Diane Marie Meagher

DIANE MARIE MEAGHER was born in Oakland, CA on December 21, 1950 and died October 25, 2016.

She was born to Donald & Constance Meagher and is survived by her siblings Ronald Meagher & Joanne (Meagher) Dalley. Diane graduated from Oakland High School class of 1968, then attended college and received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of the Pacific. It was there that her lifelong love of education was born. Aside from her teaching credentials, Diane learned to play guitar during the tumult of the ‘60’s and enjoyed singing popular folk music.

She moved to San Francisco and spent 35 years at Fairmount Elementary School as a bi-lingual elementary school teacher, serving underprivileged Hispanic school children as their third grade English teacher. Nothing made her happier than students who remembered her years later for her teaching.

During a recession, when funding for school music programs was suspended, Diane volunteered her time as an instructor in “Little Kids Rock”, a community funded after-school program which introduced the acoustic guitar to hundreds of kids. This program inspired many young people including recording artist Kai Lyons who recently performed at the San Jose Jazz Festival.

Diane also was an active member of the Teachers Retirement Association and headed the Teachers Union as UBC member at Fairmount Elementary. She retired from SFUSD in 2008 ending her stellar career of 35 years.

Diane sang and performed in the choir as an active member of the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in San Francisco. She enjoyed traveling to the wine country and exploring the great outdoors. Diane cherished many close relationships with her friends and colleagues. She enjoyed cooking, dining out, and long walks in the park with her beloved dogs which she treated as family.

Diane fought a valiant fight the past year against cancer and will be sorely missed by family and friends. Donations in her memory are welcome and may be directed to the SF ASPCA or Guide Dogs for the Blind www.halstedngray.com