Barbara Spillane

Barbara Spillane
Barbara Bacciocco Spillane, mother of Michael K. Spillane (Mary Solis) and Nicole Greely (Daniel Greely), and widow of Michael J. Spillane, died peacefully in her sleep after three years of dementia. She was the daughter of Dorothy ("Nana") and Nicholas Bacciocco. Nana was a daily part of our lives and felt she had been put on earth to feed and spoil her grandchildren-so unlike our mother. Bobbie ate well, but her oven warranty expired before she ever turned it on. When visiting, we would optimistically check the refrigerator, only to find it completely empty every time.
Bobbie was a true San Franciscan at heart. She ran Bay to Breakers, loved Golden Gate Park, the Columbus Day Parade, Herb Caen, Gene Nelson, Joe Alioto, libraries, and climbing Mt. Davidson on Easter morning. She walked the Golden Gate Bridge on its 50th Anniversary.
She treasured her beautiful home in Windsor Terrace and looked forward to decorating it at Christmas, especially the festive wreaths on the pillars at the corner. She deeply loved her neighbors of 62 years.
Educated at Star of the Sea and Lone Mountain College for Women, she formed friendships that lasted a lifetime. As an only child, Bobbie added Carolyn Moran, Pat, Terry, and Mary Ann to our family. Our lives were further enriched by Eileen Woerner, Eileen Holsten, Leona Madariaga, Bernadette Dowd, Joanne Bjork, Karyn Kennedy, Evelyn Lehane, Pat McGuire, Yvette Kelly, Joan James, and Bob Hicks. We thank all of you for the joy you brought our mother.
Travel took her across the world-from Africa to Vietnam, Australia, Europe, and always back to Italy. Through her favorite son-in-law, Dan, she came to love Maui. As a non-swimmer, she trusted him to save her in the Truckee River, in the pools on the Road to Hana, and on the Hyatt Kaanapali slide. He always did.
Bobbie spent her entire career teaching in the San Francisco Unified School District at schools including John Muir, Columbus, and Lincoln High School. She often spoke of the fellow teachers and students who impacted her life. She talked about two of her favorite students, Eddie Carew and Dave Lazar, for years after retiring. Though she taught in public schools, she sent us to Catholic schools. She found humor in these two very different worlds and taught us to notice the differences. We grew up in a house without prejudice or judgment. She pushed boundaries by joining the strike line for the Teachers Association and by wearing pants when picking us up from St. Anne's-even though doing so meant she had to wait outside the schoolyard gates. Everything was a teaching moment: skiing meant visiting the Donner Party Monument; Hawaii meant memorizing the Hawaiian alphabet; Italy meant studying Michelangelo. We joke that the first vacation we ever took without keeping a journal, studying beforehand, or having assigned reading was our respective honeymoons.
Initially not thrilled that her daughter joined the SFPD and her son the SF Water Department, she soon began stopping every one of our colleagues to ask if they knew us.
Bobbie leaves behind five grandchildren-Kaitlyn, Nicholas, and Mallory Spillane, and their mother Andrea Spillane; and Matthew (Kyleigh) and Donna Brickell (Zach)-and great-grandchildren Ripp Brickell and Grady Greely. She also held dear the families of Robin and Lou Bacciocco and Bill and Victoria Barrango.
Her world-and ours-was made a better place by the incredible people at Cogir on Sonoma Plaza and by Molly Weiner of By the Bay Health.
Private services will be held later at the Italian Cemetery.