Geraldine Joncich Clifford

1931 - 2024

Geraldine Joncich Clifford
04/17/1931 - 09/12/2024
Born to the late Marion and Geraldine Joncich on April 17, 1931, in San Pedro, California, Geraldine Clifford died on September 12, 2024, in San Francisco. She was educated in San Pedro's public schools, UCLA (Phi Beta Kappa), and Columbia University, where she completed a doctorate in the history of education in 1961. Geraldine taught first at Lorenzo Manor School in San Lorenzo, California, then at Escuela Bella Vista in Maracaibo, Venezuela, and from 1962-1994 at the University of California, Berkeley, chiefly in the Graduate School of Education. Her husband, William F. Clifford, Jr. died in 1993, severing their shared devotion to politics, (they met at a Democratic Party campaign event), history, travel, good food and great wine, and stimulating fellowship. A 39-year resident of Berkeley, Geraldine moved to San Francisco Towers in 2001, appreciating its proximity to live theatre, (especially ACT and the Magic Theatre), and to the Symphony, but missing Berkeley's "Town and Gown" energy. Before the Vowel Syndrome, AIIOA (Accumulating Infirmities and Indignities of Old Age), took its toll, she was an outspoken Towers activist, guiding several long-term ventures: first a monthly movie and dining group, next the monster annual Cal Post-Big-Game Brunch (2004-2015), and finally the Foreign Language Film Series, where from 2007-2018 Geraldine selected, researched, introduced, and led the discussion of nearly 150 films for a growing and appreciative body of fellow residents. The author of many books and articles, one of which, (Those Good Gertrudes: A Social History of Women Teachers in America) she completed while at the Towers. Geraldine won honors and held offices in national professional and scholarly societies in education and history. She was predeceased by her half-sister, Katharine Mardesich of San Pedro, CA; and sister, Emilie Wathen of Missoula, MT; half-brother, Dr. Michael Joncich of Pensacola, FL; and brother, Dr. Marion Alan Joncich of Mesa, AZ; and brother-in-law, John Wathen. Her survivors include the Montana-based children of her siblings and their families, notably, Wendy Wathen and Shawn Wathen (and wife Laura); her prized stepdaughter, Robin Clifford Suarez (and husband Kenneth); stepson, Patrick W. Clifford Hancock; step-grandson, Paul Suarez (and wife Quyen); and brilliant great-grandsons, Samuel and Louis Suarez - all of Southern California; the daughters and families of her late sister-in-law, Joan Clifford Wolff of Moraga; plus numerous cousins, friends, neighbors, former students, and colleagues near and far. A private burial was held at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland - Geraldine now resting alongside her incomparable Bill.