June 27, 1920 – December 6, 2025
Ginny, as she was known, died peacefully in her home in Los Altos on Dec 6th at the age of 105. She was born in Bridgeport, CT, the eldest daughter of Madeline & Stanley Willis. Her family moved throughout the Midwest before settling in Cleveland, Ohio. She attended Flora Stone Mather College for Women (which later became part of Case Western Reserve University) before starting a career as a Medical Librarian at the Cleveland Clinic.
She married the love of her life, John Smith Morgan, on February 15,1947 after being introduced to him by mutual close friends over an evening together playing Bridge. She reluctantly followed cultural norms of the day and left her job to start raising a family, eventually bringing 3 daughters into the world.
In 1961, John accepted a job leading Employee Communications for General Electric and they moved to Bronxville, NY. With her youngest child now 3, Ginny returned to the work force and became the head Medical Librarian for Lawrence Hospital locally. She loved the community and the work, proudly sharing how she had been able to help doctors at the hospital diagnose tricky health issues and assist their patients in their Recovery.
In 1973, John accepted a senior role at Rockwell International and moved with Ginny and their youngest daughter to Pittsburgh, PA. Ginny opted to follow a different professional path there, becoming a Certified Financial Planner and opening a small coaching business with a colleague. She and John developed a large community of friends and got involved in a local program hosting international visitors to the city they learned to love.
In 1996, with both retired, they relocated to Los Altos, CA to be near their grandchildren. Once again, they quickly became active in the community and both served in leadership roles, including President of the Homeowners Association at the Parc Regent where they lived. Ginny was often asked what she attributed her long life to and she always replied it was her Connecticut Yankee genes. Although that was certainly a key component, it was also her penchant for keeping active & intellectually stimulated, developing strong friendships everywhere she went and always being surrounded by a loving family.
Ginny is survived by 2 of her three daughters, Patricia Berger & Madeleine Fackler, her son-in-law, Stephen Fackler, two grandchildren, Katie Cattani and Matthew Fackler, two great-grandsons and her nephew, Curt Willis.
A memorial service and reception will be held Friday, February 20th at 2pm at Foothills Congregational Church (461 Orange Ave in Los Altos).
