Sally Faulhaber of Alameda has passed away at the age of 96. An engaged citizen with a deep interest in her community, social justice, and nature, she was active until her last days, and was kind and generous to the end.
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Sally grew up in Iowa, and after finishing college and dabbling in teaching in the U.S. and Guatemala, she moved to Berkeley, where she earned a PhD in Zoology from the University of California. She studied genetics in the 1960s, at a time when women in science were much less common than they are today.
She met her future husband, Bill Faulhaber, on the Dipsea trail in Marin County. The two shared a passion for the outdoors as well as an intellectual curiosity and love for science. They moved to Alameda, where they raised two daughters while continuing to hike, ski, and camp in the Sierras whenever they could find the time. Even as a stay-at-home mom, Sally was active in the League of Women Voters and various local organizations, and pursued creative endeavors such as pottery and music. Once her daughters were grown, she returned to science and worked briefly in the private sector before settling into a role in a university research lab.
In retirement, she traveled internationally, including to destinations in South and Central America and Central Asia. At home, she continued to pursue her interest in pottery, creating designs that adorned her home and that she gave away as gifts. Through volunteer work and donations, she continued to stand up for her beliefs, and to lend a hand where she was able.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, and is survived by her daughters, Susannah and Annelise.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in her memory to the League of Women Voters or the American Civil Liberties Union.
A celebration of Sally’s life will be held early in 2026.