née Boehringer 1930 - 2008;
Resident of Emeryville Lottie Rose passed away peacefully on August 8, surrounded by friends and family. It is impossible to capture the richness and complexity of her 78 years in these few words. Lottie loved life and threw her vast heart, formidable mind and steadfast determination into everything she did. With every act she touched peoples lives, and in turn every interaction gave her a deep sense of satisfaction and joy.

Born Charlotte Boehringer on June 12, 1930 in a small village outside of Tubingen (South Germany), Lottie and her older brother Gunther grew up in the shadow, horror, and aftermath of WWII. Despite the turmoil Lottie was the first in her family to graduate college, earning a masters degree in economics from Tubingen University where her daredevil streak manifested as president of the local motorcycle club and a member and pilot in the local glider plane association. It was that trait that led her to follow her brother to Australia, where she worked for seven years as a senior economist at the Australian Dairy Produce Board and became active in local Labor Party politics. It was here that she bought and single-handedly renovated her first house in one of Melbourne's rough immigrant neighborhoods. In 1968 she met Dr Sam Rose, the man who inspired her to change her life-long aversion to marriage. Later that year the two left for America, but were distracted by the world. They travelled for two years through Asia and Europe, and were married in Cyprus despite having to overcome a herd of goats threatening to keep them from arriving at their own wedding ceremony.

In each other they had discovered a unique and powerful love that gave them the strength to achieve great things. Lottie and Sam followed his research commitments across the States, living in Houston, La Jolla - where they became parents, Sam for the fifth time, Lottie for the first - Buffalo, New York, and finally San Francisco in 1978 and the East Bay in 1984. In the 30 years since arriving in the Bay Area Lottie devoted herself to making something beautiful out of something broken by fixing up homes in her beloved North Oakland area and transforming them into accessible housing.

Lottie was also an active volunteer in the neighborhood, believing passionately in grass-roots community advocacy and action. She was a member of the Oakland Public Library commission, a member of the 56th Street Block Club, SPAGGIA, North Oakland Community Economic Development Committee, North Oakland NCPC, and the San Pablo Avenue Merchants Association, as well as too many others to mention. For many years, she was President of the Friends of Golden Gate Public Library where she was instrumental in the rehabilitation and preservation of the library, the creation of the computer center, the after-school tutoring program, and the Jazz on Sunday Programs. Her involvement with FOGGL gave her great joy and many lasting friendships. Over the past few years, when she wasn't picking up trash on San Pablo Avenue, she could also be found with her friends at Curves.

Lottie's devotion to meditation, Buddhism and the metaphysical understanding of self became a life-long quest, and was a passion that gave her great peace; More than community accolades - although she had many of those - or material possessions, though the universe had always responded when needed. If she wanted something, or believed it should happen, Lottie was the first one rolling up her sleeves to make sure it did. More than one person has asked how that much energy, determination and on occasion, stubbornness, could fit into one tiny frame.

Lottie would often be seen driving around the streets of Oakland, complete with flowers in her hood ornament, the interior console lined with small statues of Buddha, Ganesh and other gods; her optional extras on the Mercedes Benz basics. A 'Free Tibet' bumper sticker and an eagle feather hanging from the mirror only began to hint at the complexity of the woman behind the wheel. If someone needed money Lottie would find them some way of earning it. If they needed food, Lottie would feed them. If they were a human being, Lottie would love them. And she did, over and over.

The difficulty with penning any obituary is its first principle - it is a response to death. Were one to have asked Lottie her opinion, it's not a word she would ever have used. She would simply have said it is time to leave, as her husband did seven years ago. As it was, Lottie left us on her beloved Sammy's birthday. She is survived by her son David, daughter-in-law Jennifer Ruskin-Rose, partner-in-crime Plum Haet, loyal friend and right-hand man Dale Baker, many, many other friends, and a city better for her having lived in it. Friends who knew Lottie are invited to join her family in big laughter at the Sweet's ballroom, 1933 Broadway, Oakland, on Saturday August 23 from noon until 3.30pm. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Friends of the Golden Gate Library, 5606 San Pablo Avenue, Oakland, 94608. Thank you all for your generosity.