Dancine Disilverie

Dancine Disilverie

Dancine Disilverie, whose heart and spirit lived in her beautiful Humboldt County home overlooking the Mad River, died at age 67, on Sunday June 5th, at age 67, at Alta Bates Hospital in Oakland, CA. This was her third courageous battle with cancer.

Born August 19, 1938, to Rose Garfinkel and the late Abe Garfinkel in Pittsburgh, PA, Dancine was a dynamic, creative and all-around exceptional woman who became many things to many people. Above all, she was a devoted, loving, unconditional and supportive mother, daughter, sister, partner, lover and friend.

Dancine was an enthusiastic, highly intelligent, complex thinker, avid reader, eclectic artist, painter and musician, patient teacher, generous mentor and big dreamer. She loved the rivers, forests and beaches of Humboldt County and avidly embraced all manner of social and cultural activities. She loved language, literature, theater, dance, painting, sculpture, exotic food, traveling, beautiful clothing and jewelry, Zinfandel wine, masks, birds and . . . Dragons.

Dancine was one of only two women to graduate with honors in mathematics in 1959 from Carnegie Institute of Technology (now known as Carnegie Mellon) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She then moved to Northern California and attended the University of California at Berkeley as well as Stanford University.

In the 60’s Dancine took on various jobs in Silicon Valley’s burgeoning computer industry. She was proud to have been on the team that developed the very first database program for personal computers and later to have helped develop the very first GUI - or Graphic User Interface, that changed the look of computers from black screens with green text, to the limitless animated and graphic screen choices we enjoy today.

In 1963 Dancine married Norman Fontaine. They had one child, Elycia Fontaine, and divorced 1971.

In 1974, Dancine married Marvin Goss and they moved to Humboldt County. Although Dancine and Marvin dissolved their marriage - they remained partners in love and life, and were together until her last breath.

Dancine studied art at College of the Redwoodsâ Eureka Campus and at Humboldt State University in Arcata, where she completed her BA in 1978. That same year she started a mail-order catalog for dragon lovers that she called “Dancing Dragon”. The business quickly expanded from a small home-based garage to a large warehouse in Arcata, CA, was registered as Dancing Dragon Designs, Inc., and began taking in over $1 million dollars annually in sales.

In 1996, Dancine began working as a database consultant and programmer to corporations and government agencies in Sacramento and in the Bay Area and continued until shortly before her death when she was working and residing in Alameda, CA.

She supported many human, social and environmental causes, was a member of NARAL (Pro-Choice America) and the National Organization for Women.

Surviving are her mother, Rose Garfinkel of San Diego, CA; daughter Elycia Fontaine of San Ramon; partner, Marvin Goss of McKinleyville, CA; sister, Sheila Henry of San Diego, CA; and brother, Irv Garfinkel of New York, NY. Also surviving are uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Acknowledgements~ Perhaps you sent a lovely card, or sat quietly in a chair. Perhaps you sent a floral piece, if so; Dancine and her family saw it there. Perhaps you spoke the kindest words, or perhaps you were not there at all, just thought of us that day. Whatever you did to console our hearts, Dancine’s family thanks you ever so much, from the bottom of our hearts! We would like to especially thank Sandi Cornwall, Margaret Lewis and Helen Gale who spent nights by Dancine’s side at the hospital surrounding her with much loving care.

Remembrances~ Dancine Disilverie was courageous, majestic and an inspiration to many. We will carry her with us always, in our hearts and minds, see her warm infectious smile, hear her hearty musical laugh and comforting, mellifluous voice, and feel her giving heart.

Dancine chose to be cremated and at her request, there was no funeral. Her ashes will be released by family and close friends in Humboldt County on August 20, 2005, and a memorial celebration of her life will be held at Huddart County Park, in the San Francisco Bay Area on Labor Day Weekend.

Relatives and friends are welcome to join us Sunday, September 4, 2005, from 11:30- 3:00 PM. Should you need additional details please contact Elycia Fontaine at 925-831-2120 or by email at elycia2004@yahoo.com.

Contributions~ In lieu of flowers, Dancine invited donations either to your chosen cancer-related charity or to the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s Breast Cancer 3-Day event when Stacey Mahuna, (AKA Lehua, a close family friend), will be participating in the 60 mile walk to be held in San Diego, CA, in Dancine’s honor. Lehua will wear an “In Memory T-shirt” with a picture of Dancine on it. To donate online, type or paste the http address below into your internet browser, If you are unable to donate online, you can print out the donation form and send it in via regular mail or call (800)996-3329. https://www.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=61811&lis=1&kntae61811=E45BA365A7DB4C5EB72CD104C679D599&supId=66649527

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