Wallace Thomson Albertson

July 23, 1924 - January 9, 2015 Lifelong activist and widow of actor Jack Albertson, Wallace passed to spirit peacefully at home. Born June Wallace Thomson to Margaretta Maloney and Peter Smart Thomson in Pittsburgh, Pa. A graduate of University of Pittsburgh (BA in English) and Columbia University ( MS in Journalism). After a stint modeling ( Miss Subways in 1946), she landed a job at NBC, writing for radio and television. As Miss NBC, she turned down a screen test, to pursue her writing career. Wallace married Jack on Halloween, 1952. Moving to Los Angeles, she opened an import firm, Pan America House, with mother Margo Thomson, studied painting with Sueo Serisawa, and co-founded Women's Strike For Peace in 1960. Active in Civil Rights, she founded interracial dialogues at Operation Bootstrap, and was a strong supporter of LGBT issues. At UCLA she earned an MA in Speech and PhD (ABD) Speech/Communications. Wallace was first woman president of California Democratic Council 1975-1981. She was elected to the Los Angeles Community College Board of Trustees 1977-1989 and served on the California State University Board of Trustees 1978-1986. As a Producer, she earned an MFA from the American Film Institute. Before retiring, Wallace served as a Trustee of the Vincent Price Art Museum, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, and on AIDS Healthcare Foundation's Board of Directors. Articulate champion of many causes, she was the change she wished to see in the world. Though we mourn her passing, we celebrate her life, an inspiration to us all. She is survived by her daughter, Maura Dhu Studi, son in law Wes Studi, grandson Kholan, brother William Thomson (Wynn), cousins Katie Bellomo (Joe) and Gerald Taylor (Shelley), dear friends Sheri Foster Blake and Rowland Dixon. Our gratitude to her angels Corinna Herrera and Heather Ward. Memorial to be announced at a later date. Donations in Wallace's name may be made to AIDS Healthcare Foundation.