Helen Robertson Dole

Oct. 6, 1916 - Sep. 17, 2015

Helen Dole died peacefully in her sleep, three weeks shy of her 99th birthday. She was raised in Los Gatos, CA and graduated from Stanford University. She lived most of her adult life in Berkeley with her husband, Alfred.

Helen was a lifelong musician and played cello in local orchestras, but her primary love was playing chamber music in string quartets. She also loved hiking in the Sierra with her family, sewing, traveling, P.E.O., a philanthropic women’s association, and being an active member of St. John’s Presbyterian Church for 75 years where she sang in the choir for 60 years, taught Sunday School and held various leadership positions.

Helen outlived her husband, Al, by 10 years. She is survived by her children: Seeley Chandler, Nirmala (Kathy) Dole, Fred Dole, Martha Okerman, and Sanford Dole. Other survivors are her 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at St. John’s Presbyterian Church, 2727 College Avenue, Berkeley, on Friday, October, 9th at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, a memorial gift in support of music can be made to Sanford Dole Ensemble, www.sde.org