Marin Independent Journal
Thursday, September 7, 2000
MARY LEYDECKER, former IJ reporter, dies
Mary Leydecker, a longtime Independent Journal reporter and a Marin resident for 43 years, died yesterday at her San Rafael home after an eight-month battle with cancer. She was 71.
Admired and beloved by her colleagues, Mrs. Leydecker worked at the IJ for 24 years until her retirement in 1991, reporting on everything from city government to San Quentin State Prison.
Mrs. Leydecker, remembered by her daughter for her "loving and giving nature," excelled in many things aside from her award-winning reporting:
* She was a member of the Episcopal Church and a lay minister at St. Paul's in San Rafael.
* She maintained an antiques business in San Anselmo and shopped for choice items in England twice a year for three decades.
* She was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable gardener, whose blossom-laden front yard and picture-book back garden were a source of delight.
* She was a generous and meticulous hostess, who loved nothing better than cooking up a dinner party, luncheon or large party for friends.
* She was, above all, the mainstay of a growing family, and took great pride and interest in her children - Caroline Alioto and John Leydecker of Mill Valley - and grandchildren Jacob Whiting of Redwood City, Stephanie Leydecker of Quito, Ecuador, and Jessica Wood of Mill Valley.
One of the great tragedies of her life was the death of her son, David, in 1985.
Mrs. Leydecker was born in Bakersfield on May 21, 1929, the daughter of Warren and Genevieve Kraft. She grew up in Taft, where her father was a chemical engineer in the oil fields. She graduated from Taft High School and in 1950 from Stanford University with a journalism degree.
While at Stanford, Mrs. Leydecker joined the Marine Corps Reserves, and served two summers in Quantico, Va., achieving the rank of second lieutenant.
She worked briefly on the Santa Cruz Sentinel before marrying Stanford classmate Byron Leydecker in 1951 in Palo Alto. They lived in Menlo Park, then Chico, before moving to Marin in 1958. The marriage ended in divorce.
Her journalism career absorbed many of her talents: "She was a darned good reporter, with a sharp sense of humor about all that's absurd," said Paul Peterzell, a colleague and friend. "She was great company - smart, wry, and sharp in her good judgment. I will sure miss her."
"Mary was both friend and mentor," said Assistant City Editor Nels Johnson, "taking time early on to teach me about the news business as well as newsroom politics, and for that I will be forever grateful. She was a sweetheart. But she was also tough, a remarkably resilient and resourceful person who rebounded with grace from life's travails."
"My wife and I shared a lot of our good times and weeping times with Mary, and she shared a lot of those things with us," said Hugh Hardin, retired rector of St. Paul's. "She was interested in many things, and was exciting to be with for that reason. She was always interested in what you cared about, too." He called her "a Renaissance woman."
Said daughter Caroline Alioto: "She loved many people and was well-loved in return."
Thursday, September 7, 2000
MARY LEYDECKER, former IJ reporter, dies
Mary Leydecker, a longtime Independent Journal reporter and a Marin resident for 43 years, died yesterday at her San Rafael home after an eight-month battle with cancer. She was 71.
Admired and beloved by her colleagues, Mrs. Leydecker worked at the IJ for 24 years until her retirement in 1991, reporting on everything from city government to San Quentin State Prison.
Mrs. Leydecker, remembered by her daughter for her "loving and giving nature," excelled in many things aside from her award-winning reporting:
* She was a member of the Episcopal Church and a lay minister at St. Paul's in San Rafael.
* She maintained an antiques business in San Anselmo and shopped for choice items in England twice a year for three decades.
* She was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable gardener, whose blossom-laden front yard and picture-book back garden were a source of delight.
* She was a generous and meticulous hostess, who loved nothing better than cooking up a dinner party, luncheon or large party for friends.
* She was, above all, the mainstay of a growing family, and took great pride and interest in her children - Caroline Alioto and John Leydecker of Mill Valley - and grandchildren Jacob Whiting of Redwood City, Stephanie Leydecker of Quito, Ecuador, and Jessica Wood of Mill Valley.
One of the great tragedies of her life was the death of her son, David, in 1985.
Mrs. Leydecker was born in Bakersfield on May 21, 1929, the daughter of Warren and Genevieve Kraft. She grew up in Taft, where her father was a chemical engineer in the oil fields. She graduated from Taft High School and in 1950 from Stanford University with a journalism degree.
While at Stanford, Mrs. Leydecker joined the Marine Corps Reserves, and served two summers in Quantico, Va., achieving the rank of second lieutenant.
She worked briefly on the Santa Cruz Sentinel before marrying Stanford classmate Byron Leydecker in 1951 in Palo Alto. They lived in Menlo Park, then Chico, before moving to Marin in 1958. The marriage ended in divorce.
Her journalism career absorbed many of her talents: "She was a darned good reporter, with a sharp sense of humor about all that's absurd," said Paul Peterzell, a colleague and friend. "She was great company - smart, wry, and sharp in her good judgment. I will sure miss her."
"Mary was both friend and mentor," said Assistant City Editor Nels Johnson, "taking time early on to teach me about the news business as well as newsroom politics, and for that I will be forever grateful. She was a sweetheart. But she was also tough, a remarkably resilient and resourceful person who rebounded with grace from life's travails."
"My wife and I shared a lot of our good times and weeping times with Mary, and she shared a lot of those things with us," said Hugh Hardin, retired rector of St. Paul's. "She was interested in many things, and was exciting to be with for that reason. She was always interested in what you cared about, too." He called her "a Renaissance woman."
Said daughter Caroline Alioto: "She loved many people and was well-loved in return."
Marin Independent Journal
Thursday, September 7, 2000
MARY LEYDECKER, former IJ reporter, dies
Mary Leydecker, a longtime Independent Journal reporter and a Marin resident for 43 years, died yesterday at her San Rafael home after an eight-month battle with cancer. She was 71.
Admired and beloved by her colleagues, Mrs. Leydecker worked at the IJ for 24 years until her retirement in 1991, reporting on everything from city government to San Quentin State Prison.
Mrs. Leydecker, remembered by her daughter for her "loving and giving nature," excelled in many things aside from her award-winning reporting:
* She was a member of the Episcopal Church and a lay minister at St. Paul's in San Rafael.
* She maintained an antiques business in San Anselmo and shopped for choice items in England twice a year for three decades.
* She was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable gardener, whose blossom-laden front yard and picture-book back garden were a source of delight.
* She was a generous and meticulous hostess, who loved nothing better than cooking up a dinner party, luncheon or large party for friends.
* She was, above all, the mainstay of a growing family, and took great pride and interest in her children - Caroline Alioto and John Leydecker of Mill Valley - and grandchildren Jacob Whiting of Redwood City, Stephanie Leydecker of Quito, Ecuador, and Jessica Wood of Mill Valley.
One of the great tragedies of her life was the death of her son, David, in 1985.
Mrs. Leydecker was born in Bakersfield on May 21, 1929, the daughter of Warren and Genevieve Kraft. She grew up in Taft, where her father was a chemical engineer in the oil fields. She graduated from Taft High School and in 1950 from Stanford University with a journalism degree.
While at Stanford, Mrs. Leydecker joined the Marine Corps Reserves, and served two summers in Quantico, Va., achieving the rank of second lieutenant.
She worked briefly on the Santa Cruz Sentinel before marrying Stanford classmate Byron Leydecker in 1951 in Palo Alto. They lived in Menlo Park, then Chico, before moving to Marin in 1958. The marriage ended in divorce.
Her journalism career absorbed many of her talents: "She was a darned good reporter, with a sharp sense of humor about all that's absurd," said Paul Peterzell, a colleague and friend. "She was great company - smart, wry, and sharp in her good judgment. I will sure miss her."
"Mary was both friend and mentor," said Assistant City Editor Nels Johnson, "taking time early on to teach me about the news business as well as newsroom politics, and for that I will be forever grateful. She was a sweetheart. But she was also tough, a remarkably resilient and resourceful person who rebounded with grace from life's travails."
"My wife and I shared a lot of our good times and weeping times with Mary, and she shared a lot of those things with us," said Hugh Hardin, retired rector of St. Paul's. "She was interested in many things, and was exciting to be with for that reason. She was always interested in what you cared about, too." He called her "a Renaissance woman."
Said daughter Caroline Alioto: "She loved many people and was well-loved in return."
Thursday, September 7, 2000
MARY LEYDECKER, former IJ reporter, dies
Mary Leydecker, a longtime Independent Journal reporter and a Marin resident for 43 years, died yesterday at her San Rafael home after an eight-month battle with cancer. She was 71.
Admired and beloved by her colleagues, Mrs. Leydecker worked at the IJ for 24 years until her retirement in 1991, reporting on everything from city government to San Quentin State Prison.
Mrs. Leydecker, remembered by her daughter for her "loving and giving nature," excelled in many things aside from her award-winning reporting:
* She was a member of the Episcopal Church and a lay minister at St. Paul's in San Rafael.
* She maintained an antiques business in San Anselmo and shopped for choice items in England twice a year for three decades.
* She was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable gardener, whose blossom-laden front yard and picture-book back garden were a source of delight.
* She was a generous and meticulous hostess, who loved nothing better than cooking up a dinner party, luncheon or large party for friends.
* She was, above all, the mainstay of a growing family, and took great pride and interest in her children - Caroline Alioto and John Leydecker of Mill Valley - and grandchildren Jacob Whiting of Redwood City, Stephanie Leydecker of Quito, Ecuador, and Jessica Wood of Mill Valley.
One of the great tragedies of her life was the death of her son, David, in 1985.
Mrs. Leydecker was born in Bakersfield on May 21, 1929, the daughter of Warren and Genevieve Kraft. She grew up in Taft, where her father was a chemical engineer in the oil fields. She graduated from Taft High School and in 1950 from Stanford University with a journalism degree.
While at Stanford, Mrs. Leydecker joined the Marine Corps Reserves, and served two summers in Quantico, Va., achieving the rank of second lieutenant.
She worked briefly on the Santa Cruz Sentinel before marrying Stanford classmate Byron Leydecker in 1951 in Palo Alto. They lived in Menlo Park, then Chico, before moving to Marin in 1958. The marriage ended in divorce.
Her journalism career absorbed many of her talents: "She was a darned good reporter, with a sharp sense of humor about all that's absurd," said Paul Peterzell, a colleague and friend. "She was great company - smart, wry, and sharp in her good judgment. I will sure miss her."
"Mary was both friend and mentor," said Assistant City Editor Nels Johnson, "taking time early on to teach me about the news business as well as newsroom politics, and for that I will be forever grateful. She was a sweetheart. But she was also tough, a remarkably resilient and resourceful person who rebounded with grace from life's travails."
"My wife and I shared a lot of our good times and weeping times with Mary, and she shared a lot of those things with us," said Hugh Hardin, retired rector of St. Paul's. "She was interested in many things, and was exciting to be with for that reason. She was always interested in what you cared about, too." He called her "a Renaissance woman."
Said daughter Caroline Alioto: "She loved many people and was well-loved in return."
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