Georgiana Purtscher

Georgie Purtscher passed away in her home November 20, 2021, surrounded in person and in spirit by her loved ones. She fought a selfless and valiant battle with lung cancer.

Georgie was born October 9, 1946 to Donald Steuart Goodwin and Marion Swing Goodwin. She was the youngest of 3 children. Most of her youth, she lived on a ranch in an orange grove in Riverside. She grew up in the Methodist church, where she cultivated a love of hymns. Georgie graduated from Redlands University in 1968, came north and graduated from San Jose State University after receiving her Elementary School teaching credential.

In 1970, she met Peter Purtscher. They both worked at the juvenile hall in San Jose, she in the girls' unit, Peter in the boys'. It was love at first sight for Peter, as he spotted Georgie down the hall of this institution. They were married in the family home in Riverside in 1971, Georgie wearing her grandmother's wedding dress. After being called a "tarantula b***hole" at the juvenile hall, among other things, Georgie vowed never to have children. Yet after reveling in teaching 4th and 5th grades 1971-76, Peter and Georgie moved from their cute home in Los Gatos to the San Lorenzo Valley AND they had Nick, their first of 3 boys. Alex and Tony followed, and Georgie spent the rest of her life loving her family and living to teach.

In 1985 Georgie and friend Janice started Country Mouse, a preschool out of Georgie and Peter's home in Felton. In 1995, after classroom size reduction, she returned to classroom teaching. She taught at Quail Hollow and Redwood Schools and was soon to be known as a beloved Kindergarten teacher at San Lorenzo Valley Elementary, where she was often the last to leave after the school day. She wanted to teach forever, "to outdo Boomer", the longest serving teacher in the Valley.

Georgie's interests were many. While the boys were young, she belonged to a tight-knit baby-sitting co-op, to 4H, and to a church couples' group whose 10 members grew up with their children. She ordered her free time around her sons' (and later her grandchildren's) sports games. She was boundlessly creative, manifested in her pottery making, gardening, her scrumptious apricot and plum jams, making baskets, even Covid masks. She loved her almost daily walks through Henry Cowell State Park with friend Adrienne. And she loved to camp, especially at Lake Almanor, where friends and family gathered every year.

Beyond her activities was the incredible person of Georgie Purtscher. She is remembered for her generously loving self: she was nurturing, treated every person, young or old, with respect. Georgie was a faithful friend in good times and in bad. She was smart, "wickedly funny" and with a teacher's mind, she would correct your grammar, and she could tell you a story or recount data with impeccable detail. She is known to burst into animated song, after hearing an evocative word.

Georgie is survived by her beloved husband of 50 years, Peter Purtscher, her sons and daughters-in-law, Nick (Andrea), Alex (Sara), and Tony (Helena). She leaves her grandchildren Joshua, Alicia, Mia, Grace, Jameson, Elise, and one to come in January. She is also survived by her sister Jane Goodwin Gropp (Luis), nieces Amy and Lauren, and her brother Steuart Goodwin.

All are welcome to the service celebrating her life: Sunday November 20, 4:00 pm, at Felton Community Hall. This day will be the 1-year anniversary of her passing.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations for a

tribute picnic table dedicated to Georgie at Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park. Please make a General donation at www.thatsmypark.org/donate/ and add Georgie's name in the Comments box. Checks made out to Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks and designated "for Georgie Purtscher", will be accepted at her memorial service.

Published in Press Banner · November 9, 2022