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Izetta's Memorial Service

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Izetta Segal studied to be a social worker, but a shortage of teachers after World War II led her to a career in education. She enjoyed teaching and encouraging youngsters, but her passion was writing and telling stories.

With a creative flair and unfailing candor, she wrote and published the story of her life in 2007, chronicling her family history, romances, struggles and successes. Family members and friends said her humor and charm were evident in her work, whether she was writing about being sprayed by a skunk after her brother baited the creature or about her brief second marriage.

After teaching at public and private schools, including Francis Parker and Lee Elementary, she devoted herself to traveling and writing in her retirement. She wrote many children's stories and had several published in youth magazines.

Mrs. Segal died of natural causes Nov. 6 in San Diego. She was 93.

In addition to teaching and writing, she enjoyed gardening and often donated flowers from her garden to First Unitarian Universalist Church, where she was very active. She taught Sunday school at the church and was involved in several committees. She received the church's Clara Barton Award in 2007 for her contributions to the church and community.

"Izetta was one of the wise women in our congregation," said Tom Owen-Towle, a former co-minister at the church. "She was a very reliable, responsible person, the kind of lay leader you would want to have. She aged very gracefully, graciously and generously."

Owen-Towle's wife and co-minister, Carolyn, said Mrs. Segal was creative, giving and active in women's issues. "She was a gardener of the spirit. She was definitely a feminist. She had a very uplifting spirit," Carolyn Owen-Towle said. "She was fun; she loved life and adored her family."

Friend and fellow teacher Anne McMillan said Mrs. Segal was interested in many things.

"She loved teaching, and she was a wonderful gardener and a wonderful hostess. She did a lot of entertaining in her Old Spanish-style house (in University Heights)," McMillan said. "She was interested in art, antiques and diverse cultures. She was always so much fun.

"Izetta had a wonderful way of making every person she was with feel special."

Longtime friend Lois Santelo said Mrs. Segal used to perform with the Balboa Park folk-dancing group in the 1950s and '60s. "She used to dance in the park on Sunday afternoons," Santelo said. "She enjoyed doing creative things. She also took art lessons. Everything she did was charmingly done."

Mrs. Segal was born April 16, 1916, in Nolan, Ore., to John and Anna Hendricks. She grew up on an Oregon farm and was the first person in her family to attend college. She received a scholarship to attend what was then the College of Puget Sound in Olympia, Wash.

She graduated in 1938 with a degree in social work. She also earned a master's degree from Case Western Reserve School of Social Work in Cleveland. She later received a teaching credential from what was then San Diego State College.

She married David Wead, a fellow Case Western student, in 1943. They lived in Texas and Chicago before moving to San Diego in 1948. The couple divorced in 1968. After a brief marriage to James Peebles, she married Hirsch Segal in 1972. Mr. Segal died in 2000.

Mrs. Segal is survived by her son, John Wead of San Diego, and two granddaughters.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow at First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego in Hillcrest. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to StoryArts (storyartsinc.org) and encourages others to write their own family stories.

Written by Blanca Gonzalez: (760) 737-7576; blanca.gonzalez@uniontrib.com

Published in San Diego Union-Tribune from December 11 to December 13, 2009

Last Update: 15 November 2020

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