Julie McMullan
Aug. 31, 1950-Oct. 17, 2021
Woodside, California

Julie Hafner McMullan, a fun-loving, vibrant, and vivacious spirit, left this world on Sunday, October 17th, 2021, after a sudden, aggressive battle with lung cancer. Born in Oakland and raised in Orinda, California, she proudly called the Bay Area home, spending many years as a resident of San Francisco, Atherton, and most recently, Woodside. A true lover of local hikes, theater shows, and adventures, Julie filled each moment to its brim and loved to call California home.

Julie was a passionate, determined, and enthusiastic student of life, which she carried into her roles as both a mother and hotelier. She graduated from The Anna Head School for Girls (class of 1968, now Head-Royce) in Berkeley followed by the University of Oregon (class of 1972), where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism. Julie worked for over 21 years in a range of sales, marketing, and hospitality roles, including the Director of Sales for the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, Director of Marketing at the Stanford Court Hotel in San Francisco, and Chef Concierge at the Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park. She loved leveraging her local knowledge and innate research abilities to provide the best experiences for others in each of these roles. She spent the last 9 years in Woodside with her amazing partner, Kevin Grady, enjoying a lovely retirement filled with large family dinners, worldwide travels, and outdoor adventures.

Her most important and treasured role was that of a mother. Julie is survived by her three daughters, Maren McMullan (Taylor Smith) of Oakland, CA; Bryn McMullan Baker (Brendan Baker) of San Rafael, CA; and Molly McMullan (TJ Manning) of Somerville, MA; her partner Kevin Grady and his daughters Kerry Balestrieri (Michael Balestrieri) and Erin Grady of San Francisco, CA; and her cousin Kathleen Tomasulo of Long Beach, CA. Julie was the ultimate cheerleader, friend, and confidant to her three girls. She was incredibly involved in their academic and extracurricular activities within the Menlo Park School District and St. Francis High School in Mountain View. She acted as a mom to many in the Bay Area and beyond – her love, compassion, and steadfast warmth truly knew no bounds.

“Mama J” as she was known in many circles, was a mother, friend, and confidant to so many people, putting every ounce of energy into making others feel important and loved. She possessed incredible energy, selflessness, and a knack for bringing people together. Julie lived her life to the fullest and was known for her distinctive laugh, permanent smile, and ability to light up a room. While her last days were difficult, they were filled with such beauty and humanity, spent in the comfort of her home surrounded by her beloved family.

If you would like to honor her memory, Julie identified two charitable organizations very close to her heart: Peninsula Open Space Trust and Stand Up to Cancer.

If you would like to connect with her family, feel free to email welovefunjulie@gmail.com. Julie will be missed terribly. Her legacy carries on after a life well lived. May she rest in peace as her legacy lives on.