Celebrating the life of
Lucinda Sikes
28th March, 1961 - 19th September, 2021A place to remember Lucinda and post photos.
Family and friends
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Join MemoriesA place to remember Lucinda and post photos.
Family and friends
Camden Sikes Growing up fast
Melissa Sikes 2nd Christmas
Pam Philips An early photo of cousins at the McCoy family cabin.
Sandra Rhine Texas cousins.
Melissa Sikes Lucinda age 5-7 in school in Japan. Class photo. Lunchtime on the floor. Field Day events. 1965-1968
Kirby Sikes Kindergarten. Because my mom was the eldest, she had to translate for my grandparents. At only 5 years old, she was really too young to comprehend that my grandparents couldn't understand Japanese, and that the store keepers, school teachers, etc. couldn't understand English--- when you're a kid, all language just sounds like pure information straight to your brain. Still, somehow, they made it work.
Melissa Sikes Family portrait
Kirby Sikes 1st grade My mom and her sisters were the only blonde kids around so everyone wanted to touch their hair.
Robert Shireman Another scene from the classroom in Japan.
Melissa Sikes
Pam Philips Cousins visiting in Carmel.
Kendra Sikes Our yard in Kisarazu
Kirby Sikes 2nd Grade They moved from Japan to Carmel, CA, then to Marrietta GA.
Kirby Sikes 3rd Grade
Kirby Sikes 4th Grade
Pam Philips Cousins visiting.
Kendra Sikes Christmas 1970
Kirby Sikes 5th grade
Kendra Sikes Our front door
Kirby Sikes 6th Grade
Kirby Sikes 7th Grade
Kirby Sikes 8th grade
Kendra Sikes 9th grade majorette!
Kirby Sikes 9th grade, the year my mom was a majorette! (not pictured)
Kirby Sikes 10th Grade
Kendra Sikes LA area, overnight backpack trip
Melissa Sikes Spring break family trip to Yosemite. Stayed in Curry Village tent cabin.
Kirby Sikes 11th grade
Kirby Sikes 12th grade
Melissa Sikes Los Alamitos high school graduation.
Bonnie Gruen Freshman year at Pomona College, with Rosie (Brown) Moore and Ellen (Franco) Wilbur
David Hensley Pomona College 1980 - me and Lucinda hanging out in the dorm (with Rosie and Gregg). We had a special connection from the time we first met, and were friends for life. When Lucinda became your friend, she stayed your friend. I did not see her often, but when I did, it was like no time had passed and we were back in college. The last time I saw her was when she came down for the Pomona College reunion. We spent a lazy afternoon at A.O.C. enjoying good food and cocktails, and, as always, great conversation and laughter. She had such an exuberant energy within her, it seems impossible that she's gone. She will be deeply missed.
Melissa Sikes College days
Cathy Burk 40 wonderful years of friendship❤️Forever in my heart, Lucinda❤️
Suzanne Davidson I met Lucinda in the summer of 1982 in Oslo Norway. We were students at the summer school @ University of Oslo. We became fast friends along with her roommate Gretchen. A love for walking, hiking, exploring and ice cream treats after our walks bonded us. It was a special summer and Lucinda made it magical. Her enthusiasm for adventure and positive outlook enhanced my life as well as others. We continued to keep in touch ( she was a dedicated letter writer) after we returned to our senior year back in the States. With her encouragement and assistance I relocated from Seattle to Berkeley, staying with Lucinda and Bonnie on Oxford Street in Berkeley. Lucinda had a wonderful ability to be fully present in the moment, was always available to listen and give positive feedback when needed. Her thoughtfulness and kindness were treasured by all. We kept up throughout the decades, reunions here in Atlanta, while I would visit her in DC and Berkeley. Earlier this year, we talked about their future travel plans to visit The King Center among other historical places here in Atlanta. I was looking forward to taking them around Atlanta. She was devoted to Bob, loved being a mom and enjoyed teaching at the Law School. I can’t imagine a world without her - it’s hard to fathom.
Robert Shireman Lucinda did a summer program in Norway and then traveled Europe. In this photo she was sailing in the Oslo Fjord. Her caption: "Me in the dinghy (which later tipped over!)"
Bonnie Gruen On the steps of our apartment on Oxford Street in Berkeley, where Lucinda and I lived together for four years--junior and senior year at Cal and two working people years after that. So many wonderful memories were made there.
Bonnie Gruen Cal graduation day
Sandra Rhine Christmas in Danville with Aunt Sandy n Uncle Chris.
Melissa Sikes Bill, Shelly, and baby Kyle
Melissa Sikes Cousins Casey and Katie at the cabin with Cindy.
Robert Shireman Chronicling our vacations and lives was important to Lucinda. We have photo books of every vacation -- except this one. As we were heading to the airport her purse, which had all of the film in it, got left in the taxi.
I met Lucinda and Bob in the summer of 1985 when I joined CalPIRG's summer canvas as a freshly minted Cal graduate and then moved on to work for the Fund in Los Angeles after the summer ended. I was immediately taken by Lucinda's intelligence, commitment, work ethic and, most importantly, kindness and compassion, the latter qualities which were so...
Robert Shireman The way she was looking at me I had to marry her!
Robert Shireman Party girls of Berkeley
BILL MARTINEZ Penny, Lucinda & Shelly
Sandra Rhine Thanksgiving in Danville.
Melissa Sikes Christmas visit to Ano Nuevo to see the elephant seals — with sisters and husbands to be.
Meg Meiser A few of our gatherings over the years, from the sisterhood to dear friends and partners. Lucinda was the truest friend imaginable, full of laughter and support and intelligence, fully real and fully present. And I’m sure she would remember the exact date and location of each of these photos, because that’s part of who she was. To say I’ll miss her is a huge understatement. The place she occupied in my heart—in our hearts—is huge and cannot be filled by anything else. Her memory is indeed a blessing, and her presence in my life was even more of one.
Melissa Sikes
Robert Shireman CALPIRG's summer canvass introduced us to two lifelong wonderful friends, Maren-Sue and & Helen.
Melissa Sikes Bob’s birthday in The Eichler atrium.
Meg Meiser Political action together for decades
Bonnie Gruen
Robert Shireman We got married at Mission Ranch in Carmel (near where Lucinda's parents moved just after she graduated from high school, and where she lived for a couple of spells in elementary school)
Mary Hennessey Lucinda dedicated herself to others and brought people together throughout her life. She was involved in the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau and the Harvard Women's Law Journal during our time at Harvard Law School and was a wonderful friend through both experiences. The photo of our HLS graduation reflects friends of Lucinda's from HLAB and the Journal and the other photo is from the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau (Lucinda, Meg, Mary, and our clinical instructor Clarissa).
Nancy Rader With Lucinda, Bob, Bonnie and Bill at some type of protest in Washington D.C. in spring 1989. No matter the protest, Lucinda made the most of it as a social event. Always smiling, always cheerful.
Karen Engle Graduation from law school was a joyous day. Yes, we were happy to get our degrees but, more importantly, we celebrated the deep friendships we had forged that, in no small part due to Lucinda, continue to this day.
Bonnie Gruen Lucinda was the "matron" of honor at our wedding.
Emily Rusch From 1989 to 1992, Lucinda was U.S. PIRG's consumer advocate, where she testified before Congress and was a pioneer in crafting and releasing our annual toy safety reports. Here's a few photos from that time. I'm grateful to Lucinda for her many years of service on the CALPIRG Education Fund Board of Directors.
Mary Hennessey Lucinda and Bob moved to DC after they finished graduate school. Lucinda was part of a book group made up of women from our Harvard Law School class. Over the years in DC, we shared books, friendship, holidays, dinners, picnics, life experiences such as birthdays, weddings, and having children, and more. Even when Lucinda and others moved from DC, these friendships continued, with ongoing connections--often through Lucinda!
Rick Hind I met Lucinda at US PIRG. She was fresh out of Harvard Law School and was leading our fight for safer products for children. Our offices were adjacent to each other and we joked that we could hear our phone calls to congressional offices. While Lucinda pushed them to crack down on hazardous toys, I did the same on toxic chemicals. -- She will be sorely missed and always remembered.
Emily Rusch Here's a video of Lucinda on C-SPAN, releasing the PIRG toy safety report in November 1990.
Melissa Sikes Sarah, Bill, Samantha
Melissa Sikes Aunt Sandy, Aunt Betty, and Grandma Rubye
BILL MARTINEZ New Years Brunch, Lake Tahoe with; Lucinda, Bob, Dave, Melissa, Shelly, Kyle, Ali & Bill
Kirby Sikes The Winter '91 edition of the CALPIRG Citizen Agenda contained a profile of my mom
Carolyn Hartmann On PIRG trip skiing together in Aspen with Lucinda and Bob❣️
Meg Meiser Lucinda and Bob came to visit on the Navajo Nation and shared that amazing world with me.
Melissa Sikes Sarah Tolman
Kathryn McCoy During my middle school trip to D.C., I met up with Lucinda and Bob at the Old Post Office/Union Station food court. There were hundreds of middle school kids running around. I remember finding Lucinda in the crowd. I was excited to meet up and felt pretty cool having a cousin live/work in D.C. Happy memory.
Daniel Silverman Jana and I lived in DC in 1991-92 and got to spend lots of time with Bob and Lucinda. They were the witnesses at our wedding. This is on a hike, I believe in Shenandoah National Park. More thoughts in the caption to the other photo.
Daniel Silverman I'm so sad. I met Bob and Lucinda when I was starting as a CALPIRG student and they had just graduated. Bob taught be how to enter data on a computer for some consumer survey. Lucinda taught me how to run the mimeograph machine. When I moved to DC in 1990 and Jana joined me in 1991, Bob and Lucinda were our welcoming committee and -- like for so many of us for decades -- our rocks of stability, our safe harbors, our evidence that, regardless of what's happening in our lives or the world, that good will prevail. Ugh. Bob: I'm sending all of my love and warmth and compassion to you, Kirby, Camden, and McCoy. I'm so sorry.
Janet Domenitz These are from the weekend of our wedding in September 1992. While none of them are posed, it seems fitting that Lucinda is smiling, warm and bright, in all of them. With love from Janet Domenitz and Jon Scarlett
Kirby Sikes Me, 3 days old.
Kirby Sikes Me and my parents
I met Lucinda and Bob and Kirby in December 1994 at the Aspen ski week. I knew next to no one and was so glad that we had been placed in the same condo as we both had new 3 month olds (Rob and I had Marina in September). I looked for pictures this morning, but couldn't find any! We bonded so quickly and stayed in touch over the years via Christm...
BILL MARTINEZ Shelly, Ali, Kirby & Lucinda
David Halperin Lucinda and Bob at a party. We have so many great memories of hanging out with them over 32 years.
Karen-Sue Taussig Thought of this yesterday, during the lovely memorial Berkeley Law did, remembering that Lucinda was in that same room on New Year's Eve 1995 for my wedding. It meant so much to me to have Lucinda and Bob there to celebrate with us.
Kirby Sikes Me and my mom in the Blizzard of '96
Robert Shireman Lucinda argues before the U.S. Supreme Court
Kirby Sikes Camden
Kirby Sikes Camden, 2 days old.
Kirby Sikes Camden, 3 weeks old
Kirby Sikes Camden, 2 months old.
Kirby Sikes Christmas 1996
Colette Matzzie Lucinda and Bob at our wedding, October 1997 Lucinda with PCLG friends
Colette Matzzie Lucinda and Bob at our wedding, October 1997 Lucinda with PCLG friends
Colette Matzzie Lucinda and Bob at our wedding, October 1997 Lucinda with PCLG friends
Kirby Sikes Because of my mom's work at Public Citizen, which focused on government transparency, the Japan Civil Liberties Union (JCLU), invited her to Japan to lead a workshop on the Freedom of Information Act.
Kirby Sikes My mom reunites with her first and second grade teacher!
Kirby Sikes Family portrait From left to right: Back row: My mom's youngest sister Kendra, my mom's mom Sally, my mom, my mom's younger sister Melissa, Melissa's husband Dave Front row: My dad, me (3 years old), my mom's dad Ken, Melissa and Dave's son Maceo (2 years old), my brother Camden (1 year old)
Kirby Sikes We move from DC to California
Kirby Sikes On our West Wing tour, I was totally out of control and wanting to touch everything. The stress is palpable on my mom's face.
Kirby Sikes 5 days before McCoy is born. My aunt Soozee is pregnant too!
Kirby Sikes McCoy
Kirby Sikes Introducing McCoy to the neighbors
Kirby Sikes Meeting Santa. Camden (4 years old) is leaning toward our mom for emotional support.
BILL MARTINEZ Lucinda & Mc Coy, Lake Tahoe, Nevada Beach 2001
Kirby Sikes Holding McCoy
Mike Bernstein The date was Sunday September 10, 2001. The shot was taken by my girlfriend at the time, Karen Merg. It was taken at the Solano Street festival, where I was marching in the parade as a member of the California repercussions
BILL MARTINEZ XCountry skiing at Lake Tahoe with the Martinez Family
BILL MARTINEZ
Robert Shireman I ghost-wrote Lucinda's photo book of our trip to Tucson and vicinity. In the title I may have gently lovingly mocked her unrelenting positivity. Also, there may be a drunk photo.
Kirby Sikes 5 and a half year old Camden hugging our mom
Kirby Sikes Four generations: My Grandad, his mom (Grandma Rubye), McCoy, and my mom.
Bonnie Gruen Lucinda and at least some members of her family came to every single one of our family members' life events throughout the years, even if it meant coming to Minnesota in the winter time! Here we are all together to celebrate Claire's bat mitzvah.
Mike Bernstein Meeting Luisa and Laura for the 1st time
Mike Bernstein Meeting our newborn Maya
Kirby Sikes
Karen-Sue Taussig Lucinda, Melissa, Camden, Maceo, and Emma when Lucinda and Melissa brought Camden and Maceo to visit us in Amsterdam in 2007. We don't have many pics with Lucinda actually in them as she seemed to be our primary photographer--you can see she is evaluating pics on her camera in this photo! I will always remember Lucinda as someone who recognized that time is a gift--she lived and loved fully and was one of the kindest people I have ever known. The depth of her love for Bob, Kirby, Camden, and McCoy and the richness of her many friendships were central to who she was. I was honored to be her friend.
Mike Bernstein Maya, Lucinda and Camden
Robert Shireman Our trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons
Laura LeCave Christmas 2008 I love that we have all the pictures because of Aunt Lucinda 📷🥰
Kirby Sikes White water rafting on Yellowstone River. Camden, McCoy and I always teased our mom for how expressive she was on adventures like this one.
Anne MacMillan Making gingerbread houses was an annual event with our families for many years! Here are just a few photos that Lucinda, our documentarian took. At some point, the Sikes kids started to freestyle design their own gingerbread creations and have kept up the tradition despite college, travel, and living in different cities around the holiday time.
Kirby Sikes Keeping warm at the Obama Inauguration
Kirby Sikes Family portrait on the Billy Goat Trail
Claudia Polsky Here are a few pix of Lucinda (and her fabulous recipes) at the semi-annual yoga retreats she attended so enthusiastically. I loved the many we attended together, and make her zucchini soup regularly. Note that the half-naked woman is not Lucinda . . . but her presence captures the yoga-retreat mood well.
Laura LeCave You are the Memory - By Laura LeCave Dear aunt Lucinda, you are the memory, Each day of our time together you brought many of us together to spend time with each other. You are the memory, you created safe spaces and adventures to appreciate the little things in life. You are the memory, you the most amazing aunt, who I aspire to be, you are the memory. Your life and adventures are very inspiring to me. You are the memory, all the photographs and visual pictures you took at every event, You are the memory. I am not ready to say goodbye, because there is not such thing. You will forever live in each nature adventure, each hike, each tree, all the ocean views and our hearts. You are the memory. Your spirit is here, I can feel it. You are the memory. You have three awesome children and an amazing husband, You are the memory. You made me feel welcomed and loved when I entered the family, you are and forever be the memory. Every single day, you will be with us. Because you are a nature lover, nature whisper and among us, nature is everywhere. Your spirit is always here. I love you more than you know. Life is complicated at times, a complexity of when is our turn to go, but I know it was too early for you. You are the memory. You have lived your life in such magical way, I aspire to be like you. You are the memory. Love, Laura ( The niece who always admired you) Te quiero mucho!
Jay Nitschke Gram and I spent a wonderful week visiting Lucinda, Bob and the kids during their year in DC, 2010. Here's the family (& Gram) in front of the Jefferson Quilt, brought along from Berkeley. Lucinda's warmth, intellect, and positive spirit won over everyone she met.
Ileana Porras Lucinda, Bob and the kids got around! Memorial Day Weekend 2010 in Boston - Fenway Park (Yup - the Green Monster); McCoy taking a picture of his mom in front of the Muddy river, and Lucinda and the kids splashing through the fountain at the Christian Science HQs! Somehow Lucinda and Bob always managed to turn every occasion into a joyful one, full of laughter.
Robert Shireman Lucinda kept the family activities organized through these calendars. This was the end of our year in DC. when we took numerous weekend trips and did things like the East Wing tour noted on this month.
Mike Bernstein With Nina Bernstein
Pamela Burdman Joyful summer afternoon in Codornices Park ... with Bob, Camden, McCoy and friend Margaret Miller (of blessed memory .... maybe Lucinda is smiling with her now)! It was a gathering to meet my newly adopted daughter. I still remember the bright tie-dyed dress Lucinda brought for her...
Robert Shireman For most of high school Lucinda lived near Disneyland. It was a magical place for all of us.
Kirby Sikes Proud day. Camden performs at Yoshi's (Oakland Jazz Club) with Berkeley High Jazz Ensemble.
Emily Rusch Bob and Lucinda and PIRG friends on vacation together in Aspen in December, 2011.
Karen Engle Lucinda was always up for adventure! Here she was in Zion National Park seizing our first attempt at rappelling.
Melissa Sikes The Sikes clan on a whale watching excursion on our Alaska cruise.
Kalen Meyer Our long time book group, with Lucinda, Victoria Eisen and Beth Gerstein. We did read books, but mostly talked about our lives and our families, ate food and occasionally took trips together. These were from a visit to the Oliver Ranch and a weekend trip to Inverness. Our last meeting was on Saturday, September 18th.
Deb Bruns I met Lucinda when she and Bob were leaders in the CALPIRG chapter at UC Berkeley and then joined the staff after graduation. Lucinda put her incredible research, writing and organizing skills to work managing the Sacramento office (where Bob was the lobbyist!). Many memories of working and dancing together, including at my wedding for which Lucinda made the dance tape (yes, it was 1986 so it was a cassette tape that I still have and was the basis for my favorite dance playlist). Many years later I found myself on another dance floor with Lucinda at the women's yoga retreat where we found a costume closet to add to the fun. The next morning, Lucinda passed around hats for our group photo. Sad beyond belief to have lost such a shining presence in my life - I'll keep dancing in her memory. Sending love to all those whose lives she touched.
Laura LeCave Thanksgiving 2014 at the Ibsen’s house.
Laura LeCave Cousin’s Christmas 2014
Ileana Porras A magical reunion at Meg's in Taos, NM.
Robert Shireman We visited all of the Utah national monuments and parks
Joan Heifetz HOLLINGER Lucinda and Bob chatting with Ann O'Leary at the party celebrating Prof. Joan Hollinger's retirement from Berkeley Law School, Fall 2014. Wonderful to share this event with Lucinda, my friend, teaching and public interest colleague, empathic and wise confidante, who was in the office next to mine in the creaky original Boalt 4th floor hall that connected one not so new building addition to another....Joan Hollinger
Cally Houck Lucinda, you will be with us forever. Thank you for the years of friendship, the zest for life that you shared with us, the laughter and stories we women shared on our annual retreats. What a shining example you were as an advocate, and an extraordinary Lawyer who was truly committed to the public good. Rest in Paradise my dear friend.
Rosemary Brown Moore Friends for 42 years-this was in 2016 at a book club meeting at Bonnie’s-Lucinda was an honorary member when she visited Minnesota.
Ramona Swenson Lucinda was one of the founding yoginis of our biannual Women's yoga retreats, which she had graced since its inception in 2002. She had the warmest smile and joyous laughter. I loved her playful spontaneity on the dance floor. Lucinda created a recipe book to memorialize all the good food we shared, including her own orange granola recipe that I still make today. It's hard to imagine yoga retreat without her. We will all carry her presence in our hearts.
At Lucinda's routine colonoscopy, the doctor found a growth and took a sample. She sat us down and told us it could be cancer; the lab results would take a couple of days. Suddenly mortality was staring us in the face. Lucinda not wanting to cause anyone any concern, we kept it to ourselves until the lab results. It was malignant and she would need...
Robert Shireman Lucinda loved vacations. But even more she loved to PLAN the vacations. When she was diagnosed with cancer and needed to start treatment we had a trip to Iceland coming up. She absolutely insisted that the rest of us had to go, she wanted the travel plans she had made to be carried through. From Iceland we sent her regular updates on a family chat that we dubbed "Fermented Shark" (a disgusting preserved fish dish in Iceland), which carried forward as a family chat since then. McCoy has a fermented shark tattoo on his forearm.
Melissa Sikes On the front deck at the cabin.
Lindsay Saffouri Election Day 2016, in our pantsuits. Taken in front of the law school. Although it didn’t go the way we wanted, I was so grateful to have Lucinda to complain to for the next four years!
Mike Bernstein Lucinda and Bob came by for a visit while we were housesitting in Willow Glen
Gail Cave High School best friend, reunited at the Women's March in Washington DC, January 2017.
Nancy Rader At a mini-PIRG reunion with Lucinda, Jerry, Ron and me. She loved her PIRG-era friends, along with her many other circles of friends.
Ruby Sikes In Santa Monica for my admitted students day at cal Lutheran
Erin Clarke Lucinda with her friends and colleagues (frolleagues) at Berkeley Law's 2017 graduation. Lucinda was a gifted professor who loved teaching and who her students loved.
Karen Engle Fun weekend in the City
Melissa Sikes Sing-a-long at the lake for Sikes cabin week. Dave, Maceo and Kirby on guitar, McCoy on trumpet. Red wine. Happy times!
Beth Gerstein Autumn Book Group trip to Greenville (minus the picture taker!)
Melissa Sikes Chocolate factory tour
Camden Sikes She took me on a wonderful England trip after I couldn't make the trip with the rest of the family
Rosemary Brown Moore 2018 Pomona College reunion weekend! (Lucinda is an honorary grad since she and Bonnie attended Pomona the first 2 yrs)
Laura LeCave Family Picture 🥰☺️💐
Corey & Christine McCoy A chance meet up with cousins Corey and Lucinda in Hawaii. Corey was able to give Lucinda and Bob a tour of Ford Island as well. Whenever they got together laughs, world events and deep conversations would always fill the room. They spoke by phone just two weeks ago and that conversation is treasured. She will be deeply missed.
Laura Polacheck I first met Lucinda through our dear friend Rosemary; we drove out to Virginia for dinner at her house. I let Lucinda know that my uncle had put a lock on the gas tank, and I didn't have a key but I thought we'd make it. Lucinda's great laugh and kind but firm insistence to remedy this situation made me break the lock so we wouldn't be stranded somewhere outside of Vienna (VA). I don't remember too many times when Lucinda wasn't smiling or laughing. We served on Rosemary's board together, and the photo above is from one of our meetings in Santa Barbara. She was always suggesting an adventure--let's walk home from the restaurant! Let's go the beach in the moonlight! I know that adventurous spirit extended to her children as well; I visited her in Berkeley, and we went to a huge rock where the kids were climbing freely over it. My Jewish mother instinct was a bit nervous, but of course they were just fine and very happy. I must say, however, she was even more cautious driving than I am; a car that was but a speck in the distance was too close to turn in front of, which I appreciated. She too was an ardent fan of the Shake Shack--we stopped for a classic California lunch on our way to a board retreat, only to be disappointed that we missed the Shake Shack near the exit. She was also a brilliant friend. I had the great experience of watching her argue before the Supreme Court. She even endeared herself to Justice Scalia, no mean feat. Losing her is a tragedy on so many levels. Lucinda, I hope you know how very well loved you were by all who met you. We will miss you terribly but you'll always be in our hearts.
Pamela Burdman Via Marla Stone: Best friends and loyal Pomona "alums" Lucinda and Bonnie.
Camden Sikes Eating well on our central Europe trip
Emily Beckman Tea Party with friends
Emily Beckman Lucinda looked absolutely fabulous at a tea party with friends and fascinators
Ed Goodman Catching the foliage in Southern Vermont, Fall 2018. Lucinda was the organizer, and Bob was not only the driver but was there with a hand to help everyone over some pretty treacherous terrain.
Ed Goodman Getting together for our own mini-law school reunion, 30+ years later. Much more fun than the officially sponsored versions. Lucinda was always the one who brought the energy to get us together and made it happen. And she brought her optimism, and her smile, and her joy every time. I count myself truly blessed to have been in her orbit all these years.
Betsy Carpenter Hiking in Marin. We got to know Lucinda and Bob through the Berkeley High Jazz parents’ association when Camden was in the BHS jazz ensemble. Lucinda for a few years was a mainstay of the organization, serving as treasurer, always unflappable, optimistic, smart, sensible and just plain fun to be around. We count ourselves as lucky to have known Lucinda and grateful for the time we spent with her.
Mike Bernstein Thanksgiving
Laura LeCave BEST PAELLA at the Sikes House <3
Anne MacMillan Exchanging photos and texts about our StitchFix boxes. Lucinda loved shopping with Bonnie, but StitchFix was handy in her absence.
Camden Sikes I had a work trip to New Orleans that just happened to overlap with my parents' vacation
Camden Sikes Visiting me in Madison
Margaret Gonglewski A lovely walk with Lucinda and Bob to a stunning view at Indian Rock. Wonderful to have a few days together, laughing as we watched Carpool Karaoke videos on the “big screen” in their living room, eating Cheeseboard pizza, and talking about everything under the sun.
Karen Engle One of the several trips Lucinda made to hang out for my birthday.
Sarah Tolman I love this photo of Lucinda & Bob at my wedding. It was such a joy having them staying across the street and being a part of all of the wedding festivities. I even got to have Lucinda around when we were all getting dressed & ready for the day. My husband and I will never forget laughing hysterically with them the day after the wedding while opening presents (I swear we use the beautiful cutting board you gave us every single day)! Love you ♥️
McCoy Sikes Our second time seeing Hamilton
BILL MARTINEZ Mr. Martinez 100th Birthday Party, Fullerton, CA. November 24, 2019
McCoy Sikes Our family trip to Barcelona
Kirby Sikes My mom smiling at McCoy off camera in Spain. (Camden in the background)
Ruby Sikes Christmas time walk in Berkeley
BILL MARTINEZ Bill & Shelly drove with Lucinda & Bob to Virginia City, NV. This was right before the COVID shutdown in 2020. We went into the Bucket of Blood Salon to listen to the Comstock Cowboy Band. We were invited to sit up front at the table with the band’s manager. The locals were dressed up in their cowboy gear and were carrying real weapons. On our table was a sawed-off shotgun and TRUMP paraphernalia everywhere. I think the bands manager was flirting with Lucinda. Steppin back in time....
Laura LeCave Adventures at the Lake 📷✨🌏 Aunt Lucinda showed us the beautiful hikes around the lake. Super fun nature exploration!
Bonnie Gruen Me and my best friend of 42 years, the last time we were together.
David Hensley I came across an email I received from Lucinda a few months ago. I enjoyed reading it again - very fun, conversational and newsy - so Lucinda. She included these photos from her pre-60th birthday trip to Mendocino with Bob. They are such nice and relatively recent pictures of her. I thought I'd share them with everyone. My wife and I will be coming up to Berkeley on 11/1 to celebrate Lucinda's very impactful life.
Mary Hennessey Lucinda was always up for a celebration, so it was fitting that so many people wanted to celebrate her on her 60th birthday. Stacy Brustin, Andrea Paterson, and I (Mary Hennessey) had a birthday celebration with Lucinda via Zoom on her birthday, complete with cupcakes (delivered to her house ahead of time) and good cheer. What a special memory!
Kalen Meyer So many celebrations, walks, dinners, talks. Lucinda’s birthday (covid safe) in March, New Years making of the hats before midnight. Lucinda was always up for anything!
Karen Engle We just happened to be in southern California at the same time. Thanks to social media, we realized we were only 30 miles away from each other. Ana and I met up with Lucinda and her sisters for a hike.
Melissa Sikes Mother’s Day 2021
BILL MARTINEZ 2021 Bill & Shelly met Bob and Lucinda in Coloma at the Marshall Gold Discovery State Park. We are on the bridge over the South Fork of the American River.
Melissa Sikes Mother’s Day. Together for Ruby’s Cal LU graduation.
Dover Sikes Cindy and Bob paid a visit to see me at the end of my first year at Williams College.
Laura LeCave Getting together safely, after a year of unable to hug. Zoom was awesome, but it was more awesome to see each other in Berkeley.
luisa ibsen This picture was taken of Aunt Lucinda with both of her sister in laws. I loved hearing stories she had for us. I always learned something new when hanging out with her. She would ask us what adventures we had planned and give us her opinion. I loved the fact that she was always smiling, and you could always catch her taking amazing pictures of the family.
Camden Sikes A few of the thousands of memories we made at the lake
Elana Chaitman A Tale of Wine and Tulips: the genius of Lucinda As with many things of long-lasting value, my relationship with Lucinda had grown over the years. What started with a mutual fondness for and understanding of Jerry had evolved into an unhindered ability to exchange and examine mature and interesting emotionally charged topics. This is not to say that our interactions were heavy and lugubrious. Quite the opposite. They often were triggered by tulips and wine, two things with no particular association to cold, sober discussion! What made Lucinda a genius had little to do with her academic smartness and professional achievements for which she has been justly praised. Rather, she always instinctively knew the exact right feeling and words that would encourage a person to stay on his or her path and not be dissuaded by difficult, ambient circumstances. Her clarion responses would bubble up from within and spontaneously burst through volcanic-like. I suspect there were times when she surprised herself by her effortless and unrehearsed reactions. I also suspect that she was unaware to the profound impact she was having. I do not think Lucinda knew how much she helped me over the past 10 years through one of the darkest periods of my life. She offered light where darkness reigned and gave succor with a grace that allowed me to see that my actions and struggles were not only the right thing to do but were the actions of a righteous, higher cause. Everyone else had wanted to quantify and judge me, but not Lucinda. She embraced me. The last time I saw Lucinda will remain. Bob, Jerry, Lucinda and I decided to meet up for a picnic in Berkeley’s Cordonices Park for a post-COVID vaccination get-together. The four of us had not gathered together in person for over a year. As the picnic wore on and a relatively modest amount of wine had been consumed, Lucinda and I found ourselves discussing an incident involving a sudden death of two young people and the varied reactions of the family members to the hackneyed clichés used in these types of tragic situations. Services for the two had been held in the very same park where we were picnicking. Of course I had no idea what was to befall my dear friend at that time. I would have liked to thank her for her skillful, unwavering support. I also would have brought her favorite flowers – tulips. Instead, I offer a life-long toast: “Here is to you, Lucinda. Whenever I see tulips or am enjoying a glass of red wine your indomitable spirit will rise up through me and remain as a beacon of hope to all those needing your sweet genius.” Elana
Melissa Sikes Fort Stevens State Park
Melissa Sikes Our 2021 cabin week. Backwoods Brewing in Carson, WA. Followed by a weekend in Astoria, OR.
McCoy Sikes Anniversary hike
Robert Shireman Lucinda was SO thrilled to go back to in-person teaching that as she headed out the door for her two-mile walk to BerkeleyLaw I ran outside to snap a "first day of school" photo in the same location as she took of the kids every year.
BILL MARTINEZ McCoy, Bob, and Lucinda at the Giants/ Dodgers Game on September 5, 2021 On the spur of the moment Lucinda, Shelly, Bill, and Kyle joined McCoy and Bob at the game (after a wonderfully indulgent brunch at the Sikes- Shireman home). The Giants won!
Lucinda's office was just around the corner from mine, and she always had her door open. She had one of those smiles that felt warm, kind, and understanding. Lucinda was a bright light. About a month into the fall semester, Lucinda invited me to get coffee. We sat outside in the afternoon sun on wooden benches and talked about writing education. ...
Robert Shireman Favorite Cheeseboard pizza on the back deck
Kirby Sikes On Sunday, September 19th, a beautiful clear day, my mom and I went on a hike to Alamere Falls in Point Reyes National Seashore. We talked about opensource software and new media as we walked along broad ocean vistas, through forests and chaparral. At about noon, we lunched on pb&j and sugar snap peas under the falls, and then we walked a mile along the beach to Wildcat Camp. A pod of dolphins (at least ten of them) was swimming lazily back and forth along the surf-break, and the late summer Pacific was warm enough to swim in, so we stopped at a log, and I waded into the waves. After 45 minutes, we needed to get going as we had another 5.5 miles back to Palomarin trailhead. As we passed by Ocean Lake, the conversation turned to more personal matters. My mom was always a warm listener, and she offered me consolation and advice. At 4:10 pm, just a mile and a half from the trailhead, my mom, an active hiker who always seemed healthy, suddenly collapsed. I couldn't find a pulse, so I dialed 911 and started CPR. Other hikers (Teresa, Ben, Marina, Laurie, and a few whose names I don't remember) stopped to help, and we continued CPR until a helicopter arrived to take my mom to the hospital. I held her, told her that help was on the way, and made sure that she knew that she was loved.