Edith Sommer
Dec. 25, 1927-Feb. 4, 2015
Palo Alto, CA

Edith was born and raised in Chicago, educated at the University of Illinois, and was married in 1948. She and her husband Simon moved to Palo Alto in 1949 and created a very full life together. They had three boys -? Paul, Jon and Jeremy.

Edith was many things to many people -? artist, teacher, traveler, reader, poet, student, theater-and- ballet-lover, daughter, wife, mother, and dear, dear friend.

Art was a driving force in her life, and she was instrumental in the creation of Gallery House in 1958, an artists' cooperative still thriving in Palo Alto. Traveling and making connections with people around the world was another passion for her; she was active as a host and as a traveler in SERVAS, which seeks world peace person-to-person. Over the years she was involved in AFS, the Sister City program of Palo Alto, and recently Friendship Force, hosting people young and old in her home, sharing her love of the Bay Area with people all over the world.

Edith's travels took her all over the U.S. and Canada, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, South America, Russia and Australia and New Zealand. She loved her many visits to Paris, studied French until recently and hosted French conversation groups in her home.

She is survived by her family (Paul Sommer and Laura Selby, granddaughters Lauren and Sasha Sommer; Jon and Amy Sommer and grandsons Keith Morrison and Aaron Sommer), her brother Robert Kasper and his family, and countless friends.

Tags: arts/media, teacher/educator