Marie Zeller

1941 - 2023

Marie Zeller
June 19, 1941 - December 26, 2023
Marie Ann Zeller (1941–2023), a resident of San Francisco for more than 50 years, died Tuesday, December 26, 2023, at the age of 82. The eldest of four children, Marie was born in Indianapolis, Ind., to Harry K. Zeller, Jr., and Juanita Zeller Walker. She grew up in McPherson, Kan. Her brothers, Norman (Lois) Zeller and Richard (Joan) Zeller preceded her in death. Marie is survived by her sister, Karen Smith; her nieces and nephews, David Zeller, Christine Vogel, Dean Zeller, Kathy Mundy, Carrie Zeller, and Kelly Wolff-Peña; and her beloved great-nieces and nephews, Reese Mundy, Malia Mundy, Garrett Vogel, Nolan Mundy, June Zeller, and Evelyn Wolff-Peña.
After graduating from McPherson High School in 1959, Marie earned a bachelor's degree in English from Juniata College in Huntingdon, Penn., in 1963. That summer she participated in the March on Washington and listened to the moving words of Martin Luther King, Jr.-an event she often looked back on with great pride. Inspired by what she called the "exhilaration, the upbeat flash" of the Kennedy administration, she then joined the Peace Corps, serving two years as an English instructor in Turkey. "I'm a bit of an idealist," she explained. "I think you have to be to join the Peace Corps. I believe person-to-person communication is important to the world and that there is not enough of it. I want to be in on it as much as I can."
When she returned home from Turkey, Marie spent a few years in Washington, D.C., before falling in love with San Francisco and settling there in 1969. She developed an interest in city planning while working for future U.S. Senator Diane Feinstein, who had just been elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. "She was working in the Planning Department on the urban design plan, South of Market beautification and hot potatoes such as U.S. Steel and the Transamerica Building," Marie said in an interview with the San Francisco Examiner. After managing Feinstein's office during her mayoral campaign in 1971, Marie joined the City of San Francisco Planning Department, where she helped draft the Neighborhood Zoning Ordinance. At the same time, she continued her studies at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a master's degree in urban planning in 1976.
Along with her role as City Planner, Marie was a member of the city's Planning Commission. She later worked for several years for a private development firm. Throughout her career, she remained dedicated to the preservation of San Francisco and the balanced growth of the city. She was also known to have driven on every single street in the city and could review most square blocks with historical and other fun facts. A member of many organizations, she served on the board of her alma mater Juniata College, was a member of the Sacramento Seminar and was a founding board member of the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market.
Marie was affectionately known to her family as Snookie, a nickname given to her by her father. She was also known for her love of family and lifelong friendships. She enjoyed shopping at the farmers market, walking in the annual Bay to Breakers race, eating great food, and engaging in spirited conversation. She loved her home, her cats, the lemon tree in her backyard, yoga, tai chi, and beautiful walks around Stowe Lake in Golden Gate Park. She traveled to many places throughout her life and enjoyed embracing many cultures. She especially loved visiting family and friends, attending graduations, weddings, and gatherings and always celebrated life.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to either of the following non-profit organizations that Marie supported:
Locally: Ferry Plaza Farmers Market https://foodwise.org – donate in memory of Marie Zeller. Please email Cindy@foodwise.org with any questions.
Globally: Heifer International https://fundraise.heifer.org/MarieZeller