Emily Sanford Massey

Emily Sanford Massey passed away on October 23, 2025 at the age of 75. A New York City native, Emily was born on November 6, 1949 in Manhattan to parents David and Annette, who predeceased her. David's work as a cruise manager kept him away at sea much of the time, leaving Annette to run the household alone to raise Emily with her siblings Karen, Dick, and David, all of whom survive her. Annette's deep love of children strongly influenced Emily's personal and professional life.

Emily is survived by husband and soulmate Chris Massey, with whom she recently celebrated 50 years of happy and loving marriage, sons Andrew Massey and Steven Massey, daughters-in-law Cassandra Massey and Yvonne Ho-Massey, and four grandchildren, William, Jonathan, Charlotte and Adelyn Massey. All are residents of Alameda, California, where Emily lived at the time of her passing.

Emily earned her B.A. in French at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York, graduating in 1971. She spent her junior year studying in Paris with the Sweet Briar College Junior Year in France program. After graduation from college, she went on to earn her masters degree in French literature at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.

In 1978, Emily and Chris relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area, where they lived for over 20 years in the Peninsula community of Foster City, and where Andrew and Steven were born. As her sons grew older, she earned her teaching certificate and taught 3rd and 4th grades at Foster City School and Brewer Island Elementary School for 10 years.

In 2000 she and Chris relocated to Houston,Texas. There Emily was an active member of the League of Women Voters as well as the Houston Accueil, a group dedicated to welcoming and assisting French expatriates in the city. In 2004 they returned to the Bay Area and settled in San Mateo, where they lived for 19 years before moving to Alameda to join Andrew and Steven and their families who were already living there.

In San Mateo, she returned to teaching as a volunteer. She connected with a former colleague at Brewer Island School and worked part time in a 4th grade classroom, reading to the children and working one-on-one with those needing extra help with reading and math. Her volunteer service ended only when Covid closed the schools in 2020. She also served as a tutor through a church program for Spanish-speaking second graders, working on reading and writing.

Emily was a woman of many passions. She loved children, not only her own but the many children she came to know in her years as a mother and teacher. She adored teaching, and as a teacher was widely known in the community and sought after by parents. For many years after her teaching career ended, adults would come up to her saying, "Mrs. Massey, I remember you from 4th grade!" A talented painter, she painted in oil for decades, filling her home and those of Andrew and Steven with many stunning works of art that are now treasured mementos. She and Chris shared a common love of things French: travel, food, books, films, the French language. Indeed, they originally met in Paris in their college junior year. A long-time San Francisco Symphony subscriber, she enjoyed music and theater. A regular part of her life was an annual (or more frequent) pilgrimage to New York City to sample the offerings On and Off Broadway.

Emily was both an optimist and a realist. She always endeavored to see the best in the people she encountered, but was quite able to recognize when they fell short. She inspired those around her to reach higher than they thought they could. She has left us far too soon, and her warmth and love are sorely missed. At the same time we are grateful for the time we had her with us.

A memorial service will be held on December 6, 2025 at 1:00 pm at Christ Episcopal Church, 1700 Santa Clara Ave., Alameda, California 94501. A reception will follow at the church. We hope that those who loved Emily will join us then.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society with Emily in mind.