June Nielson
June 2, 1924-April 12, 2019
Los Altos, California

June Nielson Cademartori was born on June 2, 1924, in San Luis Obispo to A.R. and Jennie Storni. She grew up on the family dairy farm north of Cayucos and graduated from Cambria High School. In 1946, she received her undergraduate degree from San Jose State College where she was active in Kappa Delta Pi, Pi Epsilon Fan, Spartan Spears, and Black Masque. She taught at East Orosi Elementary School before marrying Henry Nielson, Jr. in 1948. They settled in Fresno and had two sons, Mark and Kirk. In the late fifties, June earned a master's degree in audiology and returned to teaching. She earned a second master's degree after the family moved to the mid-peninsula in 1963. She was a reading specialist at Whisman Elementary School in Mountain View for 20 years. After retiring, she became a tutor with the Early Literacy Program at the Avenidas Senior Center in Palo Alto. Tutoring children from Spanish-speaking families heightened her long standing study of Spanish and she continued studying the rest of her life. June traveled extensively, making lifelong friends in Europe, Mexico, South America, Southeast Asia and Australia. Twelve years after Henry died, June married John Cademartori, who she met in her square dancing group, Bows and Beaus. They continued to square dance and were active in Friendship Force, Habitat for Humanity, and First Methodist Church Palo Alto. June and John moved to Pilgrim Haven retirement community in Los Altos where June was on the Resident’s Council, delivered newspapers and walked 10,000 steps a day. June will probably be remembered most for her boundless energy. She was always on the move. She was the consummate hostess, constantly overseeing gatherings. She gave generously of her time and resources in her many volunteer activities. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend. And, in everything she was guided by her deep Christian faith. We will miss her.

Tags: teacher/educator