Gertrude "Trudie" J. McEwen

Gertrude “Trudie” Johnson was born in Oak Park, Illinois, the second child of Ruth Sabin and Harvey Johnson. She had fond memories of summers on her family farm in Wyoming and with family in Wisconsin and Michigan. She attended Milwaukee-Downer College and graduated with a degree in Home Economics in 1946.

Following graduation, she asked for a one-way ticket to San Francisco where she joined the Macy’s Department Store as an assistant buyer. It was there that she met a customer, William “Bill” Kirk McEwen, and love quickly blossomed. She and Bill were married July 1, 1947. Bill was the Associate Professor and principal research scientist at the Francis I. Proctor Foundation at U.C. San Francisco Medical Center. They raised four daughters at their home in Berkeley, CA. The premature birth and subsequent blindness of their second child kindled their passion in education and they worked to ensure that blind children were successfully integrated into the public school systems. Trudie was also very active in the PTA, Children’s Hospital of the East Bay, and PEO.

In 1962, Bill took a sabbatical to teach in England. The family flew around the world and visited Asia and parts of Europe. The family spent five months in Oxford, England and the children went to Greycoats School. Trudie volunteered in the primary classroom.

Trudie received her teaching credentials in 1969 and her Master’s degree in 1977 in education with a specialty in reading. She worked for the Oakland Public Schools as an elementary teacher and then a reading resource specialist.

When Bill retired, they moved to Carmel in 1977 and she started the Sabin-McEwen school, a state certified non-profit for children with reading disabilities. She was active in the honorary teacher organization, Delta Kappa Gamma, where she held many positions. She ran the school for approximately ten years. Many children from the Monterey area benefited from Trudie’s support and education.

Bill passed in 1984 and Trudie retired shortly thereafter. She spent her retirement years traveling, visiting friends, and having fun with her grandchildren. Her passion for education continued and she supported the educational efforts of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. She moved to Carmel Valley Manor in 2003. She enjoyed the activities and lifelong friendship she made there. Her kindness was her hallmark and the staff adored her.

She is survived by her four daughters, Sandy Savage (Jack), Jan Brown (Talmadge Wells), Ellen McEwen (Tom LeDuc), and Laura McEwen (Jim Falls); her three grandchildren, Eric Savage (Jenn Seibly), Brian Savage (Katie Kelley) and Jade Falls; her three great grandchildren, Colin Savage, Sylvia Savage, and Miranda Savage; her niece Margie Kerksieck and nephew Jim Johnson.

A private memorial will be held at a later date.

Donations in her memory can be made to the educational efforts of the Monterey Bay Aquarium.