Marie Gerhardt Wallace - distinguished law librarian, civic leader, Toastmaster, master swimmer, and designer of wearable art - died on September 3, 2014 at home in Los Angeles, CA from Lewy body dementia. She was 85.

Marie was born on January 21, 1929 in Santa Rosa, CA to Emma and Fred Gerhardt and was eldest of two children and granddaughter of Charles Louis Kunde, founder of Kunde Family Winery and winery. She attended Green Valley School - a one-room schoolhouse in Sebastopol, CA - and later graduated from Santa Rosa High School in 1946. She earned an academic scholarship to attend UC Berkeley, graduating with degrees in anthropology and library science.

She met husband Everett Wallace while studying at UC Berkeley, and they were married in 1951 later moving to Los Angeles in 1956 where they both worked in libraries at UCLA. Soon children were born: son Bryan in 1958, and daughter Linda in 1960. The family moved to a house in West Los Angeles on Selby Ave in 1960, where Marie and Everett later became founding members of the Westside Village Civic Association (WVCA). Marie also served as president and was as a tireless advocate for decades in the community.

Marie's career as a librarian began at UC Berkeley followed by UCLA Law Library and Los Angeles County Law Library. She later worked as head librarian at prestigious law firms in downtown Los Angeles: Kindel & Anderson, Latham & Watkins, and O'Melveny & Myers where she retired in 1995.

In 1997 she was awarded the American Association of Law Libraries (AALL) highest honor - the Marian Gould Gallagher Distinguished Service Award and later inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2010. She also received the Southern California Association of Law Libraries (SCALL) William Rohan Award for Outstanding Achievement in 1986 and was a guiding force in the Practising Law Institute's programs for law librarians and Teaching Research Instruction in Private Law Libraries (TRIPLL). She was a dynamic speaker and prolific writer published widely on topics ranging from law library practice, presentation skills, storyboarding, wayfinding, and aromatherapy. She also developed a series of online articles with resources for legal professionals: "Guide on the Side" for LLRX.com.

Marie was an avid reader and literary omnivore - a true lifelong learner. She also enjoyed cooking, gardening, and sewing and designed a personal wardrobe of wearable art favoring floral prints and unique buttons. In retirement her business card read "Life in Progress" which included art, piano and Tai Chi classes at Emeritus College in Santa Monica, as well as competing in masters swimming with Southern California Aquatics (SCAQ). She will be remembered for her adventurous spirit, sense of humor, and irrepressible laugh.

Marie is much loved and survived by daughter Linda Wallace, younger brother Bud Gerhardt and his wife Barbara Gerhardt. She was preceded in death by husband Everett Wallace (2010) and son Bryan Wallace (2012). The memorial will be held on Saturday, December 13th, 11:30am at Palms-Rancho Park Library, 2920 Overland Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90064. Donations can be made: Friends of the Palms-Rancho Park Library, Lewy Body Dementia Association, or UC Berkeley Library.

Press Democrat Article: "Marie Wallace, descendant of Kunde founders, dies at 85"