Helen Meyer Lantz

June 12, 1948 - June 12, 2021

Helen Meyer Lantz died suddenly and unexpectedly on her birthday, June 12, of an undiagnosed condition, joining her soulmate and husband, Chuck Lantz, who died 21 months earlier. She is survived by her son Max Lantz, of São Paulo, Brazil, bonus daughter Joanna Folger (Marc), dear brother George and North Carolina family, and legions of friends and family on both coasts and around the world. She was born in Chapel Hill, NC. After graduating from UNCChapel Hill, home to her beloved Tar Heels basketball team, Helen drove across country to make her life in San Francisco. She then forged a successful career working in the financial district. Helen made countless amazing friends and eventually met her husband, Chuck. They raised their son, Max, in the Richmond District. In her 50 years in the city, she touched countless lives with her gentle, confident, and generous presence.

Like everything she did, her death was graceful and imbued love. After exactly 73 happy and healthy years, she woke up unwell, insisting on putting on makeup before going to the hospital. While reading birthday messages and telling the ER doctor how the pandemic gave her the gift of a year with her son, Max (who came from São Paulo last year), she had a cardiac event. She waited for Max to rush down Fulton St through Saturday traffic, making her transition just as he took her hand. Everyone from those who walked with her up Chinatown hills when the 1-California couldn’t make it, to her closest friends and family, are encouraged to attend her celebration of life on July 31 at 2pm at St. James Episcopal (California between 8th and 9th). Kindly RSVP at maxlantz.net/mom (there is a virtual attendance option).