Gloria M. Root

About

Rhode Island School of Design

Gloria Root Obituary

Gloria M. Root A leader in environmental planning and civic affairs, has succumbed to cancer after a courageous fight at the age of 58. Born in Chicago and raised in Flossmoor, Illinois, Gloria scored an academic "double double" receiving both a bachelor of fine arts and a bachelor of architecture from the Rhode Island School of Design. She then came west after gaining admission to UC Berkeley's School of Environmental Design, where she received a masters in architecture and a masters in city planning. Gloria established her firm, Planning Analysis & Development, in SF in 1980 which she headed until 1998 when she moved to New York. Gloria directed her staff on numerous public and private project environmental assessments and land use plans throughout Northern California, for which she was honored by the Association of Environmental Professionals. Gloria married Richard Dobson in 1984 and became a mom to Francesca in 1986. The marriage ended in divorce. While in New York, Gloria managed the Strategic Planning Services division of Skidmore Owings & Merrill as well as several large scale developments. Gloria returned to her home in San Francisco in 2002 to become project manager of Auberge Resorts followed by a senior position with RBF Consulting. Her community service activities included chairing the Mayor's Citizen Reuse Committee for Treasure Island, and participating on the Mayor's Committee for Presidio Planning, the Board of Supervisor's Doyle Drive Task Force and the Caltrans Project Design Team. From 1990 to 1998 she was a member of the Board of Directors of San Francisco Planning and Urban Research (SPUR) where she held positions on the Executive Committee and Advisory Committee. She was also active in the Neighborhood Association for Presidio Planning and the Presidio Heights Association of Neighbors. A dedicated and determined supporter of good government, Gloria wrote op ed pieces, edited community newsletters, helped organize conferences, and appeared on panels and talk shows. When not grappling with environmental and growth issues, Gloria was both an avid fan of professional football and an aficionado of the performing and cinematic arts. She was a world traveler, which contributed to her distinctive savoir faire. Long before it became fashionable, Gloria deserved to be called a "foodie" wowing her chums with her culinary delights. Dancer, skier, runner, Gloria was gifted with an exceptional physical grace. Of all her accomplishments, however, the power of Gloria's mind was the most remarkable. Few possessed her ability to probe and debate current events with such intellectual horsepower and insight. When Gloria's flame burned, it burned bright. Gloria is survived by her beloved daughter, Francesca Root-Dobson; father, Raymond Root Sr.; elder brother, Ray Root Jr.; elder sister, Marcellina Heineman; younger sister, Deborah Slaney; and four nieces, Lilly Weberg, Nina Stone, Lise Heineman and Kelli Heineman. Her mother, Geraldine Root, predeceased her. Friends and associates are invited to a Memorial Service celebrating Gloria's life to be held in the Presidio at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 1, 2005, in the Ventana Room of the Golden Gate Club, 135 Fisher Loop Drive, Presidio, SF. In lieu of flowers, friends may wish to send a donation in her honor to SPUR, 312 Sutter Street, Suite 500, SF, CA 94108.

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle on Jan. 22, 2006.

Memories and Condolences
for Gloria Root

4 Entries

Susan Shea

February 1, 2006

I was able to spend an afternoon with Gloria in November when I was visiting the West Coast, and it was a very inspiring afternoon for me.

Chessie, you were an inspiration that afternoon, also.

Gloria told me that her diagnosis and prognosis had at first terrified her, because she believed that death meant "nothingness" and, to her, that was terrifying. But she read and researched and decided that although she oculd not know what happens after this life, she could decide what to believe. She told me she has chosen to believe that we live on as spirits (whether reincarnate or not). This choice of belief gave her peace. It was this calm that was so inspiring to me.

Probably my fondest memory of Gloria is the time she and Richard and Michael and I spent in France in 1984. We planned to spend two weeks in France and three of us thought we would just mosey over there and play it by ear. Thank God Gloria was having none of that approach. If she hadn't reserved us great hotel and inn rooms everywhere, we would have spent several nights on park benches and most days searching for very elusive hotel rooms. She then squired us around with her maps and guidebooks all over Burgundy, until Michael could take no more "culture" - not another church or historic icon. We drank wine and ate great food endlessly and had a spectacular time (luckily with photos to preserve the memory), despite many "dreaded u-turns" when even Gloria's maps and tour guides failed us.

Gloria dove into any undertaking 1000%. I remember how she morphed from inability to tell a football from a cantaloupe to "reading defenses" like a pro over the course of one '49er football season.

She was a burst of energy and beauty; yet, when she faced the worst, an inspiration with her calmness and wisdom.

I wish I could be there to celebrate her life at the service, but glad to be able to remember her here.

Susan Shea

January 31, 2006

I was lucky to be able to spend an afternoon with Gloria in early November. She taught me a lot that day. She said she had been terrified of her illness and prognosis at first, feeling that death was just nothingness and that frightened her. But she said she'd done a lot of reading and searching and, while she still couldn't *know* what happens after this life, she could *choose* what to believe. She said she believes that we live on as spirits (whether reincarnate or not) and she took great comfort in that. She was so calm.

Chessie, you, too, were an inspiration that day.

Gloria and Richard and Michael and I spent a memorable two weeks in France in 1984. Three of us just sort of thought we'd show up and play it by ear. But Gloria was having none of that, thank God. Were it not for her, we would have been sleeping on park benches or spending all day hunting for hard-to-find hotel rooms. She had reserved us a parade of fabulous places all over Burgundy and squired us around until Michael could take not one more "cultural" experience of a church or museum. I did worry a bit that she saw more of her guidebooks and maps than of the countryside. But, no.... We drank more than our fair share of wine, ate beautifully and had a stupendous time, with photos to prove it, despite many "dreaded u-turns" as even Gloria's navigational tools failed us.

Whatever she took on, she took on 1000%. I remember how she went from not knowing a football from a cantaloupe to reading defenses like a pro in one '49er season.

Non-stop energy, beauty and wit, and, when she faced the bad stuff, wisdom and grace.

Pamela Tuft

January 24, 2006

Gloria will be missed in the California planning circles, but her contributions to making our cities a better place to be will continue for generations.

Anna Pehoushek

January 24, 2006

As a former employee of Gloria's I wish to extend my sincere condolences to her family, and especially her daughter. During my time working at PAD, I witnessed Gloria's devotion to Francesca. Gloria has made lasting contibutions to Bay Area planning.

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