Lasting Memories

Mary Alice Thornton
May 7, 1938-Jan. 3, 2026
Palo Alto, California
Submitted by Dave Thornton

Mary Alice Thornton passed away peacefully on January 3, 2026, in Palo Alto, California, at the age of 87. She was born on May 7, 1938, in Zanesville, Ohio. She grew up in Denver, Colorado.

Mary Alice shared 52 devoted years of marriage with her beloved husband, David Thornton. Together, they built a life rooted in learning, curiosity, service, and deep love for family. An avid traveler, Mary Alice explored more than 40 countries with Dave, and for many summers they joyfully backpacked with their sons—experiences that reflected her adventurous spirit and love of the outdoors.

Mary Alice had a lifelong appreciation for beauty and nature. She especially loved flowers and spent many happy hours tending her garden in Palo Alto before later moving to Channing House. She was also passionate about hiking, serving as a hike leader with the Sierra Club, and enjoyed baseball, sports of all kinds, classical music, opera, historical biographies, and films.

Education and service were central to Mary Alice’s life. She earned her undergraduate degree in U.S. History from the University of Colorado Boulder and later received a master’s degree in educational administration from Santa Clara University. She dedicated 25 years to teaching, mostly in the East Side Union High School District in San Jose. As part of her work, she directed a children’s preschool center located on a high school campus, which served as a hands-on learning lab for students studying early childhood development. Her leadership and commitment to young learners made a lasting impact on both students and the broader community.

Mary Alice was a deeply engaged civic leader. After retiring from teaching, she served for 18 years on the Board of the League of Women Voters of Palo Alto and was President from 2010 to 2014. A strong advocate for voter rights, she worked tirelessly to promote civic engagement, fairness, and informed participation in public life.

Along with her husband she was a long-time member of the First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto, where she served on the church board for several terms. Through her church leadership she demonstrated her deep commitment to social justice, service, community, and compassion for others.

In January 2022, Mary Alice suffered a stroke and thereafter lived with her husband, Dave, who lovingly cared for her. She suffered a second stroke on December 26, 2025, and passed away shortly thereafter.

Mary Alice will be remembered as a wonderful, generous, caring, and compassionate mother and grandmother. She was strong, determined, intelligent, and had deeply principled qualities that defined both her personal life and her public service.

She is survived by her husband Dave Thornton; her sons, Steven (Sheri) and David (Jennifer); her stepsons, John (Maria) and Douglas (Nicole); and her cherished grandchildren: Chris (Selena), Hannah (Vishal), Andrea, Quinn (Aaron), Jacob, Jeremy, Connor, and Gabriel.

Her legacy of love, leadership, faith, generosity, and service lives on in all who knew her.