Friends of China Camp

It is with much sadness that I share the news of the passing of Helen Sitchler. She dedicated countless hours to helping Friends of China Camp grow and thrive, especially as a vibrant docent in our museum and as lead for our annual Heritage Day celebration.

Helen’s family moved to San Anselmo when she was only a year old, and she remained a Marin girl through and through, attending local schools and ultimately graduating from San Rafael’s Dominican University.

Helen married and then raised her family in Marin, working at the Emporium/Capwell Department store and then Macy’s at Northgate Mall in San Rafael while her children were at school. Helen took an active role in Girls Scouts of America, where she served on the Heritage Committee, and held positions as a troop leader and a national delegate.

In 1996, Helen began to volunteer at the China Camp Village Museum. She became the head museum docent in 2005, and it wasn’t long before she took the lead in organizing Heritage Day each year. She joined the Friends of China Camp as Board Secretary from 1998 until 2015. Her retail background made her a natural for handling our park merchandise.

For nearly 30 years, China Camp benefitted from Helen’s dedication, care, organization, and generosity. One time when we thanked for her generous annual donation to Friends of China Camp, Helen responded, “Well, of course! It’s the most important thing in my life.”

We will miss Helen dearly.  —by Martin Lowenstein/FOCC Executive Director