Obituary

Georgette Teresa Cerrutti
born: June 29, 1945 – died: April 9, 2019

Georgette passed away after a valiant battle with ovarian cancer, with her wife, Marla Burns, at her side.

Shortly before her death, she spoke of the value of love and her gratitude for finding it in her life. Also the importance of stepping to higher ground in the face of adversity and the power of forgiveness. Because she believed we are here to serve and help one another she empowered legions of high school students to write and think critically and creatively, to have a passion for learning, to pursue a life of meaning, and make our world a better place. As an English teacher, she had a vast knowledge of literature and a devotion to creating an eclectic and creatively charged classroom that challenged her students to embark on a journey of learning that would be lifelong and joyful.

Georgette was a brave advocate for her students in their full and beautiful diversity,..working with Special Education to make sure that all students had inclusivity in classes, working with her dear friend and school librarian, Marge, to create programs that would instill in students the value of research, working to create a safe learning environment for gay students and supporting the creation of the Gay Straight Alliance on campus, staying beyond her workday to help homeless students, gang affiliated students, disabled students and many others to reach their full potential.

While putting herself through college, Georgette had the joy of living in the Haight Ashbury in San Francisco during the Summer Of Love in the 60’s.

Being a wonderful poet, Georgette obtained her Master’s Degree in English and Creative Writing and  graduated from San Francisco State University, where she helped found the first Women’s Writers Caucus, advocated for the inclusion of Women writers such as Virginia Woolf, Emily Dickinson, and Anne Sexton in the canon of literature, and supported her fellow writing students, many of whom went on to become well known writers including Anne Rice and Frances Mayes.

Georgette won the prestigious Academy of American Poets Award and was published in numerous poetry journals and also a book of her own work entitled, From A Dead Star the Light is Moving Out.

For the past 35 years Georgette has been a working metalsmith exhibiting at the Sawdust Art and Craft Festival in Laguna Beach. She loved the Sawdust and considered her fellow artist as family. As a skilled Silversmith, her expertise is in fabrication, the handcutting out of delicate nature designs with a fine jeweler’s saw. She was also  an experienced Lapidary Artist, having studied under Master Intarsiast, Conrad Grundke. She loved the Lapidary classes at Laguna Woods, and all her fellow workshop rockhounds.

Georgette had a generosity of spirit that touched everyone who knew her. She believed in treating everyone with respect and grace. When faced with any of life’s challenges, she felt that the best mantra was ” living well is the best revenge”, and she believed in the power of Love.

After 46 love filled years together, she is survived by her wife, Marla Burns, her two sisters, Diane Hanson and Joyce Cerrutti Painter, and their husbands and children, grandchildren, and cousins, all of whom she loved. She is also survived by her beloved kittens, Sugar Paws “Shugie”, and Scout Ann “Scoutie”. And her dear dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a few of Georgette’s favorite animal foundations:

• Blue Bell Foundation for Cats: 20982 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
• Tippi Hedren’s Roar Foundation/Shambala Preserve: 6867 Soledad Canyon Road, Acton, CA 93501
• Best Friend’s Animal Sanctuary: 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT 84741

A memorial celebration of Georgette’s life will be held Sunday, May 5, 2019 at 10:00am on the Sawdust Festival grounds. Feel free to bring a light potluck dish to share.