Lucille “Lucy” Alderman

December 4, 1937 - November 29, 2022

Lucy, as she was known to all, departed gently from this world on the morning of November 29, 2022.

Beloved mother, grandmother, and matriarch she is survived by her three children, Brad (Nicole) Suckle, Shelby (Dave) Lambert, Mitchell (Carrie Wolf) Suckle and five grandchildren of which she was very proud, Ryan and Zack Suckle and Andy, Libby and Rory Lambert. Predeceased by her husband, Sidney Alderman, her two siblings, Kitty Janiga and Carl Nentwich, her father Arthur Nentwich, and her mother, Thekla Nentwich.

Lucy’s life adventures began on December 4, 1937. Raised on a ranch in Macdona, TX, where in her early years she learned to catch fish, drive a tractor, and won many sewing awards at the state fair. She attended Our Lady of the Lake High School and University in San Antonio, TX. She did graduate work in biochemistry and then moved to Dallas where she became head of the chemistry laboratory for a large teaching hospital all at a uniquely young age.

Dallas is where she met her first husband David Suckle. The two made their way to Sausalito, CA via Las Vegas, where they began raising their family, building a family business, and deciding never to leave the Bay. Lucy immersed herself in the community, her beloved Sausalito.

She continued her love of working in biochemistry joining the lab at St Francis Hospital in San Francisco where she would eventually bookend her medical career in her late 60s after 30 years. But as the family grew, her desire for further education was satiated after receiving her real estate license and eventually her broker’s license and opening her own firm, Clay-Jennings Realtors on Caledonia Street. Real Estate opened new doors to connecting with a broader Sausalito community. Volunteering was always an impassioned part of who she was and she continued to look to serve the community in many ways.

A lifelong Catholic and longstanding parishioner at Star of the Sea Church, she prepared many meals inside and outside their doors. She joined the Sausalito Women’s Club in 1976 where she pursued interests in supporting and celebrating the women of Sausalito, bettering her surroundings for the longevity of the town, its businesses, and those in the community with outreach projects, preservation and the founding of fundraising endeavors such as their inaugural food booth at the Sausalito Art Festival. Pursuant to her tenure as SWC President in 1989, she ran for political office and was elected to the Sausalito City Council in 1990; and appointed to the Mayorship from 1992-93. Conferred SWC Honored Member, Lucy held the rare distinction of being the only SWC President to have also served as Mayor of Sausalito. She had the unique pleasure of being mayor during Sausalito’s centennial year and being a part of the inaugural delegation and eventual host of the Sausalito-Sakaide Japan sister city partnership. A multi-year chili cookoff winner, director of volunteers for the arts festival, active Chamber of Commerce member and director, and tending to local community gardens… her contributions are immeasurable.

She was an avid storyteller and found joy in talking to everyone she would meet. She loved caring for her family, her home, her garden, her recipe collection, playing mahjong and lunching with girlfriends. She loved most of all cooking and celebrating with food. This became the central focus of so many of her connections in the community, she loved to nurture those around her with delicious food. If you have been a part of any of Sausalito’s finest community events, it is likely that you have shared in Lucy’s Texas hospitality.

It was due to her love of community that she met her husband Sidney Alderman with whom she spent 18 years and shared the joys of raising grandchildren, entertaining and cruising the bay on their boat Marguerita… their years together full of family, and friends, good food and world travel were moments that she treasured deeply. She will be sorely missed by all those who loved her.

‘A life well lived’ is the phrase that keeps circling back around. And so it is.

A private celebration of life will be held on the bay, no public service has been planned.