Rosemary Peterson Nichols
1929-Aug. 3, 2015
Palo Alto, California

Rosemary Peterson Lodato Nichols departed this world for a place she was greatly anticipating as she had no doubt her best friends and family were waiting for her there. Given her unique generosity of spirit and unwavering predisposition to human kindness, she is likely already busy cooking Swedish meatballs or dollar-size buttermilk pancakes for all.

Born in August 1929, she came from hearty Danish and Scottish stock; thus, in addition to her beautiful blonde locks and bright blue eyes, she was gifted the art of being a trooper all her life. A Bay Area native, Rosemary grew up in Hillsborough and San Francisco before settling in Menlo Park. She truly loved the local iconic golden hillsides with their towering oak trees. She attended San Mateo High School and went on to Stanford University, where she lived in Branner Hall, decked out in bobbysox and saddle shoes with her lifelong best friends.

It was there she met and married Frank Lodato, with whom she had four children. Given three of them were rambunctious boys who could put anyone's patience to the test, her trooper quality paid off. She smiled through the pet rats; the hidden motorcycle incident; the botched attempts at playing drums, french horn and piano; and her daughter's inappropriately short mini-skirts. She did request that the house be kept relatively neat. She packed hundreds of lunches, wrapped even more presents until 3 a.m. each Christmas Eve and consistently hosted family dinners for 40+ on holidays.

Rosemary was a consummate hostess and homemaker. Hers was the home that welcomed all. She planned activities for the kids, feasts for the adults and was adept at juxtaposing her roles as mother, partner and friend. She went to Draeger's nearly every day, which always made it fun to open the fridge. If her family was happy, she was happy.

After she and her husband parted ways, she courageously went back to school to become a paralegal. Shortly thereafter, she met her beloved Bill Nichols, who gave her the jitters when he came to take her on dates. They met through Stanford Singles, and to her dying day she encouraged her single offspring to follow suit, to give it a try.

Rosemary and Bill shared 27 wonderful years as a married couple, more if you count the years they tested the waters by living together, which she felt wasn't proper but went for anyway. They enjoyed their extended family most of all, hosting "Camp Nichols" for grandkids; traveling together to places near and far; attending Stanford games; and enjoying their book club, bridge club and lecture series. In Bill, Ro found a true friend, deep love and committed partner.

Throughout her life, Rosemary volunteered at Allied Arts and was a devoted member of the local garden club, several bridge clubs and her Presbyterian Church Women's Bible Study, all of which gave her joy and fueled her spirit. She was a Brownie and briefly a Girl Scout, but confided she created her own irreverent words to the pledge and songs because it was never for her.

She found her joy in savoring and appreciating all of the little things and moments in life. She went the extra mile to be there, to listen because she genuinely cared, to counsel wisely and to make someone happy. She favored Shakespeare's words "To Thine Own Self Be True." She managed to be simultaneously elegant and down to earth, always gracious, occasionally impish. Mostly, Rosemary was kind and loving; you felt it, you saw it in her twinkling eyes and easy smile.

Her family meant everything to her. She devoted herself to them. She is survived by her husband Bill; her children, Tom and Kim Lodato, Jane Lodato, Doug Lodato, and Mark and Valery Lodato; her step-children, Debbie and John Hudson, John and Amy Nichols, and Andy and Nancy Nichols; her grandchildren, Courtney and Adam Alberti, Kim and Zach Nye, Jordan, Sofia, Tyler and Sydney Lodato, Alexander Hudson, Micah Howard, and Meg and Ellie Nichols; and her seven great-grandchildren.