Elizabeth Lou Van Dalsem

January 18, 1919 – May 18, 2017

Elizabeth Lou (affectionately also known as Betty Lou and Lulu) Van Dalsem peacefully passed away early in the morning of May 18, 2017, at Channing House (Palo Alto, California), her happy home for the past sixteen years. She is now reunited with her cherished mother, father, and brother.

Born in San Jose and raised in Los Gatos and Willow Glen, Lulu attended Los Gatos High School and then received her Bachelor of Arts in Social Science and English from Stanford University.

During World War II, she enlisted in the Women’s Army Corp and served as an officer in Washington, D.C., as a cryptographic technician.

Following the war, she returned to Stanford University, receiving initially her Master of Arts in Counseling and Guidance, and subsequently her Doctorate of Education.

Professionally, Lulu served as the Director of Guidance and Research for Sequoia Union High School District (Redwood City, California). She joined the faculty of the Counseling Master of Arts program at San Francisco State in 1967, training generations of counselors in school, marriage and family, and rehabilitation, and was named Emeritus Professor in 1993.

Lulu remained involved with her alma mater, serving as the President of the Board of Cap and Gown, Stanford’s honor society for women.

Lulu had a tremendous passion for travel, visiting nearly two hundred countries over more than forty years. She explored every continent, including Antarctica. Lulu climbed the mountains of Rwanda to see the gorillas in the mist, ventured into the jungles of Borneo to observe orangutans in their native habitat, and prowled countless shops and bazaars in search of trinkets, objects d’art, deals, and memories.

She loved and valued the arts, especially ballet and the opera, and was a passionate fan of Stanford Football, the Forty Niners and the San Francisco Giants.

Lulu was devoted to her family and is survived by her loving sister-in-law, Mary Anne Van Dalsem, and three generations of adoring nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Los Gatos, California on Tuesday May 23rd at 10:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.