Annette Lillian Friedman Clark 1931- 2009 San Franciscan Maybe you've seen her in her 1969 yellow Mustang convertible with her long black hair flowing; or at the opera as a nibelung or a nun; or at a civic meeting. Annette Clark, who turned even a trip to the dry cleaners into an adventure, lost her seven-year battle against cancer April 9. She died as she lived her 77 years, with grace and love, and surrounded by her caring family and friends. Her life was a testament to all that is good, beautiful and generous in this world. She left these instructions: "Have fun. Enjoy life. It's a beautiful world." She assured us that she would be secure and at peace now. She has promised her husband of 54 years, William, who loves her beyond measure, that their spirits will again be joined in a loving embrace in the hereafter. She will also remain alive in the hearts of her children, Kim, Dean, and David; her son- and daughters- in-law, Mike Salmon, Karit Wiig, and Marika Sitton; her grandchildren Amalia, Hunter and Elias; her sister Judith Lubeck; and her large extended family, as well as in the hearts of her many friends. Nettie was born and raised in LA, and attended UC Berkeley. Despite cultural taboos against the intermarriage of Jews and Catholics in the 1950s, Nettie married Bill, the love of her life, in 1954. They soon started a family and moved into a big Craftsman-style house with a spectacular view. The door was always open, and a place always set, for a distant cousin of a distant cousin, or a friend of a friend. Nettie was an enthusiastic audience for her visitors' adventures, and loved to share details of her latest discovery, such as which farmer's market stall had good organic tomatoes, or what obscure film festival had promise. Nettie was one of the mothers who helped artist Ruth Asawa launch her art in the schools project at Alvarado Elementary. She was also a member of the community group that helped create the Seward Street minipark, with its long, steep slide. While Nettie and Bill were not hippies, they were free spirits who fought discrimination and celebrated whatever was unique and special. As she raised her children, Nettie often said: "Today, we can clean the house or we can go on a picnic." Everyone would choose the picnic, which might be held at fogged-in Upper Douglass Park, or at the Marina. She scoured the pink section each week to find fun, cheap events, such as matinees at ACT, free Sunday concerts at Stern Grove, and the like. Even the shortest errand in her convertible was fun. If she was anywhere close to Polk St., she'd stop at the Red Poppy, and let each child choose a special handmade candy that would be sliced into tiny pieces so that each person could get a taste. She loved being a Mom and was her childrens' biggest fan. She rounded up crowds of relatives and friends to clap for David's drum solos at school talent shows, Dean's many theatrical performances, and Kim's band and orchestra concerts. As the kids grew older, Nettie started a business called "Guest of the Chef," in which some of SF's most famous restaurant chefs would give cooking lessons. She also had a column in the Nob Hill Gazette. She also became a "super," a non-singing extra, for the SF Opera, and was thrilled to appear onstage with Leontyne Price, Luciano Pavarotti, etc. In recent years, she returned to teaching, and taught adult English as a second language. She treasured her students, and they often greeted her with hugs. After her diagnosis, she got great comfort and assistance from Commonweal, and Hospice by the Bay. She wanted everybody to know, however, that she was NOT a supporter of the American Cancer Society. A service will be held at Sinai Memorial Chapel, at 1501 Divisadero St. at 2 p.m. Monday, April 13. A celebration of her life will be held sometime in middle of the summer. Published in the San Francisco Chronicle on 4/12/2009