Michael Rice, former president of the Glen Park Association, has died. The GPA is sharing this sad news with the Glen Park neighborhood, which Michael loved so dearly and served so admirably. He passed away after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer at age 77.
He and his wife Jane lived at 400 Sussex Street, an iconic corner house adjoining Glen Canyon Park for many years. The couple relocated to Portland, Oregon, about five years ago to be near their son and grandchildren, but he kept his ties to Glen Park strong even from Oregon.
Heather World, current president of the GPA, recounted some of his achievements in ushering Glen Park into the 21st century:
“Michael was board president when I joined the GPA, and it was through his leadership that I came to see you can make a serious commitment to your community but have a really good time doing it. He was knowledgeable, cheerful, kind and a great host.
His background was in urban planning, and I certainly felt he was the best technical president the GPA that I have known. He expertly guided the neighborhood through getting the Canyon Market complex, the Glen Park Library, and the condos at 53 Wilder built; and the Glen Park Community Plan enacted.
He was also the one to alert SFMTA that the bulb outs they built at Diamond and Bosworth were too wide for busses and fire engines to make turns. If they’d taken his letter seriously, they wouldn’t have had needed to re-pour those concrete corners!”
The GPA will publish a full obituary soon. If you would like to share your memories of Michael, write to info@glenparkassociation.org.
