Virginia Grether Moose

1926 - 2018

Virginia Grether Moose, 92, a long-time resident of Sacramento, died Sunday, September 16th, after a lengthy illness, in her Land Park home. Mrs. Moose was born in Berkeley, California on August 9, 1926 to Ewald T. Grether and Carrie Maclay Grether and was reared in that city, where her father was a professor and dean in the University of California. She was a graduate of Berkeley High School and the University of California, receiving a degree in economics in 1947. In 1949, she was married to James M. Moose, whom she met on a blind date, thinking his name was "Luce." Romance blossomed despite his name. They moved from the East Bay to Sacramento in 1957, when Mr. Moose began a legal career with the State of California. As her children matured, she became more and more involved with community activities. Her first venture was running a tutoring program in the Washington Neighborhood Center, in Alkali Flat. She joined the League of Women Voters and the Environmental Council of Sacramento, campaigned for candidates for local office, and ran unsuccessfully for the SMUD board. She served 12 years on the Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Commission and was a member or officer in many ad hoc task forces and advisory committees related to local government. From 1983 until 2009 she was a member of the Sacramento County Democratic Central Committee, serving as Treasurer for most of that time. She was elected a trustee of the American River Flood Control District in 1996 and served four terms, and served as a board member of the Sacramento Area Flood Control Authority (SAFCA), and a member of the City of Sacramento Compensation Commission. She was widely regarded as a politically savvy "go to" person and as a political "wise man." Her survivors include her husband, the elder Jim Moose; and her four children: retired Sacramento teacher, Catherine S. (Katy) Culver; MissionViejo technical writer, Anne M. Moose; Sacramento attorney, James G. Moose; Austin, Texas acupuncturist, Elizabeth S. Moose; as well as nine grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and a younger brother, retired Cal Tech professor, David M. Grether of Altadena. At her request, no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, gifts to her favorite NGO, Solar Cookers International (2400 - 22nd Street, Suite 210, Sacramento, CA 95818; http://solarcookers.org) are suggested.