Luanne Gilbert

Luanne E. Gilbert June 12, 1934 - Sept. 5, 2010 Surrounded by her family, Luanne died peacefully at home on a sunny afternoon after a long battle with progressive MS. Born and raised in Colorado Springs, Luanne excelled academically, graduating first in her high school class. She was awarded a four year scholarship to Mills College, where as a prize-winning poet, she received both her BA and MA (English Literature) in 1958. In late December of 1955, she married Jerry Sidman, a brilliant young chemist at Berkeley. After a year together in Cambridge, England, they returned to America where Luanne completed her degree at Mills, while Jerry remained on the East Coast to establish his academic career. Upon her return to the East Coast with their infant daughter, she learned that he had been killed in a car accident, enroute to meet her. Subsequently, Luanne returned to the Bay Area, which she had come to love. She eventually re-married, had two more children, and received her library degree from U.C. Berkeley. She began her career at Richmond Public Library as head of audio-visual services, before moving to Alameda County Library in the same capacity. In 1978, she was promoted to Deputy County Librarian for Public Services, and served two stints as Acting County Librarian. Luanne was highly respected and loved by staff there for her steady support, availability to them, and staunch defense of intellectual freedom. She was dedicated to providing literacy tutoring and equity of service to all. She was known as well for her dry wit and ability to quote adeptly from literature, children's classics and classy mysteries. After retiring, she enjoyed traveling up and down California, to the South of France, to Baja California, and the South West --anywhere that wildflowers grow. She became an expert on the flowers, culture and cuisine of these areas and filled her garden in Berkeley with many Mediterranean and California native plants. Music was another life-long love and she was an early and ardent supporter of Chanticleer, Philharmonia Baroque, the American Bach Soloists, and other groups. Throughout these years she maintained a strong interest in environmental and social causes and gave support to FINCA, the Sonoma Land Trust, California Rural Legal Assistance, NARAL, Heifer, and many others. Contributions in her name can be made to any of these. She is survived by her children Jennifer Gilbert, Jill Gonzalez, and Geoffry Gilbert, four grandchildren, one great grandchild, three nephews and two nieces, and her long time companion Eleanor Crary. Family and friends will gather at her home to celebrate her life and remember her on the afternoon of October 23.