John Lowe Darrow, 80, a Los Gatos resident since 1965 and former member of the Los Gatos Museum Association Board of Directors, on which he served as treasurer, died July 28, 1996 at his España Oaks condominium after an illness.

Darrow was born May 17, 1916 in Los Angeles and spent his early years in South Pasadena, where he attended South Pasadena High School. There he met his future wife, Isobel Baddeley (SPHS '32). John and Isobel Darrow planned to celebrate their 57th wedding anniversary this September. He retired in 1979 as chief engineer after a 45-year career with Pacific Telephone Co.

A family member said that he was excused from military service in World War II because he was both too tall at 6 feet, 6 3/4 inches, and had a civilian job in communications that was considered vital to national defense in wartime. He joined the board of the LGMA and served as treasurer, turning in meticulous financial reports. His financial acumen was important to the museum at a time when it was trying hard to scrape up fresh funding.

"John was a great asset to the museum and was very well liked by everybody," said Chatham H. Forbes Sr., former board president of the museum association.

"He was a docent at Forbes Mill before he joined the board," said Emerson Shaw, former Forbes Mill Museum curator. "He was always a big help to us on the board."

He also served on the residents committee at España Oaks.

"My father always loved classical music," said his daughter, Judith Johnson. "He had played the trombone in high school."

He is survived by his wife, Isobel; daughter Judith Johnson and son-in-law Jack Johnson of Aptos; two grandchildren, Melissa Paige Johnson and Caleb Ian Johnson; and brother Courtlandt Darrow (SPHS '37 of San Diego.

Los Gatos Weekly Times, August 1996