Olivia J. Oberschall-Pedersen

Olivia J. Oberschall-Pedersen 87, passed away on May 2, 2014 in Tucson. Olivia was born in 1926 in Montclair, New Jersey to Francis Xavier Brennan and Olive Dudding Blackwell. She attended Lacordaire Academy and New York University. Her first marriage to Vincent J. Manno, renowned media broker of New Canaan, CT and Boca Raton, FL ended in divorce. Her second marriage to Victor F. Oberschall, ship owner of New York City lasted until his death in 1983. Her third marriage to Lars Pedersen, a former prosecutor and Democratic activist from Tucson lasted from 1991 until his death in 2006. Olivia was an outstanding community leader, recognized for both the breadth and depth of her contributions. She was an original founding board member of St. Gregory's School. She was President of St. Luke's Board of Visitors from 1986-1987 and Baile Chairman in 1982. Also, in the late 80's she served on the boards of the Angel Charity, the Silver and Turquoise and Tucson Botanical Gardens. She was devoted to the needs of the University of Arizona Foundation from 1986-1989 and the board of The Friends of the Library. For three years, during the last 1980's and early 1990's she served on the UofA College of Medicine Arthritis Advisory Board. Music was her great love and since Chairman of the Symphony Cotillion in 1976, she devoted her time tirelessly to the Board of Tucson Symphony Orchestra. In 2003, Mayor Robert Walkup recognized her contributions by awarding her the "Extraordinary Citizen Award" on October 8. A private family service will be held and a Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Olivia is survived by her daughter, Melissa Manno of Tucson, AZ; grandson, Alexander Manno of Portland, OR; stepchildren, Elizabeth Savage of Greenwich, CT, Anthony Oberschall of Chapel Hill, NC; Ann-Eve Pedersen; Christian Pedersen and Alexander Pedersen of Tucson, AZ and Hans Pedersen of Phoenix, AZ, and three step-grandchildren, Lars Eckerstrom, Aven Pedersen and Fiona Pedersen, all of Tucson. Contributions can be made in Olivia's honor to Saint Luke's Home (www. stlukeshometucson.org)