Marcia Alice Middleton

1952 - 2026

Marcia Alice Middleton
04/26/1952 - 02/04/2026
Marcia Middleton was a trailblazing artist and adventurer whose life reflected creativity, discipline and a deep love of the arts. She was never one to defer to the status quo; this was exemplified in every turn of her life starting at an early age. A member of the first women's class at the University of Virginia, she earned her bachelor's degree from Virginia Commonwealth University.
She quickly set her sights on establishing her creative career, moving to New York as a graphic artist. She then traversed the country, landing in Los Angeles to continue graphic design before moving to San Francisco in 1992. A gifted painter, Marcia won national recognition in art competitions in Massachusetts, Texas, Oregon and California. She also gave back to her community and volunteered extensively as a docent at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, where she later served two terms as Docent President.
With her boundless talent and creative eye, Marcia was the sole interior designer for the complete restoration of a 12,705-square-foot Neoclassical mansion in San Francisco's Pacific Heights, originally designed by Clinton Day and built in 1899.
An avid sailor, she raced International One Design boats and Knarrs, competing in IOD World Championships in Norway, Bermuda, Nantucket and Northeast Harbor. She also fished for and caught large king salmon off California and British Columbia and hooked a trophy blue marlin off the coast of Cuba. A dedicated runner and triathlete, she completed many races including the Marine Corps Marathon.
Marcia passed away on February 4, 2026,in San Francisco. She is survived by and will always be in the hearts of her longtime partner, Jim Hennefer, and her siblings, Suzie (William) Tatum, John Paul (Laura) Middleton, and Chris (Deirdre) Middleton. A celebration of life and retrospective of her work will be announced.