Lee Somerville

A Celebration of Her Life  ·  1943 – 2026

Save The Date
Saturday, November 7th
12pm – 3pm
The Marston House at Balboa Park
3525 7th Ave
San Diego, CA 92103

Please join us in celebrating her legacy through shared memories, stories, and a tribute to her life's work and achievements.

This is an "open house" gathering. Dedicated speakers and eulogy from 12:30 – 1:30pm.

Lee Somerville, smiling, in a red scarf

Remembrances

Leave a note for Lee and for the people who loved her: a story, a memory, a garden she helped you plant, a sentence she once said that stuck.

Notes appear on this page once the family has had a chance to read them.

Notes from friends and family will appear here.

RSVP

The Marston House is an open house, so there's no need to stand on ceremony. A rough headcount helps us with chairs, flowers, and food.

In Her Memory

If you would like to make a gift in Lee's memory, the family suggests:

San Diego

San Diego Floral Association

Balboa Park's garden society, and publisher of California Garden magazine.

Give in Lee's name
Green Bay

Heritage Hill State Historical Park

The living-history park on the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Give in Lee's name
Flowers & Cards

For the day itself

If you would rather send flowers or a card, please address them to:

The Marston House
3525 7th Ave
San Diego, CA 92103

Obituary

Lee's obituary was published in the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

From Lee's Letters  ·  Kavala, Greece, May 1966

"Have I told you about the flowers. They are absolutely beautiful now. Every garden has huge roses of all colours, & other enormous flowers, & the roads are lined with poppies. The smell of them is all around as soon as you go outside."

Lee wrote home in blue ballpoint on airmail onionskin, in three sittings over one week. Her family is transcribing her letters; more will be shared here.