Geraldine S Maddren

Geraldine Stowell Maddren passed away peacefully at the age of 96 on June 4, 2020. Gerry was a beloved wife, and a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, as well as a prolific and accomplished writer. She lived with pizzazz, artfully negotiating whatever life handed her.

Born May 17th, 1924 in San Francisco, Gerry was the only child of Jean Morgan and Royal Stowell. Gerry’s mother, a successful entrepreneur, impressed upon her daughter the importance of grit and independence, qualities which empowered her to attend the University of Oregon, where she joined the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. While there, Gerry met the love of her life, Harold ‘Mick’ Maddren Jr. They were married at the Grace Cathedral in San Francisco before Mick left to serve his country as an Air Force pilot during WWII. When Mick returned in the fall of 1945, he joined Gerry and their first child, nine-month-old Cynthia. Soon after, the young family grew to include two more children, Jacqueline and Harold Hunt III.

The family settled in Toluca Lake in 1954, in the home which would be theirs for the next 60 plus years. What started as a two-bedroom bungalow expanded rapidly, adding a second story, three more bedrooms, a pool and a small orchard. During this time, Mick and Gerry welcomed four more children into the world: Candace, Casey, Chauncey and Jesse. By 1963, the Maddren family totaled nine, with seven children, each uniquely adored. Although “the children” have grown to follow distinctly different paths in life, they all share the qualities of creativity and independence modeled by their parents.

With the care and feeding of infants and toddlers behind her, Gerry made time to refocus on her other interests. She traveled stylishly and extensively, and enrolled in night school classes to improve her writing skills. Throughout the 70’s, she was disciplined in her practice and prolific in her writing. Years of effort paid off when she published her first novel in 1988. A love letter to her hometown, “The Case of the Johannisberg Riesling” recounts the adventures of a hard-boiled detective as he scours the hills of San Francisco for clues to solve the mystery. In addition to publishing 48 short stories and a play, Gerry served as a board member of both the Mystery Writers of America and Women Writers of the West.

Gerry was a truly remarkable woman who approached her life with panache and glamour. She will always be remembered for her moxie, for her grace, and for her sly sense of humor. Gerry is survived by her children: Cynthia Poling, Jacqueline Armstrong, Harold Hunt Maddren III, Candace Maddren, Casey Maddren, Chauncey Maddren and Jesse Maddren; grandchildren: Quincy Kimbrell, Peter Armstrong, Patrick Armstrong, Morgan Maddren, Alison Maddren and Zachariah Maddren; great-grandchildren: Michael Malovich, Andrew Malovich, and Sydney Armstrong; nephews: Ted Hauret and Philip Hauret.