Sylvia Thalman

Sylvia B. Thalman June 21, 1927- Jan. 28, 2012 Marin County shines just a little less bright after losing one of its own this January. Sylvia Barker Thalman was a long time Marin County resident with a lifetime spent active in many community causes. Sylvia was the daughter of Florence B. Barker and Dr. Nelson W. Barker, a well known cardio vascular specialist at the Mayo Clinic. Sylvia grew up in Rochester, Minnesota, graduated from Rochester High School in 1945, and from the University of Wisconsin, class of 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority. At Wisconsin, she met the love of her life, Robert N. Thalman whom she married August 25, 1951. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary August, 2011. Sylvia and Bob lived in New York while Bob was enrolled at N.Y. University and then, with Bob on active duty in the U.S. Navy, she lived in the Presidio in San Francisco. In 1955, they moved to Terra Linda where they raised four children, Mark, Heidi, Leslie and David. In 1964 Sylvia and Bob moved the family over the hill to Lucas Valley where she had lived ever since. With Marin growing rapidly in the 50's, Sylvia took an early interest in helping her community. She invited severely handicapped kids into her home as part of an after-school enrichment program. By the early 60's she began working for Dixie Schools as a library clerk, eventually serving at Don Timoteo, Hoffman and Mary E. Silveria elementary schools. At the same time she also was active as a Girl Scout leader for troops in both Terra Linda and Lucas Valley. During this time she began studying genealogy and developed an interest in archeology, which became a life-long passion. Starting with a community effort to preserve the Miwok village archeological site at Miller Creek Middle School in 1970, Sylvia, with her good friend Don Thieler, went on to co-found the Miwok Archeological Preserve of Marin (MAPOM) to teach native American skills and educate the public about tribal culture. After Sylvia and MAPOM completed two definitive Miwok archaeological studies, the National Park Service asked MAPOM to help recreate a Miwok village in Point Reyes National Seashore. Along with Thieler, she was one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Coastal Miwok village at Kule Loklo in the National Seashore. For over 20 years Sylvia spent her weekends at Kule Loklo, teaching with others as part of a curriculum of Indian skills classes. Sylvia may be remembered by many for teaching countless visitors how to make beads out of seashells, how to start cooking fires using traditional Miwok hand tools and showing visitors the resurrected village. Sylvia worked closely with Don Thieler and many California Indian experts and scholars researching the genealogy of the remaining Miwok Indians in a body of work that led to federal recognition of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, an independent tribe. For her efforts, the tribe designated her an Honorary Elder of the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria. Sylvia co-authored Interviews with Tom Smith and Maria Copa with Mary E.T. Collier, The Coast Miwok Indians of the Point Reyes Area, as well as several scholarly papers on Miwok genealogies and records of internments. In 2005, Sylvia received the Bay Area Jefferson Award from the American Institute for Public Service for her work to increase awareness of the Coast Miwok Indians and for making a difference in her community. Sylvia is survived by her husband, Robert N. Thalman, her children, Mark C. Thalman (Danielle), Heidi T. Myron (Wayne), Leslie Thalman and David B. Thalman (Ann), her brothers David Barker and Robert Barker, her six grandchildren and her six great grandchildren. A celebration of Sylvia's life will be held at Corinthian Yacht Club, Tiburon, California on Sunday, March 4, 2:00 - 4:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations should e sent to: Miwok Archeological Preserve of Marin (MAPOM) Box 481, Novato CA 94948; or to your favorite charity.