Jean Olmsted Memorial Celebration

Jean Walls Olmsted
(1925-2018)

Jean Olmsted Memorial Celebration

Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto
505 East Charleston Road, Palo Alto

Saturday, December 15, 2018

By Peter Y. Chou
WisdomPortal.com

Preface: While dancing with Ann Olmsted at Cubberley Pavilion (November 24), she told me that her Mom died on November 12, and her obituary appeared in Nov. 24 Mercury News which was read when I came home. Fond memories of Jean, when attending Verdi's opera Rigoletto at California Theatre, with her husband Franklin, when Ann gave me her ticket. The obituary mentioned a memorial gathering will be held on Saturday, December 15 from 10 am to 1 pm in the Fireside Room at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Palo Alto, 505 East Charleston Rd. Came here with Connie (5-16-2015) for Ann's Dad, Franklin Olmsted's Memorial Gathering on the lawn. It's interesting they both died at age 93. The Astronomical unit (AU) is the distance from Earth to the Sun, 93 million miles. Since AU
is also the atomic symbol for Gold, I like to think of Jean and Franklin Olmsted as golden sun-like individuals, lighting and warming the lives of others. On Dec. 15, took Bus #40 to Showers Drive and Bus #35 to Middlefield & Charleston Road. Walked two blocks to Unitarian Universalist Church. Arrived around 10:40 am and missed the Chaplain and Ann's Eulogies. Many in the audience shared their memories of Jean, how dedicated enviromentalist she was, laboriously eradicating invasive weeds, and planting flowers & herbs
in Foothills Park. Some recalled how energetic she was even in old age. Surprised to see Jayne Kos from Waverley Writers Poetry Reading here at Jean Olmsted Memorial Gathering. They met at Foothills Park. Told her I met Ann at ballroom dancing. Refreshments were served from 11:15 am to 1 pm. I had some potato salad, sesame crackers, and nuts. Leaving the Fireside Room at 1 pm, took photos of Twisted Pine Tree with "Eye of a Deer" nearby. There was a Smiley Scarecrow outside the Church. Arriving at Middlefield
& Charleston Road to take Bus #35, brought fond memories of this spot. Lived at 3893 Ross Road (1985-1997) with Dad & Mom. Shopped at Charleston Center supermarket with Mom, and took the Bus at this corner often. I scanned the four-page brochure "Celebration of the Life of Jean Walls Olmsted" below, so you could read more about this wonderful woman.