Anita Eloise March

Anita Eloise March of Livermore died June 22 surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was 75.

Known as “Ellie” by her family, March was born on May 27, 1943 in Fairfield, California to Mary Francis and Herman Snipes of Concord, California. During her younger years she enjoyed hanging out with her sister Donna Kea and cousins Francis, Marvin and Kenneth Kea. In her teen years she was diagnosed with a rare degenerative retinal disease, which eventually took her vision, but never held her back.

Concord is where she attended Mt. Diablo High School and graduated in 1961. In 1963 she married William “Bill” March and then met her best and dearest friends, Len and Karen Adams. Karen and March were not blood related, but the bond and loving 57-year friendship they shared was unlike any other.  

March moved to Livermore in 1968 to raise her two sons, Jeffrey and Gary March. Even though she had to quit driving due to her vision loss, she was determined that it was never going to hinder her spirit or hold her back. She was very active in her sons’ education. She worked as the president of the PTA, a room parent and a team mom. She loved the smell of flowers, the sound of birds and being outside. Her fondest memories were spent camping with her boys up in Bridgeport and the Twin Lakes area. She brought light and love everywhere she went.

After working for more than 20 years, March retired from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in 2003 where she worked as the building coordinator of 571 and in Human Resources new employee orientation. She was always well respected and endeared by all who worked with her. Her coworkers knew to bring dog treats for her seeing eye dogs Hollister and later Gentle, whenever they came to seek her help or just to visit.

Despite the challenges of losing her vision, March never let that obstacle get in her way. She taught others how to overcome adversity with grace and dignity. She held the title “president” of the East Bay Center for the Blind from 2013-2017. She will be remembered as an extraordinary force at the center. During her time there she met Frank McNulty who soon became her fiancée and the two of them traveled to Boston where they lived bicoastal. She loved her time and travels to Boston very much.

Her family was her greatest gift. She was incredibly proud of her sons.  She shared a special bond with her daughter-in-law, Renee. There was nothing that brought her more joy and love than her three grandchildren, Emily, Claire and Carter. The day she was blessed with the name “Nana” was the day she often told her friends that she  received her first “angel.”  She loved bragging and boasting about how wonderful her grandchildren were, and they loved bragging about how wonderful their Nana was. There was nothing better from Nana than the sound of her laugh and a big loving hug. March, was a strong, beautiful, smart, funny and amazing woman. She was able to raise two marvelous boys and live a life full of joy and love.  

March is survived by her son, Gary, and daughter-in-law, Renee; grandchildren, Emily, Claire and Carter March and son Jeff March, all of Livermore.  

A celebration of life will be held at Cornerstone Fellowship, 348 N Canyons Pkwy, Livermore, California 94551, on Sept. 16 at 2:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The East Bay Center for the Blind, 2928 Adeline St., Berkeley, California 94703.