Ask HN: In Santa Clara County, how do I find out if someone died?

So there's this educated older homeless guy I talked to in Palo Alto about once a week. The thing is, he hasn't been spotted for a month or so. I've tried asking around his regular hangouts, checking hospitals, rehab facilities and nursing homes. The county doesn't do much in the way of online records request in the name of "privacy." I would guess calling the Coroner's Office would be the next step. Is there anything else I might try?