Sylvia Beverly Ambrosini

June 1, 1929 - December 19, 2017

Sylvia Beverly (Woolf) Ambrosini, born June 1, 1929, in Berkeley, California, died on December 19, 2017, at the age of 88, in Palo Alto, California.

Sylvia grew up in Berkeley and attended Berkeley High School, then the University of California, Berkeley, where she excelled in the classics. It was at UC Berkeley that she met her late husband Arnold T. Ambrosini, through Cal’s active student music groups. He was in Glee Club and she was in Treble Clef – it was a harmonious match.

Sylvia and Arnie married in 1950, then lived in San Carlos, Redwood City, Woodside Hills, and, most recently, in Palo Alto. After 66 years of marriage, Arnie died in August, 2016, at the age of 90.

The couple devoted themselves to their three daughters (and eventually their four granddaughters), skied, golfed, rode horseback, traveled the world, threw the best dinner parties for their dear friends, and thoroughly enjoyed their lives together. An adept conversationalist and consummate hostess, Sylvia always knew how to make her friends and guests feel at home.

Sylvia was artistic and musical – she painted, played piano, danced a mean jitterbug, and instilled a love of art and music in her daughters. She was also a lifelong cat and dog lover, avid bird watcher, and expert gardener with a special fondness for roses.

Sylvia was active in several service organizations, including the Allied Arts Auxiliary to the Stanford Children’s Hospital and the Woodside Hills Garden Club, where she excelled in leadership roles. She could organize anything, keeping the big picture and the smallest details in focus.

She is survived by daughters Lynne Ambrosini of Cincinnati, OH, and Jan Ambrosini (Tim Stroshane) of Albany, CA; granddaughters Lauren Stroshane, Kelsey Stroshane, Veronica Contin, and Thea Contin; former son-in-law Rob Contin; step-grandchildren Gianina Contin, Daniel Contin, and Laura (Contin) Marsyla; Pat, Reagan, Joanne, Saida, and Warren Woolf; and Shirley Seaton and the Seaton family.

Predeceased by her husband Arnold T. Ambrosini, daughter Joyce Ambrosini, parents Saida and Irving Woolf, and brother Jerry Woolf.

A private family burial is planned. Memorial gifts may be sent to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford or the charity of your choice.