Gisela Zebroski

1934 - 2021

Gisela Zebroski
February 22, 1934 - September 30, 2021
Resident of Los Altos
Gisela Rudolph Zebroski Obituary:
From Riches to Rags to Riches

Gisela Rudolph Zebroski, one of the last Baltic Germans, passed away on September 30, 2021. Her heritage began with the Teutonic Knights who headed east in the early Middle Ages as colonizers, building fortresses and exerting considerable power over the local populations. They soon became known as Baltic Germans.
Gisela was born in Yelgava, Latvia, February 22, 1934. When World War II began, Baltic Germans had to leave their homeland, Latvia, to escape the Soviets. At age 6 Gisela was resettled with her family in German-occupied Poland, but soon adapted to a world unknown to her. By age 10 she had taken on enormous responsibility for her four siblings, begging for food and helping her mother to protect them during Allied bombardments - the youngest of the family was born in a bomb shelter. At age 14 she quit school and shortly thereafter took on a full-time office job, where her boss, an American woman, became a pivotal role model. Gisela soon decided America was the place for her.
In 1954 she settled in California. In 1968 she enrolled at San Jose State University, where she graduated with a BA in Russian and Psychology. Gisela continued her education throughout her life, taking courses in creative writing, attending conferences and publishing three books: "The Baroness", "Mephisto Waltz" and her memoir, "Selfie Sideways".
Although she had no children of her own, there were several young relatives whom Gisela assisted on their paths to successful careers. Exercise and staying fit and healthy were also very important to her. For years she took aerobics classes five days a week at the YMCA, impressing women 30 years her junior with her energy and enthusiasm – she never missed a step.
Gisela enjoyed classical music, opera, symphony, ballet and theater. She was a member of the Foothill College Commission, the Los Altos History Museum, Toastmasters, the South Bay Writers and the Lovely Ladies Luncheon Club.
Through Toastmasters she developed a widely acclaimed lecture about "Uncle Wiggly Wings" (also known as "the Candy Bomber"), the American pilot Gail Halverson, who distributed loads of candy to refugee children after World War II as part of the Berlin Airlift. She gave this talk all over the Bay Area, sharing with audience members her fascinating historical research and her own experiences in war-devastated Germany.

Gisela loved travel, and traveled to nearly every continent. She was admired for her positive and pragmatic attitude, no matter the circumstances.
She was preceded in death by her husband Edwin Zebroski. She is survived by her brother Dieter Rudolph and sister Heidi Ross.
Memorial Service will be held November 13, 2021. For inquiries about the memorial, please contact Alex Frantz at gr8alexf@yahoo.com


View the online memorial for Gisela Zebroski