Marjorie Bertha Pfister Keck
Resident of Mountain View
Marjorie Bertha Pfister Keck passed away surround by her family on April 6, 2014 in Santa Clara CA, she was 93 years old. The granddaughter of two San Francisco pioneer families, her grandparents were, John J. Pfister Sr and Bertha Welti Pfister and Christopher E. Spannagel and Johanna Mainzer Spannagel. She was always interested in family history. Both families had many interesting stories to relate about the San Francisco 1906 Earthquake and Fire.
Marjorie was born in Berkeley on March 21, 1921, at the Pfister Homestead House built after the 1906 Earthquake, at 8th Street and Parker Streets across from the new J.J. Pfister Knitting Company Factory. The house was moved to 1233 Derby Street in Berkeley in 1924 and Marjorie grew up in the Derby Street neighborhood along with her parents, John.J. Pfister, Jr and Ella M. Spannagel Pfister and younger sister Eleanor J. Pfister maintaining life long Derby Street friends. She attended Berkeley High School and graduated from UC Berkeley in 1942. She was active with the Berkeley HIgh School Class of 1938 Class Reunions and Cal Club. She married Leonard L. Keck in November 1942 and they were married for 54 years until he predeceased her in 1996. Lee and Marjorie traveled all over the world but she most liked being at home in Albany. Marjorie lived in Albany for 71 years enjoying her many friends and neighbors until she moved to Assisted Living in Mountain View, CA to be near to her children's families.
She is survived by her four children, their spouses, and nine Grandchildren and eight great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Gary L. Keck (Edie Keck) of San Jose, their daughters and grandchildren, Stephanie Little (Thomas Little), Margaret Little, Henry Little of San Jose, Michelle Smith (Joshua Smith), Owen Smith, Devin Smith of Los Angeles. Carol Keck Meyer of Los Altos Hills, her son and daughter Kevin Michael Meyer of South Lake Tahoe and his fiancee Grace Usui,and Danielle Meyer (Jimenez) (Ramon Jimenez) of San Francisco, JoAnn Keck Connor (James R. Connor) of Los Altos their sons and grandchildren, Kenneth A. Honer (Linda Honer ) Eric Honer, Sarah Honer of Santa Clara, and Mark A. Honer (Karen Honer) Drew Honer, Kristen Honer of Mountain View. and Kevin W. Keck, MD (Gail Keck) of Sacramento and their sons and daughter, Philip W. Keck of San Jose, Laura E. Keck, MD and her fiancee Michael Gifford, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Brian C. Keck of Los Angeles. She is also survived by nieces and nephews, Judy Butterfield Williams (who passed away April 15, 2014), (Clifford Williams), Robert Butterfield (Vicki Butterfield), John Butterfield (Jean Butterfield), Mary Butterfield Williams, Cindy J. Butterfield and their families. Miriam Frey Brown, Elloit Frey (Auralie Frey) and their families and brother-in-law Merle Frey. She was predeceased by her sister Eleanor Pfister Butterfield and brother-in-law Harry Butterfield and sister-In-law Lou Ann Keck Frey.
Marjorie really enjoyed family and took many trips and excursions with them. The family reunions she hosted each year gathered over one hundred twenty extended family members. She was an especially devoted to caring for the elderly family members and took care of her Aunt Miltilda Spannagle, Aunt Helen Warren, Aunt Grace Hasty and her Mother Ella M. Pfister for many years.
Marjorie and husband Lee managed their rental portfolio and were considered to be exceptional landlords. Many thank you notes were received from tenants who loved living in their apartments and homes. They were very kind to tenants who had limited income and some never received a rent increase. She was active in Albany Politics and her husband was on the City Council. She helped to spearhead bond issues for the Albany Schools and was a supporter of the Albany YMCA and Albany Education Foundation. She served as Vice President of the Cornell School PTA. The Keck Family hosted two American Field Service Students, in 1961 Bang Bang Joedono Notodisurjo of Java, Indonesia who predeceased her in 2000, and in 1968, Danielle Neve Lloyd from Belgium now of East Grinstead, England, both became family members. She loved helping with the American Field Service (AFS) Pancake Breakfasts each year and was a supporter of the AFS program.
Both Marjorie and Lee also helped many members of the Albany Community and more than one family stayed in the apartment on the lower level of their home after a house fire, mud slide or other calamity.
Marjorie was a Girl Scout Leader for over 25 years having started with her daughter's Scout Troop 124. The Girl Scouts awarded her two Friendship pins, the highest honor for an adult leader. She was an active member of the YMCA in Albany and took an exercise class until she was 92 years old. She was a PEO member of Chapter FY.
A 61 year member of Albany United Methodist Church she was recently honored for her church service and support and was the Church Treasurer for several years. A Memorial Service celebrating her life will be held May 11, 2014 at Albany United Methodist Church at 4PM followed by a Buffet Reception in the Social Hall.
The family wishes to especially thank everyone at Villa Siena Assisted Living in Mountain View, Ms. Renae Garabedian and Ms. Kenda Thames who provided such loving care for Marjorie.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Albany YMCA, Albany Education Foundation, the Girl Scouts, American Field Service, a charity of your choice, or the Albany United Methodist Church.