Rosemary V. Alguard
Oct. 17, 1944-July 4, 2024
Palo Alto, California

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Rosemary V. Alguard, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt, who was taken from us sooner than hoped on July 4th, 2024 at the age of 79. She passed peacefully in her sleep at her home in Palo Alto with her husband, Mark, and dog, Jack-O, by her side. She brought immeasurable joy, love, and light into our lives with her kind heart, beautiful smile, wit, boundless curiosity, and love.

Rosemary was born in Surrey, England on October 17, 1944 in the final months of the war. Her parents, Henry “Gareth” Slater and Jessie Slater, had four children: Shirley, Elizabeth, Rosemary, and Martin.

After a conventional English education, Rosemary sought out work and life experiences abroad, including in France, Italy, the United States, and finally Japan where her only child Graham was born on Okinawa.

After Rosemary’s first marriage ended she found herself in Palo Alto where she eventually met Mark, whom she married following a four year romance. They lived happily for the next 42 years in the Palo Alto bungalow she had the good sense to buy in 1978, enduring no fewer than three major remodels. During those early years, Rosemary went back to school, earning her BA and MA degrees in Speech Pathology, which led to a 20+ year career as a Speech Therapist working for the State of California, helping those with the most serious challenges develop communication strategies. She was very proud of her work there.

At the age of 46, Rosemary discovered a passion for biking, which led her and Mark on many adventures in Europe and around the United States, riding either single bikes or on a tandem together, which was her favorite. She would probably say that her greatest cycling achievement was completing the Davis Double Century Ride (200 miles) in one very long day. After her cycling days waned, Rosemary and Mark joined the local senior center hiking club. For the next 10 years, they met and walked with many great new friends through the hundreds of open space and parkland trails in the nearby hills and beyond.

Rosemary loved time with her family and especially loved time with her grandchildren. She appreciated good food and wine, hiking, biking, traveling and being in our wonderful outdoors. She enjoyed many wonderful evenings over the years shared with the best of friends. They were the best.

Rosemary was preceded in death by her parents and her sister Elizabeth. She is survived by her husband Mark Alguard; siblings Shirley Law and Martin Slater; son Graham Woodall and his wife Jane; stepchildren Dawn Alguard and her partner John MacKinnon, David Alguard and his wife Michele, Dylan Alguard and his wife Neary, and Dustin Alguard; grandchildren William, Emma, and Charlie; and step grandchildren Noah, Kaden, Jacob, and Kiana; nieces and nephews Debbie Katz, Caroline Scott-Poll, Dan and Sasha Law, Natasha and Daniella Slater.

She is deeply missed.