Mary Chan Seid

09/03/1936 – 06/22/2026

Obituary from San Francisco Chronicle:

Mary Chan Seid, 89, passed away peacefully on June 22, 2026, at Stanford Hospital, surrounded by her loving family.

Mary was born on September 3, 1936, in Walnut Grove, California, to What Lum Chan and Anna Louie, who preceded her in death. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Hannon and Arthur, and her sister, Mildred.

Mary was the beloved wife of Allan Seid for 67 years. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children: Arlene Seid and her husband, Tim Van Dyke, and their two children; Marcine Seid and her son; and Marc Seid and his wife, Laurie Seid, and their six children and two daughters-in-law.

Mary earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Work from San Francisco State University. A lifelong learner, she continued taking courses throughout her years of raising a family and well into adulthood, always seeking to broaden her knowledge and understanding of the world. In addition to the four Cantonese dialects she learned growing up, she later became proficient in both Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.

While her children were young, Mary devoted herself to creating a loving home and raising her family, instilling in her children a deep concern for others and a commitment to justice, equality, and public service. As her children grew older, she was able to devote herself more fully to promoting justice, advocating for equality, and serving her community.

Working alongside the Palo Alto Council of PTAs, Mary helped lead a three-year effort to ensure that textbooks used in California’s public schools would be free of racial and gender bias. Her work contributed to the adoption of a statewide mandate promoting more equitable educational materials. She also taught Asian American Studies at local universities, helping students better understand the history and experiences of Asian American communities.

In the summer of 1973, Mary and Allan helped found Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), a San Jose nonprofit dedicated to improving the health, mental health, and well-being of marginalized Asian American communities through culturally responsive services and advocacy. Mary served as AACI’s Director of Administrative Services and held other leadership roles throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1981, partnering with Allan and 8 others, Mary created a statewide advocacy group, Asian Pacific American Advocates of California. This organization was expanded and led to the founding in 1986 of the Asian Pacific American Advocates, USA – National Alliance with representatives in 34 states and a national director and an office in Washington, D.C. Mary was deeply involved in numerous community initiatives, both within and beyond these organizations.

After hearing from many Asian women about the urgent need for support for victims of domestic violence, Mary led an AACI initiative in 1990 to establish a safe house for women and children fleeing abuse. That program continues to provide refuge and hope to families today. She also served for twelve years on the board of the Midpeninsula YWCA in Palo Alto, including as board president, and was a founding member of the Santa Clara County Domestic Violence Commission, which was formally established in 1993.

In 1991, Mary was designated the Woman of the Year by the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. Additionally, in recognition of their decades of service to the community, Mary and Allan received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Avenidas in Palo Alto in 2015. In 2018, they were honored with the Tall Tree Award for Outstanding Citizen Volunteer by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce.

Even during the past twenty years of her retirement at Channing House in Palo Alto, Mary’s heart for service never diminished. She was known as a cheerful, kind, and compassionate presence who was always ready to lend a helping hand to fellow residents and staff. Her cheerful warmth, generosity, and genuine concern for others left a lasting impression on everyone she met.

Mary brought joy to those around her with her keen sense of humor which made everyone laugh. She loved working on puzzles of every kind, including crosswords, word searches, and Sudokus. Butterflies held a special place in her heart, and anyone who visited her was likely to find butterfly decorations or reminders of their beauty nearby.

Mary’s greatest legacy is found not only in the organizations she helped build or the causes she championed, but also in the countless lives she touched through her compassion, advocacy, generosity, and unwavering commitment to justice. Throughout their life together, Mary was a steadfast partner and unwavering source of encouragement and support to her husband, Allan, as they worked side by side in service to their family and community. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, colleagues, and all who had the privilege of knowing her.

In loving memory, Mary’s family celebrates a life well lived and gives thanks for the many ways she made the world a more just, compassionate, and hopeful place.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at 10 AM on Saturday, August 8th, 2026, at Channing House – 11th Floor. Please come and enjoy Mary’s favorite dessert, an Affogato. RSVP to maseid@aol.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI) at www.aaci.org/donate.[/vc_column_text]