Katharine Thompson
July 23, 1926 - December 30, 2022
Katharine “Kay” Wallace Thompson, aged 96, and a fifth generation Californian, passed away with family by her side in her Woodside home of almost fifty years. Kay had a delightful sense of humor and was widely recognized as extraordinarily kind, thoughtful, and gracious. She had legions of friends, old and new, from multiple generations and all walks of life.
Kay grew up in San Francisco and always remained proud of her class from Miss Burke’s School, although it should be noted that much of her pride stemmed from being the ringleader of a bunch of particularly mischievous girls, many of whom remained close friends throughout her life. Kay went on to matriculate at the University of California at Berkeley where she joined Kappa Alpha Theta and forged bonds of loyalty to the University that shaped her life. She was a member of the California Society of Pioneers and the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America.
In June of 1947, Kay married Revett Wallace, who was also born and raised in San Francisco. They established their home in Palo Alto and their lives revolved around the activities of their four busy daughters and many civic activities.
Kay found time to volunteer for Family Services, co-founded Youth Concerts, was President of the Mother’s Club at Castilleja and a Stanford Hospital Pink Lady for over thirty years. In San Francisco, she worked with the SF Symphony, the SF Landscape Show and for forty- seven years as a member of Achievement Rewards for College Scientists “ARCS”. As the President of Town and Country Club, of which she was a member for almost 60 years, Kay donned a hard hat and oversaw the extensive earthquake renovation of the Club’s building on Union Square.
But Kay’s true volunteer love was for Cal and her beloved Golden Bears. Her initial volunteer role was as the first woman trustee member of the University of California Berkeley Foundation Board. Elected in 1981, in the very early days of the Board’s creation, Kay held leadership roles in several important fund-raising campaigns. She was also the recipient of several awards, including the Foundation’s highest honor, the Chancellor’s Award, in recognition of her decades of service to Cal. Kay’s unwavering devotion to the Cal Football program ultimately resulted in her becoming the first woman invited to join the previously all-male San Francisco Grid Club for the Club’s weekly lunches with the Head Football Coach. At 96, she cheered on the Bears from the stands when they beat Stanford only forty days before she died.
Inspired by the work of Kay’s great-uncle, Edwin Cooper van Dyke, who was a prominent entomologist and Cal faculty member in the early twentieth century, Kay and Revett endowed the Wallace Atrium in the Life Sciences Building, familiar to many as home to a giant dinosaur skeleton. In addition, Kay was a longtime member of the Council of the Friends of the Bancroft Library and the Board of the Berkeley Library.
Kay regarded as unacceptable the notion that a talented young person could be denied an education at Cal due to financial constraints. She supported The Achievement Award Program, which provides direct financial aid to a diverse group of students who would not be able to attend Cal without this assistance. Kay always took the time to learn the students’ stories and become part of their lives.
It gave Kay endless pleasure to share her beloved home and garden with the many people of all ages who passed through it. She was interested in everyone, and everyone considered her a close friend. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the fortunate beneficiaries of her love and attention. Grammie’s special gatherings of family and friends for Christmas and Easter were never missed. They were the most cherished of gatherings and created wonderful memories.
Kay was predeceased by her husband Revett, her second husband Morley Thompson, and her brother William Shaw. She is survived by her daughters, Katharine “Vandy” O’Reilly, Derith “Derry” MacBride (Thomas), Elizabeth “Betsy” Dixon (Donald), and Sarah Wallace (Harry Martin). She is also survived by ten grandchildren, Tobin O’Reilly, Matt O’Reilly, Melanie MacBride, Katie MacBride, Peter Dixon, Bayley Dixon McKenna, William Dixon, Andrew Dixon, Sara Martin, and James Martin, and ten great-grandchildren.
A private celebration of Kay’s life will be held this Spring. Donations in her memory may be made to The Cal Fund at Give. berkeley.edu/CalFund.