Dianne Nelson McSween

October 27, 1937 - July 2, 2021

Born in Glendale, California to Andrew and Ernestine Nelson, Dianne was raised in South Pasadena and graduated South Pasadena High 1955. While attending Occidental College where she was a member of Zeta Tau Zeta sorority, she met John McSween. They married in 1957 and upon John's graduation they moved to Alhambra. Their first child Kenton was born in 1959 in Glendale.

John was in the US Air Force and the young family moved to Washington DC while he attended foreign language training. They were then stationed at Nouasseur Air Base in Casablanca, Morocco for three years. Their second child Karen was born there in 1962. Upon his discharge in 1963 they moved to Northern California, first to Santa Clara while he completed his teaching credential, and then to San Anselmo, followed by Novato and San Rafael. Dianne completed her BA in Psychology at Sonoma State College, followed by an MS in Special Education from Dominican College in San Rafael, an MA in Educational Administration, and her teaching credential, at night while working and raising a family. Dianne worked for many years in the Marin public school district as a dedicated special education professional and served as President of the Marin County Teachers Association for two years. She loved her work. They had dreamed of retiring to Sonoma and did just that in 1998, where she became active in the Newcomer's club and the community at large.

Dianne was a devoted and involved grandmother, painting their nurseries, doing art projects, making cookies together and visiting often. She was always on call to mend a sweater and never forgot to send a box of chocolates for every holiday. Throughout her life she was a passionate and talented artist, considering a career as an illustrator before devoting herself to raising her children. However, she continued her art education and exploration through painting, stained glass, weaving, knitting, quilting, or sewing costumes for the San Anselmo Playhouse. There was always a project and something new to learn.

Dianne was also an avid reader, a lover of books and actively involved in several book groups. Whenever you visited, you couldn't enter the house without her asking "have you read this yet?" She was a passionate animal lover with many cats and dogs, especially a succession of miniature Schnauzers, spoiling every one of them.

She leaves behind her sister Linda Nelson (SPHS '58); husband John of Sonoma; son Kenton (Marywynn Ryan) McSween of Portland; daughter Karen McSween of Fairfax, and two grandsons. Dianne was humble, quiet, whip-smart, funny, and irreverent. As the quiet one in the room, she saw it all and enjoyed her life immensely. She is greatly missed by her family, friends, and those whose lives she touched.

Press Democrat, November 7, 2021