650) 723-2558
STANFORD --Ida Mary Hoover, a former longtime president of the Stanford Mothers Club and widow of William G. Hoover, professor of electrical engineering, died Tuesday, June 13, after a short illness at her home in Los Altos Hills. She was 85.
Hoover was born Ida Mary Robinson in Reno, Nev., a descendant of pioneer California and Nevada families. She earned bachelor's and master's degrees in history from the University of Nevada, and did post-graduate work in art at the University of California-Berkeley. She married William Hoover in 1933. They were married for 60 years, until his death in 1993.
Ida Mary Hoover was active in the community, working at the university library for several years, then devoting much of her time to Stanford and Mid-peninsula groups. She served as president and a board member of the Stanford Mothers Club for a total of 30 years.
Hoover was responsible for many fund- raising events including the annual Chrysanthemum Party, which provided two scholarships a year for Stanford students. She received the Stanford Associates Award for distinguished service.
In addition, she was a troop leader for the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and was on the boards of the United Way of Santa Clara County, the YWCA and the Castilleja School in Palo Alto. She also was a member of the Committee for Art at Stanford, the Children's Health Council and the Century Club of San Francisco.
Hoover traveled extensively with her husband, an internationally known expert on radio and electronic communications. She also was an accomplished author of haiku poetry and enjoyed arranging flowers. When they lived on campus, the couple was well known for their hospitality to students, especially on holidays.
She is survived by a son, Sidney Hoover, '63, of San Francisco, and a daughter, Christine Sorensen, '64, '66, of Los Altos, and four grandchildren -- Hilary, Class of '97, William and Andrew Hoover; and Julia Hoover Sorensen.
Private services were held. Donations can be made to the Ida Mary Hoover Memorial Fund, Encina Hall, Stanford University, Stanford CA 94305-6076.
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