Marin Independent Journal
Friday, January 20, 1989

Louise Gerstel Stahl

A memorial service will be held in New York for Louise Gerstle Stahl, 87-year-old granddaughter of lewis and Hannah Gerstle, for whom San Rafael's Gerstle Park was named.

The Gerstles and their seven children lived in San Francisco and spent summers at their San Rafael estate, Violet Terrace, the future site of Gerstle Park. Once part of the Mexican land grant, the property originally was purchased in 1881. In memory of their summers at Violet Terrace, the children gave the property to the city of San Rafael as a memorial to their mother when she died in 1930.

Mrs. Stahl was a San Francisco native and had lived in New York City since 1925.

Her husband, Lionel Stahl, died in 1937.

Mrs. Stahl is survived by three daughters, Marie-Louise Crawford and Joan Milarodovitch, both of New York City, and Audrey Whiteman of Cranford, N.J.; 10 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.