Barbara Crane OBITUARY

Barbara (Basia) Sabina Crane 92, died 01/20/2024 peacefully in Kentfield, she was preceded in death by her husband, Bruce Crane and son Peter Crane.Basia was born April 19, 1931 in Warsaw, Poland to Josef Han Matecki and Wands Zakowska Matecka. Her father served with armies under the command of three countries, and later worked for the United States Defense Intelligence Agency at the Pentagon. Upon graduation in 1953 with a degree in chemistry from Dunbarton College of the Holy Cross in Washington, D.C., she and her sister, Teresa drove to Southern California. Basia enjoyed a successful career as a research chemist at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Los Angeles and then at the Veteran’s Administration. She then earned a teaching credential at UCLA and taught mathematics and science for the Los Angeles Unified School District.She met her future husband, Bruce, a stockbroker and private investor in Los Angeles. In 1978, they first moved, with their young son Peter, to Ross where their home was badly damaged by the 1982 flood and in 1985 they purchased Bruce’s late mother’s home in Kentfield where they lived the rest of their lives.Basia was recognized among her friends for her tasteful interior decorating, always with seasonal accents, and she was beloved for her longtime constant friendships, her hosting of garden parties and political fundraisers in the park-like garden that she designed herself, and of the intimate dinners for every holiday and special occasion.For more than 30 years, Basia was engaged in community activism. It all began in 1988 when she and Gen Prat drafted the Golden Gate Bridge Initiative to stop toll increases until such time was there was an elected Bridge board of directors. It passed. In 1992, she took the Environmental Forum Training course (Forum 19), and later earned a certificate from the Leadership Institute’s Grassroots Activist School.As a member of the Committee to Save Mt. Burdell, she worked hard to stop the building of the Buck Center for Research in Aging. She served on the steering committee of the Marin County Substitute Teachers Association and stood for election to the College of Marin Board of trustees twice. In 2000, Basia ran for the California State Assembly.After her husband’s death in 2000, Basia served as secratery of Marin United Taxpayers Association and later as its president, at a time when MUTA was legally challenging the controversial Flood Fee Election. As a member of Citizens for Effective Transportation, she opposed the Smart Train, and worked to defeat the original half-cent tax for the Train.She also served on the board of the Marin Coalition and Tamalpais Conservation Club, and was a Eucharistic Minister for awhile at St. Anselm Catholic Church in Ross. Her favorite pastime, however, was writing letters to the Editor on a great variety of issues and kept a scrapbook bulging of all that were published.She enjoyed her English antiques and her art collection of early California scenery and modern Box, her frequent daytrips to Inverness and Heart’s Desire beach, trying our new restaurants with friends, preparing fresh organic meals for herself and guests, and daily gardening.Basia is preceded by her husband Bruce, her son Peter, and her sister Teresa, and her beloved family dog, Bodhi. In keeping her request, services and reception will be private. Donations may be made in her memory to Hillsdale College in Hillsdale MI or the Howard Jarvis Taxpayer’s Association in Sacramento.