Roberta Anne Steele

Oct. 22, 1948 - Nov. 2, 2009

Roberta Anne Steele, a valued member of the Martinez art community, died on Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at the age of 61.

Roberta was born Oct. 22, 1948, in Oakland, to Robert and Ursula Steele. She was raised in the small Northern California community of Esparto. Roberta received her bachelor of fine arts degree from the California College of Arts and Crafts, and made her career as a graphic designer both in Los Angeles and Sacramento, before finally settling in Martinez with a position at McGraw-Hill Publishers.

Roberta became an integral part of the Martinez Art Community. She became very active in the Martinez Arts Association, and was instrumental in the opening of a Martinez art gallery. Roberta also painted portraits at the local farmers market, taught classes through Martinez Adult Education, and let her home studio become a regular gathering place to friends and fellow artists. Roberta also continued to hone her own skills as a painter. In 2007, she received an art fellowship and traveled to Vermont to study. Her artwork has recently been featured at the mARTinez Gallery and at a show in Walnut Creek.

Though she struggled with many challenges in the last decade of her life, Roberta continued to maintain a positive attitude and pleasant disposition. She is perhaps best known for elevating the spirits of those around her.

Roberta was preceded in death by her longtime companion, Jim Lawson; and her father, Robert Steele. She is survived by her mother, Ursula Steele; her siblings, Susan Gordon, Chris Steele, Joanne Steele and Wendy Lloyd; many nieces and nephews and many, many friends.

There will be a memorial service for Roberta from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 8, at the mARTinez Gallery, 630 Court St., Martinez, California. The family suggests donations to a favorite charity in lieu of flowers.