Virginia "Ginny" Meisenbach

Virginia "Ginny" Meisenbach

Ginny Meisenbach was an extraordinary woman who touched countless lives through her close personal friendships and in her tireless philanthropic work. Each person that entered her life was better for having known her.

Ginny, born Virginia Lee McLeod, a Piedmont, California native, died October 20, 2015, after a nearly two year battle with lung cancer. She fought tenaciously, with her characteristic hope and faith from the day she was diagnosed until her last moment on earth. She was grateful for every day and everything she was able to do in the days since her diagnosis.

Throughout her life, Ginny was an inspiration to all who knew her. She worked tirelessly for the many causes that were dear to her heart; her philanthropic spirit was far-reaching and deep. She enjoyed hands on work and participated in numerous trips to serve others: pouring concrete floors in Oaxaca, holding babies in an orphanage in Romania and cleaning out the wreckage from homes in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Ginny always had a soft spot for the most marginalized people in our community; no better exemplified than in her co-founding StolenYouth, a non-profit that works to prevent youth trafficking in the greater Seattle area. The organization shines a light on the plight of prostituted youth in our community. In just three years, Ginny helped to bring awareness to the problem and raise over two million dollars for services and prevention efforts. Her leadership and vision are at the core of the organization's mission.

She also contributed her time and money to many other organizations, including:

Global Partnerships, Make-A-Wish, Seattle Girls School, Seattle Children's Hospital, Zion Preparatory Academy, Northwest Medical Teams, White River High School, College Success Foundation, Rwanda Girls Initiative, Seattle University, and Atlantic Street Center. She co-chaired the 2003 United Way campaign and loved helping put deserving kids through college.

Pillars of the community, Ginny and her husband John were the recipients of the 2013 St. Ignatius award at Seattle University. This award is given to individuals whose leadership, humility and outstanding service to the community contribute to Seattle University's vision of a just and humane world.

As passionate about philanthropy as Ginny was, nothing was more important to her than her husband John, their three children, her son and daughter-in-law and seven grandchildren. She had a special relationship with each and every one of them and was their fiercest advocate. She loved her role as homemaker and wife, and she took incredible care of John, her best friend. Family vacations in Palm Desert, Mexico, Hawaii, Italy, San Diego, and Newport Beach were highlights of her life. Of the many beloved family traditions, one of her favorites was having everyone to her home in Palm Desert each year for Thanksgiving where she would make the full turkey dinner with her signature dressing. She worked tirelessly to make sure everyone was taken care of and will always be the heart of her family.

Ginny's friends were a huge part of her life. She was a confidant to many and she always gave them her whole heart. This was even more evident during her illness as she received such an outpouring of love from so many. Her closest friends were constantly by her side until the very end.

She was an avid outdoorswoman: summiting Mt. Rainier and Mt. St. Helens twice; backpacking into the Idaho wilderness; and biking hundreds of miles into Canada, Vermont, Utah, and Montana. Just this past summer she talked a group of friends into paragliding off Mount Baldy with her! She loved to fish and often caught larger fish than John, much to his chagrin! She was a skilled golfer, which she did mostly to humor John.

Ginny loved animals. Her dogs were part of her family and were treated like royalty. When her dog Maggie went blind, she was determined to create a worthwhile life for her. She then found Toby, a lab who she trained to assist Maggie, in part by wearing a bell on his collar as a constant guide. Since Maggie's passing, Toby never left Ginny's side. They went on daily walks and hikes and he would rather wait on his bed in the back of her car for three hours than be left at home without her.

Ginny was the daughter of Kenneth and Marguerite McLeod (deceased). She graduated from Piedmont High School in Piedmont, CA in 1962 and went on to study Sociology and Psychology at the University of Washington, graduating in 1966.

Ginny is survived by her husband, John Meisenbach, who has been by her side for 45 years and has supported her every moment throughout her illness. Her children, Mike Meisenbach, Michele (Meisenbach) and George Huff, Mark and Michele Meisenbach and her seven grandchildren, Lauren, Samantha, Whitney, Jordyn, Kate, Luke and Zack were the light of her life.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Vicki and Barney Pierpont. Ginny leaves behind a niece and a nephew. Ginny's niece Aimee Olmedo and her husband Victor have two children, Kenneth and Jessica. Ginny's nephew John Pierpont and his wife Jaime also have two children, Delaney, and Charlee. She was Aunt Ginny to all of them.

Everything she did, she did with incredible grace and all of her heart. We will miss her deeply, with all of our hearts.

A funeral service will be held on Monday, October 26th at 11am at Sacred Heart Church (9460 NE 14th Street, Bellevue WA 98004). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Way of King County, attention: Ginny Meisenbach Memorial Fund (702 Second Avenue, Seattle WA 98104). Proceeds will be donated to causes closest to her heart.