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Elizabeth Neff Walker Rotter August 12, 1941 – November 26, 2018 Daughter of William and Polly Walker, of Pittsburgh, PA.
Born: August 12, 1941, Pittsburgh, PA.
Siblings: 2 brothers, Bill (deceased); Albert (Cloverdale, CA)
Married: Paul R. Rotter, May 21, 1966, Mill Valley, CA.
Mother of two children: Laura Elizabeth, born January 12, 1969, London, England (spouse Clay Shinn), Matthew Paul, born July 16, 1971, San Francisco, CA (spouse Joni Blecher)
"Neff" Rotter died peacefully at her home in San Francisco under the KP Hospice program on November 26, 2018.
Neff arrived in San Francisco in 1963 after graduating from Brown University with a degree in English Literature. She met her husband, Paul Rotter, in San Francisco in 1965, where they lived and worked before moving to London, England. Neff worked at the office of architect Len Michaels, and Paul, an architect, at the Greater London Council. They remained in England for nearly three years before returning to the US. While living in London Neff and Paul did extensive travels across Europe. Neff became pregnant and gave birth to their daughter Laura. Upon return to the US in 1970 Neff, Paul and Laura traveled across the continent arriving in San Francisco. In July 1971, Neff gave birth to their son, Matthew.
Neff was always an avid fiction reader. She soon became a member of the Jane Austin society in San Francisco, and was introduced to a book club of women who mainly read women writers. This fortunate joining encouraged Neff to begin serious writing of her own. Her first published novel, a Regency romance came out in 1976. Neff went on to write over 30 Regency and contemporary romances.
In 1998 Neff started e-book publishing with "Belgrave House" and added a second web address, "Regency Reads" about a year later. To date the two web sites have published over 800 books for about 80 authors. Publication will continue under the management of Neff's son and daughter in-law.
For some 40 years the Rotter family shared Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays with the Hill family of Berkeley. She was a swimmer and exercise enthusiast, a good friend and listener.
Neff and Paul traveled frequently and journeyed to Europe, Africa, South-Central-North America, Australia, and more. They became frequent travelers to Club Cascadas in Cabo San Lucas, where they enjoyed time with good friends and family. They were devoted snorkelers. Neff volunteered at UCSF for over 20 years. She was a devoted feminist and progressive.
A memorial to her life will be held on Wednesday, December 12th at 5:00pm at the Presidio Golf & Concordia Club. At the Arguello Avenue entrance to the Presidio, turn west through the stone pillars onto West Pacific Avenue. The Club entrance is at the green awning, ahead on the left.
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Published in San Francisco Chronicle from Dec. 8 to Dec. 9, 2018
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