Sylvia Kingsley

Sylvia Morton Kingsley Sept. 16, 1928 - Nov. 12 , 2010 Born in Birmingham, Alabama to Ruth Goddard Morton and Lindley Calhoun Morton. Sylvia was the younger sister of Coleman, Robert, and Warren Morton. When still quite young, Sylvia and her family moved to Pasadena, California where they took up residence at the Huntington Hotel. She attended Vassar College and in 1948 she married Robert E. Hunter, Jr. , also from Pasadena. As a young couple the Hunters moved to San Francisco from Pasadena. For over 60 years Sylvia worked tirelessly to improve the city she grew to love. Her philanthropic activities were extensive. She was active in the Episcopal church, first at St. Lukes Church and then at Grace Cathedral where she served on the selection committee that hired William Swing as Bishop of California. In the 1970's Sylvia worked with the architect Louis Kahn at the Graduate Theological Union at UC Berkeley, and in her capacity as board member of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, she helped to select the Swiss design team for the new deYoung Museum. She was also one of the founders of Marin Academy. She was always a champion on the golf course, frequently winning club championships at both the Burlingame Country Club and the San Francisco Golf Club. She was a gourmet cook, a master rose gardener, a horsewoman, a hunter, a skier, fisherman and a tennis player. She loved to shop, entertain, and get dressed up. And she loved dogs. Her enthusiasm for all the things that brought her joy was legendary. In 1990 Sylvia married Leonard Kingsley and became a frequent fan of the San Francisco Symphony and continued her extensive travels around the world. She is survived by her four adult children, Ruthie Hunter, of Los Angeles, Liza Muhly, of Santa Cruz, Catherine Hunter, of San Rafael, and Robert E. Hunter, III, of St Helena., and by her eight grandchildren, Cody, Taylor, Wagner, Hunter, Cora, Frances, Quincy, and Haley. Finally, she will be missed by her dear and loyal friend to the end, Lorena Restauro Sackett. A celebration of Sylvia Kingsley's life will take place on Tuesday, November 30, at 2PM, at St Lukes Church, 1755 Clay St., followed by a reception at the St. Francis Yacht Club. Sylvia specifically requested that people dress festively for the occasion. Donations in Sylvia's name may be sent to Hospice of Santa Cruz.