Persis Knobbe
07/11/1929 - 01/30/2025
A second-generation San Franciscan, Persis Knobbe was born on July 11, 1929, the only child of her beloved parents, Morris and Celia Thau. She grew up in San Francisco, surrounded by an extended family of aunts, uncles, and countless cousins. Her creative talents were evident at an early age, and she excelled at violin, voice, drama, and writing.
After graduating from George Washington High School in 1948, she majored in drama at UCLA, and moved to New York in 1952, to study with Lee Strasberg at the prestigious Actors Studio. She lived at the 92nd Street Y, where she met her husband-to-be, Harold Knobbe. They married in 1953, and embarked on a whirlwind trip through Europe for their honeymoon. She persuaded him to return to California to start a family, and after Harold's military service they settled in Kentfield, where they would remain the rest of their lives.
Persis was a devoted mother to her two children, always actively involved in their activities and school organizations, where she made many lifelong friends. But throughout, she continued to sing, play violin – and most of all – write. She wrote plays and poetry, and her essays about her aging parents and her husband's struggle with Alzheimers were published in the San Francisco Chronicle and numerous literary anthologies, including the collection "Here I Am" which took its name from her story.
Persis was dynamic, funny, charming, and always fit and fashionable – she made an impression on everyone she met. She traveled extensively, went to the theater in New York as often as she could, and had an amazing ear for languages. Into her 90s, she continued to meet weekly with her French group and to take Italian lessons, and her writers' groups and book groups kept her engaged throughout her life.
Persis was preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Harold. She is survived by her son, Mitch Knobbe and his wife, Leisa Mollett; daughter, Alisa Wynd and her husband, Larry Ginberg; her beloved grandchildren, Galen Knobbe (Caitlin), Rebecca Wynd, Owen Knobbe (Mary), and Jacob Wynd; great-grandsons, Louis and Archie Knobbe; and many adored cousins and family members. All our love and thanks to her amazing caregiving team, and to her "daughter-by-choice" and dear friend, Valerie Jacobs.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Persis Thau Knobbe Family Fund at Jewish Family and Children's Services, www.jfcs.org

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Published by San Francisco Chronicle from Feb. 5 to Feb. 6, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for Persis Knobbe

Sponsored by Sinai Memorial Chapel Chevra Kadisha.

4 Entries

Judie Shaw

February 12, 2025

Oh my, so many memories....Book club meetings with her insight into the story...dinners shared with Percy and "Knobbe", enjoying my sister Helen's painting in their dinning room, trips to museums...etc, etc. Whom else could I call at 5:30 and say "I need you and Knobbe to fill in at our table - I just got a cancellation!" Only Percy would laugh and say, "We already ate, but we will come anyway!" Percy, we will miss you, but we have so many memories we will cherish!

Carol Piasente

February 10, 2025

I was in a writing group with Persis and I think I can speak for all of us when I say that her comments, edits, and suggestions were always so apt and helpful - especially when it came to dialogue. She'd cite her experience with the theater to help us sharpen "the spoken words" of our characters so that they sounded like real speech and, in the process, helped reveal more about the characters and heighten the drama. I remember so well the love and humor she used when writing about her dear husband, and I miss her warmth and grace and the twinkle in her eye when she told a funny, sometimes a bit naughty, story.

Genevieve Blaise-Sullivan

February 9, 2025

I met Persis when she took my evening French conversation class at College of Marin some 20 years ago. Then she participated in my conversation group at Comforts in San Anselmo, then via Zoom during Covid. She always added positive vibes with her charm, humor, knowledge and delightful personality. She stopped participating about 2 years ago and we missed her a lot. I wished I could have said good-bye in person

Cynthia Barton

February 9, 2025

I met Persis while I was caring for her husband on their journey with Alzheimer´s. She was always appreciative and thoughtful. She shared a copy of her poems with a personal note years ago and I re-read them today. What heartfelt and meaningful prose. I feel honored to have known she and her husband and extend my sympathies to the family.

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