Dear, dear, wonderful MaryAnn. I am brokenhearted that you have left us so soon. I just last night found out about your passing and am flooded with memories. I awoke this morning from a light dream where you were there to escort me through a small celebration of life. You were very much alive although we were celebrating you. Thank you for appearing and being such a strong force in my psyche. You were so much loved. So now I am compelled to write. With love and sadness. About you.

MaryAnn and I met post-college as young waiters at the now-defunct restaurant and bar in San Ramon, California, Bobby McGee’s Conglomeration - a trendy early 80’s celebration-style restaurant of the times (definitely not “woke”) where the waiters dressed up in silly costumes with silly names and engaged the customers with songs and spoofs during their visit.  MaryAnn was epic, first as “Natasha the gypsy” and then as “Flo” the diner waitress (channeling the popular sitcom TV character of the times).  MaryAnn was just so fun and entertaining - the consummate performer. Although she was a talented and brilliant performer and I was a complete lackey, we bonded over our similar upbringings, both of us growing up in brand-new 1960-70’s safe white-bread cul-de-sac housing developments in the greater Bay Area, both the youngest of larger families with older parents and siblings, and exactly two weeks apart in age. We were also a bit cynical and tenacious. We became fast friends. 

We became roommates in the mid to late eighties while in our 20’s, up in the East Oakland hills with a killer view of the flatlands. I had the teeny tiny view bedroom while MaryAnn, with her terrible sleep issues had the large, dark, cave rear bedroom facing the back hillside. Good sleep was forever her challenge. She had a big orange cranky but lovable tiger tabby cat named Chester. MaryAnn had some crazy gig jobs that to this day I can only talk and laugh about with specific company. We pushed the limits with everything (as you do in your 20’s) and sometimes trouble was inevitable. But we survived. And the stories live on in my memory. Ok , maybe a FEW photos…  nothing digital TG!!! She was my one and only bridal attendant, (Maid of Honor), and spoke eloquently at my wedding in 1990. Just gorgeous.

Marriages separated our living situation, but we continued as fast friends while she lived in Alameda followed by South Lake Tahoe working at Caesar’s Palace. We laughingly called it “Sleezer’s”. We lamely attempted to ski the slopes of Heavenly but it wasn’t our greatest achievement. She then moved back to Oakland. 

When Greg entered her life as her brilliant and supportive life partner, MaryAnn continued to flourish with all her amazing talent. Wherever they chose to reside - Chicago, Edmonds, Tacoma ( I LOVED that vintage house!!!) their home was filled with authentic and eclectic artifacts, books, musical instruments, mid-century decor, and a very well loved pet cat.  So homey and authentic. I wanted to move in. Great times.

Over the years we connected mainly by phone once or twice a year. But once we got on the line we spent hours just catching up. The usual mid-life venting etc. MaryAnn always had an interesting story to tell and worked her butt off helping people even when she was tired. It was so exciting to watch her on the game show (such a natural) and cheer her on to win the big bucks on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” When she crashed on the question that disqualified her (I actually knew that answer, to my surprise) I was so flabbergasted. Grrrrr I wanted her to win that money so badly!

I never once thought I’d be sitting here under a fig tree in my backyard on this pleasant sunny Bay Area August afternoon, writing about my love for one of my best friends ever. I treasure the time we had and will never forget you MaryAnn. Thank you for being my friend and please watch over me from the other side. I know you’re watching me because I have a postcard flyer from your “51 and Counting” show above my closet door. So there!

Love you always girl! Julie ❤️

Photos to follow. That’s a BIG rabbit hole.

I was 14 1/2  years old when Mary Ann was born. So when I went away to college, Mary Ann was about 3 years old. We never lived in the same town during her life time after I went away to college.  So I only saw Mary Ann a couple of times per year most of her life.  

I did baby sit Mary Ann sometimes when I was still at home. I even learned to change her diapers. This came in handy after Bonnie and I got Married and soon had our own baby, Karen. Bonnie had never had the experience of changing diapers, so I was able to show her how to do this job.

In 1983, we met Mary Ann in Paris. Mary Ann had been in London and our family had been in Saudi Arabia so we were able get together in Paris for a nice with Mary Ann during our vacation to Paris.

Don Boyd