Obituary of Celeste Louise Scholz

Celeste Louise Scholz, forty-two, of Los Altos Hills, California, journeyed from this life to the next into the loving embrace of her mom, God, and His angels in heaven on November 17, 2019.

February 24, 1977, was the joyous day in Burlingame, California, when her dad and mom, Jim and Sally Scholz, welcomed their only child. Celeste had a blissful childhood.

Celeste was a consummate, devoted, and loving daughter. Her mom and dad often told her that a parent could not wish for a more loving, faithful, honest, soulful, generous (always giving and never asking for anything), and grounded child than she. Her mom always encouraged her to follow her heart to where it takes her as well as to seek contentment, fulfillment, joy, and happiness. Celeste did exactly that in her short time here with us. She lived her best life and followed her dreams, and her happiness was evident in her warm heart and sparkling eyes.

She adored animals and nature, and, most of all, her West Highland White Terrier (Westie), Daisy, who was always by her side. Celeste selected Daisy from a litter when she was a puppy, and she visited the mom and her pups twice before bringing Daisy home. On each visit Daisy waddled over, tail wagging, to Celeste. Celeste loved music, dancing, flowers, fashion, and traveling with family and friends. She most enjoyed visiting Hawaii; three generations of her family, on her dad's side, were born in Hilo, Hawaii. From a young age, Celeste was always willing to try new activities: water skiing, horseback riding, acrobatics, ballet and tap lessons, theatrical performances, and more. She maintained this adventurous spirit throughout her life. Some of her favorite activities were camping, sitting by the fire, snow skiing, scuba diving, swimming, hiking, cooking, dancing, listening to music and going to concerts, watching television, photographing people and things that caught her eye, reading books and poetry, writing her thoughts and experiences, sharing experiences, laughing, and telling stories with her friends and family.

Celeste emitted pure joy and contentment in seeing people happy and fulfilling their desires, dreams, and goals. She was loving, dependable, and compassionate. She had a lively personality and loved to visit with new and old friends and family and learn what was important in their lives. She spent hours and days designing and creating beautiful, thoughtful handmade items for her family, friends, and loved ones. She will be remembered for her enormously generous heart; beautiful, disarming smile; and the way she always thought of others and showed genuine interest in and compassion for everyone she met. Celeste was funny, outgoing, vivacious, and introspective. She was a symbol of integrity, tolerance, beauty, and grace, and she was fiercely loyal to her friends and family. Celeste's family, friends, dog, colleagues, and career were her world. She wanted nothing more than for her loved ones and those she encountered throughout life to have a wonderful, happy, loving life.

After graduating from college, Celeste attended two years of law school but soon realized her interests were not in her dad's profession but in her mom's passion for the arts, all types of history, and museum studies. Her mom and dad agreed that she made the right decision.

Celeste was a museum educator and visitor services coordinator at The Anderson Collection of twentieth century American art at Stanford University; she began working with the museum in August 2014, before its opening in September 2014. She was a skilled and respected professional with deep experience in nonprofit organizations, art education, historical research, exhibit design, and fundraising. What Celeste most enjoyed about her work was collaborating with her colleagues, inspiring volunteers, creating programs for children and families to express their creativity, and organizing new and efficient systems to streamline and enhance museum programs. Her colleagues treasured her dedication and creativity, organization, and management skills as well as her ability to create a friendly, collaborative, and positive environment for team members and museum visitors alike.

From 2010 to 2013, Celeste served as an education assistant at the Hayward Area Historical Society in Hayward, California, where she created interactive and engaging public, family, and school programs; helped design the children's gallery; managed volunteer and docent training; and developed social media and marketing strategies for family programs. From 2004 to 2010, she served as a gallery interpreter at The Tech Interactive museum in San José, California, where she engaged visitors and supported their interest in and appreciation for the exhibits and developed training for new staff and volunteers. From 2005 to 2008, she served as a museum educator at the San José Museum of Art in San José, California, where she created multisensory tours for K–12 museum visitors using visual thinking strategies and incorporating art topics and also produced the museum's annual Starry, Starry Night Art and Astronomy Sleepover and first Teen Arts Fair, which included a speakers panel, art demonstrations, and live performances.

In 2008, Celeste received a Master of Arts in Museum Education and Interpretation from John F. Kennedy University in Berkeley, California. In 1999, she received a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, where she was on the Dean's List and where she pledged to Theta Alpha Phi and was a founding mother of the national chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta. From 1988 to 1995, she attended Crystal Springs Uplands School in Hillsborough, California, and from 1982 to 1988, she attended The Carey School in San Mateo, California.
Celeste, your presence will be deeply missed by all who know and love you. We will always carry your infectious smile; your piercing, bright eyes; your caring personality; and your vibrant, compassionate spirit in our hearts. As you and your mom and dad always said to one another, "Aloha" (never saying goodbye).

Celeste's family asks that we not only remember her beautiful, generous, compassionate, and loving spirit but also remember life is fragile—live your best life, follow your dreams, be happy, and live life to the fullest because it's much too short.

Celeste was preceded in death by her loving and devoted mother, Sally Louise Maher Scholz, on February 3, 2018; her paternal grandfather, Arthur U. Scholz; her paternal grandmother, Carolyn Scholz; her maternal grandfather, James W. Maher; and her maternal grandmother, Volloa Belleisle Maher.

She is survived by her loving and devoted father, A. James Scholz (Jim); her loving and devoted godmother and very close friend and mentor, Carole Bagley; her treasured and loving dear friend, inspiration, and soul mate for over fifteen years, Anthony Bryan, and his mother Shirley Avona; her adoring friend and assistant at home, Margarita Estrada Arambula; her loving uncles and aunts, Leona Scholz and her daughter, Tami Scholz, Robert Marsden and his wife Susie and sons Brad and Bobby, Wallace (Bud) Marsden and his significant other Rita, and Thomas Barbee and his wife Christella; her cousins Lee King and her husband Dick, Sandra Richwine and her husband Steven, Craig Dayton, Kenny Belleisle and his wife Sharon, Celee Evans, Ty Evans and his wife Stephanie and son Deetric, Kristine Wahlberg, Erik Wahlberg and his wife Rose and children Erika and Noelle, Kierta Wahlberg Shepard and son Hudson, Donna O'Brien and her husband Mike and children Taylor and McCall, Norene Williams, Courtney Chamberlin Bartz and her husband Rob and daughter Ava, Christian Williams and his wife Allison and children Collin and Ashlyn, and Kylee Williams; and her loving and loved nieces and nephews.

Celeste signed off all her communications to dear friends and family with "All my love and hugs to you." We say the same to Celeste as we celebrate her life and remember how blessed we all have been to know her. Many alohas to our angel.

Family, friends, and colleagues remember Celeste with these heartfelt words:

"She always made me feel special, and she reminded me when she could, that I was."

"Loving, remarkable, extraordinary, tender, thoughtful, caring, devoted. We celebrate you today and every day."

"She was a star, and we'll continue to be inspired by her goodness."

"Celeste definitely made this world a better place or at least made my world better."

"Celeste was always such a generous person—always looking out for everyone around her."

"She had such a kind spirit. We worked together for over five years, and I watched her grow into the great museum educator she was."

"Celeste always spoke of her mom and dad with such love."

"Those we love don't go away. They walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near."

"The love she shared with everyone so generously is a testament to all the love and goodness her mom and dad shared with her."

"She will always be present in our hearts."

"Thank God for having been blessed to have had Celeste in our lives."

"Celeste was one of the kindest, most generous people I have known."

"I will always take inspiration from her smile, big heart, and the ways she cared for everyone around her."

"She always had such a positive energy, which will be missed. We're sure she has her angel's wings now and is looking down on all of us, reunited with her mom in heaven."

"The world has lost a very precious human being, and heaven has gained a beautiful, loving angel."

"Celeste liked everyone, and everyone liked Celeste; she had a beauty, kindness, and gentleness that made this world a brighter and better place. The love she shared with everyone so generously is a testament to all the love and goodness her mom and dad shared with her."

Celeste's favorite things

Celeste enjoyed crafting (she thoughtfully made felt animals and ornaments and a fairy house for children of her friends), photography, making art, poetry, journaling, watching movies and television, cooking and BBQs, playing virtual games on her phone, and listening to music. She once made a magic-trick video with her dog, Daisy, in the spotlight.

She enjoyed trips and outings with her parents and going to the coast, cuddling with Daisy, eating out with her family, special one-on-one lunches with her godmother, getting her nails done, and getting massages at Santana Row. She enjoyed walking to visit the horses near her family home, spending time with her special friend Anthony, taking adventure trips, walking in Los Gatos, going to The Crow's Nest restaurant and others in Santa Cruz, going to music and art festivals and concerts with friends, eating ordered-out pizza, visiting Farm and Garden in Los Altos and Rancho San Antonio, sailing, exploring nature, and taking pictures of and spotting animals in nature.

Celeste enjoyed traveling to many destinations: sailing and camping in Santa Cruz, scuba diving in Hawaii, paddle boarding and swimming in Lake Tahoe, canoeing on the Russian River, and attending luaus in Kauai and Hawaii.
Her favorite way to spend a holiday was with her parents, family, and godparents and with Anthony and his family and Rosita. Although she loved Christmas very much, her favorite holiday was Easter because she liked its focus on rebirth and regeneration.
Her favorite dessert was cherry Twizzlers and ice cream. Her favorite flowers were daisies; roses; the exotic, colorful flowers of Hawaii; and orchids. Her favorite colors were pink, blue, green, and red.

Celeste belonged to the following organizations and societies:

AAM Education Professional Network
Cultural Connections
Museum Education Roundtable
Pepperdine University Alumni
Theta Alpha Phi of the national chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta

A memorial tribute and celebration of Celeste's life will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2020.
If you wish to attend, please contact Ashley Raggio at ashley.a.raggio@gmail.com for details and RSVP.

In lieu of flowers, if desired, memorial donations may be made to the following:

The Anderson Collection at Stanford University, www.anderson.stanford.edu, 650-721-6055
Humane Society Silicon Valley, www.hssv.org, 408-262-2133
National Multiple Sclerosis Society, www.nationalmssociety.org, 800-344-4867
Shriner's Hospitals for Children, www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org, 916-453-2000
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, www.stjude.org, 866-278-5833
Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley, www.wcsv.org, 408-929-9453

If you would like to share an online tribute to Celeste and the Scholz family, please go to www.spanglermortuary.com or contact the following:

Spangler Mortuaries
399 South San Antonio Road
Los Altos, California 94022
Phone: (650) 948-6619
Fax: (650) 967-7196
info.spanglers@gmail.com





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