Lucy Martell

Lucy Pfund Martell Lover of art, literature and music, inspiring English teacher and curator for public programs at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, died peacefully at home in Los Altos Aug 6. She had lived with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis since 2003 and was 79. Her family and friends remember her razor-sharp mind, keen wit, stalwart loyalty, an infectious laugh and beaming smile, generosity of heart, intellectual curiosity and great spirit. Hearing of her death, former students at Beverly Hills High School, where she taught for 13 years, recalled her as the most influential teacher they ever had. After marrying in 1967, she left teaching for Los Altos in 1970 with her husband, Charles, of 43 years, where she raised her two sons, Duncan (Los Altos) and Blake (Lafayette), then started a second career as a member of the Docent Council of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. She was its chairman for two years. For 14 years at the Fine Arts Museums, she brought her love of blues to the Little Theater at the Legion of Honor. She also staged many symposia on topics including Shamanism and Northwest Coast Indian art as well as classical music concerts. Born Sept. 15, 1930, in San Francisco, she grew up in Burlingame and graduated San Mateo High School. She took a BA in English from UCB in 1952, and was a member of the Alpha Phi sorority and several honor societies. As a teen and younger woman, she backpacked the Sierras, traveled Europe, raced MG cars and learned to fly, once crossing the United States. For 35 years, she relished her trips to Lake Tahoe, where she would cook, cross-country ski, paint and read. She was preceded in passing by her sister, Constance Starbird; her father, Southall Pfund, a partner with Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro; mother, Christine Howells Pfund, a flutist. In addition to her husband, sons, daughters-in-law Jennifer Martell and Melissa Barrick, and grandsons Tolin and Beckett, she is survived by her sister Christina P Dewey of Belvedere.