Georgia Wright Obituary

Georgia Sommers Wright

Jan 23, 1937 - Dec 20, 2019

Georgia Wright died at home on December 20. Preceded in death by her husband, David, she is survived by her daughter, Beth (Anne Graham); siblings Edward Sommers (Jane), Crosby Sommers (Barbara), and Anne Louise Micena (John); nieces, nephews, and other extended family members; and many good friends.

Born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, Georgia earned her BA from Swarthmore College, her PhD in art history from Columbia University, and her MBA from the University of California, Berkeley. She taught at Stanford University, UC Davis, Mills College, and UC Berkeley, among others. She combined her expertise in medieval art with her business degree through her company Video Monuments, which produced the award-winning educational films "Light on the Stone: The Medieval Church at Vezelay" and "Three English Cathedrals: Norwich, Lincoln, Wells."

Since the 1980s Georgia was active in the Bay Area-based Institute for Historical Study, serving as newsletter editor for many years and president for several terms. She was also cofounder of the National Coalition for Independent Scholars. Through newsletter articles, conference presentations, and homemade T-shirts and buttons proclaiming, "I'm not a bum; I'm an independent scholar," she advocated for broader respect for the work done by scholars outside of academic settings.

After the 1991 Oakland fire, she became more active in her Claremont Hills neighborhood, joining the Vicente Canyon Hillside Foundation board and advocating for land preservation to slow development.

For as long as she was able, Georgia walked her dog on the Jordan fire trail in Strawberry Canyon, making many friends and appreciating the beauty of the Oakland hills. She was an active member of Save Strawberry Canyon and Claremont Preservation Coalition. She used her background in video production to educate the local community about environmental threats and the importance of biodiversity.

Georgia supported many progressive causes, including abortion access, gun control, and LGBTQ rights. She made friends from all walks of life. She believed in justice and equality, and she treated everyone she met as a human being deserving respect and dignity.

A celebration of Georgia's life is being planned. Contact [email protected] for details.

Memorials are preferred to the Institute for Historical Study, Milo Foundation, or Planned Parenthood.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Jan. 2 to Jan. 5, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Georgia Wright

5 Entries

Kerstin Warner

January 16, 2020

We were friends since we were six years old. In that seventy-seven year span, we visited, phoned, and wrote lengthy hilarious letters to each other. This year she called me in mid-December and we talked so long that I insisted, "I'll call you next time." I wish I could.

Dear Georgia, now you can find out--"Do Angels Mourn?"

Sandra Fish

January 7, 2020

.....memories of Georgia....her huge homemade brownies ala mode, her generous warm spirit --her rare intelligence and kindness. How grateful I am for her making it possible for us to get our mission to get hospice in prisons presented at the United Nations, a seed was planted then because of her and it is growing in ways we hadn't dreamed....thank you Georgia, thank you Georgia for the afternoon we spent this past August, eating lemon bars and talking---what a brave, sensitive, delightful, afternoon....I miss you, I love you so and am so grateful I got to meet you.....fare well...but our conversations are not over....

January 6, 2020

I am forever grateful to my aunt, Georgia, for taking me in when I was in need. She also supported me in my various theatrical endeavors by sponsoring various "work in progress" performances at her home and inviting her numerous interesting friends to attend and offer their feedback, which they did.
Georgia was also a patron of my theatrical endeavors, most notably, she was the main sponsor of a tour of Vermont with my best friends by our comedy troupe "Uncle Buzzy..." One of the most fun and most memorable times in our lives.
I became increasingly fond of Georgia as the years progressed and we became good, close friends. I love you, Georgia, you will be missed.
Mike Sommers

January 6, 2020

I am ever grateful to my aunt Georgia for taking me in when I was in need and for helping me develop my various theatrical endeavors by hosting "work in progress" performances at her home. She was also a patron of my artistic endeavors, most notably, she was the main sponsor of a tour of Vermont by my comedy troupe "Uncle Buzzy...".
I became ever fonder of Georgia and her warm kindness as the years progressed and was honored to spend time with her in her final days. I love you, Georgia, you will be missed.
Mike Sommers

Georgia in her backyard in 2012

January 5, 2020

Beth: That was a wonderful obit of my sister that you have submitted! Georgia was so talented but also giving love and getting it back. She had an inquisitive and creative mind up until the end when you said that she was still trying to write for a book while sitting up on her death bed. Of course her ever present dog as all her previous (rescue) dogs was there, too, to give comfort and companionship. I will miss my phone calls to her hearing of her literary adventures, "Save Strawberry Hill" attempts or the latest walk with the dog romps. She was a good listener and always had great suggestions. I know she will be very missed by friends and family.

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