Helen Orth

1919 - 2014

Helen Pierotti Orth

Oct. 2, 1919 - May 16, 2014

Born October 2, 1919, Died May 16, 2014, in Greenbrae, CA.

Helen Pierotti Orth was born in Oakland where she graduated from Oakland High, received an Associates Arts degree from San Francisco City College and attended the California College of Arts and Crafts.

An accomplished artist into her ninth decade, she was adept at watercolors and oils, collage, sculpture and ceramics. In 1942, she married the late Karl Orth, a member of the St Marys College Football Hall of Fame, who died in 1973. After his death, she began to speculate in real estate, buying and selling property around the Bay.

Creative and strong willed, she played the piano by ear, sang, danced, was an excellent cook and was never afraid to express her opinions or challenge authority. She also loved film and once played a bit part in Lina Wertmuller's 1975 Academy Award nominee "Seven Beauties."

In her lifetime she was a member of numerous Bay Area art associations including the Marin Arts Guild and the Society of Western Artists. She is survived by her three children, Maureen Orth of Washington D.C., Christina Orth of Mill Valley and Dan Orth of Oakland, and two grandchildren, Luke Orth Russert and Kevin Christopher Orth Swanson, both of Washington D.C.

Donations in her memory can be made to the Marina Orth Foundation: wwwMarinaOrthFoundation.org.