Lasting Memories

Gelsomina Becks
May 2, 1929-July 25, 2015
East Palo Alto, California

Gelsomina (Gelsie) Smith Becks, longtime East Palo Alto resident and community activist died after a short illness. She was 86.

Gelsie was born at Stanford Hospital to Stanley Astredo Smith and Doris Louise Ginnold. She lived in East Palo Alto for more than 60 years. Growing up in Redwood City, she attended Lincoln and McKinley schools and graduated from Sequoia High School in 1947.

A 1951 graduate of Stanford, she achieved degrees in biology and English. Her father was a professor of romance languages at Stanford, and although she and her father were both California natives her, first language was French. Gelsie had three brothers who predeceased her.

She worked as a food biologist, a legal aid assistant and for the Mothers for Equal Education. In her work with the Mothers for Equal Education she helped fight to help the children of the community get a chance for a better education. Her last job was as a medical assistant for the San Mateo County Health System.

Her community work included being secretary of the local NAACP and being a member for more than 40 years, working with Peninsulans for a Rainbow Coalition, and for the last 15 years volunteering for the Fair Oaks Senior Center in Redwood City.

Gelsie had a love for all animals, the environment, the great unknown and the cosmic forces.

She leaves behind two daughters, Elena Maria Becks of East Palo Alto and Ava Sandila Becks of Spokane, Washington; a nephew, Lawrence Alonso (Keno) Smith of Redwood City; a cousin, Antoinette Smith, of Santa Barbara; a grandson, Jawara Becks-Drake of Oakland; two granddaughters, Jasmine Anita Warren and Sierra Simone Warren of Spokane, Washington; and many friends.