Roswitha Goeppert Woolley
(1942 – 2021)
Beloved mother, grandmother, wife, mother-in-law and friend, Roswitha Goeppert Woolley left us far too soon, on Sept. 28, 2021.
Born in Kempten, Germany, at the height of the world conflagration, Roswitha was raised in various places for safekeeping. Roswitha completed her studies in England and moved to Lausanne, Switzerland, where she worked as a translator. In Lausanne she met her first husband, Richard Riggs, and had children Conrad and Natasha. The family then moved to the United States where their third child Annette was born.
The family settled in La Jolla at the request of Roswitha’s aunt, Maria Goeppert Mayer, where
Roswitha also raised Bingo, the first of her cherished standard poodles. Roswitha subsequently married attorney and real estate developer Roger Woolley. From their home in Rancho Santa Fe
she hosted gatherings for visiting dignitaries, prominent politicians and intellectuals while
continuing to raise her children and dogs Bentli and Snowie. Roswitha continued work as a
translator and tutored students in foreign languages.
While skiing in Vail, CO, Roswitha met Charles (Chuck) Miller, an attorney from San Francisco.
Chuck eventually convinced Roswitha to marry and move to Sausalito, CA, where together they raised Roswitha’s third poodle, Oliver, and the three became community fixtures. Roswitha
continued her support of classical music and artists in the Bay Area and befriended many music cause celebre. Roswitha and Chuck later moved to Beaverton, OR, to be near her youngest daughter and grandson.
Roswitha was extraordinary. Incomparably beautiful, brilliant, cultured, enchanting, erudite, generous, loving, gracious and sometimes mischievous, she loved life and excelled at everything she did. In addition to her devotion to family and opening her heart and home to friends and relatives, Roswitha was an expert in classical music. She was active in the symphony and opera, including as a long standing member of the Board of Directors of San Francisco Performances.
Roswitha effortlessly recited Shakespeare, Heine, Schiller and Goethe.
In addition to her native German and English, she was fluent in French and conversant in Italian, Spanish, Latin, Portuguese and Russian. She volunteered at her children’s French and German school classes and taught French, German and German literature at adult schools. Roswitha showered friends, grandchildren and acquaintances with exquisite hand knitted clothes. She was a gourmet cook and spoiled family and friends with extraordinary multi-course meals and cakes.
And how she loved to dance! From salsa to swing and everything in between.
Roswitha was an angel on earth who had a profound impact on all so lucky as to have had her in their lives. Our treasured Roswitha is missed so very much. Roswitha is survived by her children, Conrad, Natasha and Annette, husband Chuck Miller, grandson Matthias, granddaughter Giselle, son-in-law Brian Lysaght and relatives throughout Europe, all of whom adored her.
A virtual memorial will be held. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or the Lymphoma Research Foundation.
(To place a Life Tribute in Marinscope Community Newspapers, contact Sherm Frederick at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
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