Margaret Lomba

Margaret Lomba

Margaret Lomba

December 8, 1939 - September 7, 2024

Resident of Alameda

Margaret, a lifelong Alamedan, and a force of nature to all who knew her, passed away peacefully in her beloved home in Alameda. Margaret will be remembered for her unparalleled, phenomenal combination of creativity and business acumen, and endless spunk. She will also be remembered for her fierce love of her human and animal family - her daughter Diane and husband Tony (both now deceased), her surviving daughter Lisa and son-in-law Bill, surviving cat and dog Little Bit and Barney, and generations of dogs and cats over the course of her life.

Once you got to know Margaret, you were forever on her mind. There was nothing this tough cat and dog lady loved more than giving advice, direction, and encouragement, solicited or unsolicited, about one's goals, relationships, and housing aspirations. An introverted extrovert, she took great pleasure in serving as an expert source of information and connection for many.

Margaret cherished teaching glass painting to generations of women (and a few men) through Piedmont adult education and for many years into her eighties in her home studio. In the heyday of china and glass painting, she authored books on the subject and created a line of custom paints, converting her passion into a robust mail order business named "Lamps by Lomba."

Later in life, Margaret used her keen intellect and business savvy as a realtor, representing her clients with a determination usually reserved for litigators. In Alameda and beyond, Margaret was known as a professional without peer who took great joy and pride in helping people find homes, connecting them with just the right people for any projects that needed doing, and ensuring her clients were exponentially satisfied.

Margaret is survived by her daughter Lisa and her son-in-law Bill, whom she absolutely adored, and nieces and nephews she treasured. She will be missed by her very dear painting students and friends, Bay Street neighbors, and all who had the privilege of knowing this determined, incredibly strong woman for whom fairness, directness, and friendship meant everything. Even with all of the beautiful painting she left behind, Margaret's true legacy will always be her relationships, imbued with loving seriousness, and often a glass of red wine.

Her daughter Lisa is forever grateful for the loving, impeccable care provided by Margaret's caregivers Ana and Zerina, the palliative team at Highland Hospital, and Sonata hospice professionals - all of whom ensured her peaceful transition.

To remember Margaret, please consider a gift in her honor to the East Bay SPCA at eastbayspca.org/how-to-help/ways-to-give/make-a-tribute-gift or mail to East Bay SPCA, 8323 Baldwin Street, Oakland, CA 94621.