Suzanne Pfeifer Williams
August 7, 1941 - March 20, 2018
Suzanne Pfeiffer Williams, beloved teacher, mother, grandmother and friend, passed away from a stroke in Oakland on March 20. She was 76 years old. She was a life-long lover of the arts, her family, and friends.
Born in Glendale, California, she spent a happy childhood there with her parents, Frank and Gertrude and her sister Karen. She graduated from Glendale High School and Stanford University. Her interests were wide-ranging. In college she switched majors several times, studying a wide range of subjects from engineering to history to modern dance and the visual arts. It was in college she developed a love of music, especially jazz, which lasted until the very end of her life.
Her career as a teacher spanned four decades, and she brought to it her love of the arts and devotion to environmentalism, and was known for her creative teaching of math and ocean science, and for original Halloween costumes made entirely from recycled paper bags!
Suzanne is survived by her son, Kirk Williams, her daughter-in-law, Julia Yu, and her grandchildren, Nicolas and Lily Yu Williams; her daughter, Sylvia Williams, son-in-law, Scott Figgins, and grandchild, Atticus Figgins; her sister, Karen Pfeiffer Pierce, her former husband, Brian Williams, in-laws, nieces and nephews, many friends, and hundreds of students.
She was a devoted mother and doting grandmother, and was happiest when surrounded by her family and friends, cooking, visiting and traveling, singing and dancing.
She delighted in and created beauty her entire life--as a painter, gardener, seamstress, costume designer, dancer and singer. She loved Brazilian music, dance and costume and participated in the annual Carnaval parade in San Francisco.
Suzanne was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2014, and had to move to an assisted living facility in 2016, where she suffered multiple strokes. We are grateful to her caregivers, especially Gloria Linnac, and G.G. Carter, and the wonderful staff at Dimondcare LLC in Oakland, as well as all who visited her during this sad and difficult time.
She is now resting with God, and reunited with her parents, family and friends. We miss you, Suzanne! We will see you again one day.
A celebration of her life will be held at at the Woman’s Club, 475 Homer Avenue, Palo Alto, at 1:30 p.m. on April 8. Family and friends are invited to attend. Flowers are appreciated-Suzanne loves flowers! Or you are invited to make a donation to the Nature Conservancy or any Alzheimer’s charity.