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Gloria Kay Didion

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Stanford University

Gloria Didion Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Jun. 27, 2024.

Gloria Kay Didion, née Geisler, age 85, passed away on June 26, 2024, in Carmel, CA. Born February 28, 1939, in Los Angeles, CA., she lived a fulfilling life marked by grace and kindness. She was a proud graduate of Stanford University and earned Phi Beta Kappa honors in 1961.Her love of travel began at Stanford with a semester abroad in Germany and she traveled all over the world with her husband Jim including to three Olympic Games. Gloria's activities in her community included helping to found the Docent program at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, helping to form the Discovery Shop in Pacific Grove for the American Cancer Society, and playing tennis with her friends. She was predeceased by her parents, Beulah and Elmer Geisler, her husband of 58 years, James Jerrett Didion, and her grandson Sean Michael Matthews. She is remembered and loved by her sister, Lila Jean Chalmers of Watsonville, CA., her three children, Kelley Didion Peters, Steven James Didion, and Lori Didion Hunt and grandchildren, Ryan Matthews, Alexander Didion, Kathryn Didion, and Shannon Traikoff. The family is planning a private memorial for later in the summer. All fond memories are welcome but no gifts are necessary.

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Recent Activity

August 6, 2024

Tracy Best Demetre posted to the memorial.

July 18, 2024

Sherilyn (Sheri) Cutler Robison posted to the memorial.

June 27, 2024

Legacy Remembers posted an obituary.

2 Entries

Tracy Best Demetre

August 6, 2024

My first memory was looking into the eyes of a beautiful ,calm woman trying gently to explain to me that running across a four lane busy street at three years old was not a good idea and she was going to have to call my mom. I just had to see my buddy Kelley, it didn't last long that day , but I remember how kind she was to me. My friendship with Kelley has a new spark and I am incredibly grateful Kelley was willing to take me for a short visit to see her mother that day. I live in Sacramento and my husband had a work /golf conference in Carmel valley , I went so I could visit with my truest childhood friend. Seeing Gloria was extremely emotional but very beautiful as well .I will never forget the connection we shared , and the gratitude I felt in the moment. Our families had a strong bond early on and to actually share this with Kelley and actually begin to find our way back has been for me the greatest gift I could ever hope for. Unlike my mom and me, Gloria was always beautifully put together and I remember her delicate laugh. I always wanted to be just like Kelley. I Still do! The way things happen in life are unpredictable. For me this was divine intervention. I hope you are with my mom Gloria, and I pray Kelley, Steve and Lori are healing.All My Love, Tracy

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Sherilyn (Sheri) Cutler Robison

July 18, 2024

I phoned Gloria's number this morning and was re-directed to the office, to learn that she had passed three weeks ago.
Ours was a 66 year-old friendship. Gloria and I met in 1957 as freshmen at Stanford University. We lived and studied and traveled together in Germany for six months, as members of the third Stanford-in-Germany study-abroad program. We were roommates in Jordan House during our junior and senior years at Stanford. I was in Gloria's wedding, and she was in mine. Despite living in different states these past years, we have stayed in touch with visits and phone calls, sharing happy times (the births and successes of our children) and sad times (the deaths of my brother and Gloria's grandson and husband).
In my mind, Gloria will always be my beautiful, intelligent, sparkling roommate, poised and capable, kind and caring. She will be missed.
Sheri Cutler Robison
Class of 1961, Stanford University

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