Alison Lyn Wakefield, resident of Saratoga, passed away on January 20, 2012. Ali was born May 19, 1990 in Mountain View, California and attended Homestead High School in Cupertino, California. She was a student at West Valley Junior College. She excelled in every academic area and many of her professors encouraged her to study in their field due to her outstanding results in their courses. She was an avid gymnast for many years and also enjoyed platform diving. She was an enthusiastic cheerleader with her best friends Coral Best and Julia Sterling which helped her team place second at a national competition. Anything she undertook she learned quickly which was evidenced by her ability to play full Scott Joplin scores after only one year of piano lessons. Because of her love for reading, she often spoke of becoming an author. Alison was a charismatic, intelligent, warm hearted, loving friend to so many people throughout her life. She greeted everyone with a beautiful smile that let them know she was there for them no matter what they needed. Alison is remembered for her wonderful sense of humor that constantly made her friends laugh and smile and for lighting up any room when she walked in. She is survived by her mother and father, Barbara and Mark Wakefield and her brother Brian Wakefield. She is further survived by the loving family dog, Snickers.
If you would like to pay your last respects to Ali, a viewing will be held at Alameda Family Funeral Home, 12341 Saratoga-Sunnyvale Rd, Saratoga on Wednesday January 25, 2012 from 1:00pm to 9:00pm. A private service will be held later in the week. The family would like to ask for donations in memory of Ali to the YWCA of Silicon Valley. You can donate directly at: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/barbara-wakefield/ali or 375 S. Third Street, San Jose, CA 95112. Ali will forever be in our hearts and memories.

Published in San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on January 24, 2012.