“Alice Seckels, 88, ill with cancer for year, died last Wednesday [17 March 1971] at Carmel Valley Manor, her residence. She was privately inturned at the Little Chapel-by-the-Sea in Pacific Grove with Paul Mortuary in charge…Miss Seckels, who leaves no surviving relatives but many friends, retired from a career in concert promotions to live at Carmel in 1947.”…The Pine Cone News, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, March 25, 1971, p. 12
Biography: Alice Seckels was born in Butte, Montana on September 2, 1882. Her mother, Sarah Gheen Kimball (1861-1913) was a Mormon woman from Salt Lake City who was leaving the Temple in favor of Christian Scientist beliefs. Alice’s father was Louis Seckels ( 1855-1942) a New York born son of German-Jewish immigrants.
Alice was four when the family returned to SLC from Montana, where they were surrounded by Sarah’s family in spite of religious differences, and lived there until Alice graduated from the University of Utah. From an early age she showed an aptitude for music and was a classically trained pianist, also receiving her teaching certificate. In 1915 she and her parents moved to California, where they resided for the rest of their lives.
During WW1 Alice’s musical talents and contacts led her to coordinate events and scout talent for Red Cross benefits. This put her in touch with many musicians and lecturers, and after the war she became a professional concert manager and talent agent.
In 1919 Alice became engaged to Erwin Lea, a professor at University of California, but they never wed. Erwin had become a widower earlier that year and had three small children to raise. Alice was well into establishing her career and independence in an era when many women did not. At any rate, the wedding never took place, and Erwin married another.
Alice became the manager of the Master School of Musical Arts in San Francisco and traveled extensively recruiting talent and offering scholarships. She established a concert, vocal, and lecture series called The Alice Seckels Matinee Musicales, and sponsored many talented musicians such as Yehudi Menuhin, Sascha Heifetz, and Ignace Paderewski. In 1926 she hosted the Mammoth Piano Festival wherein 20 Steinway grand pianos were played together in concert. Alice herself gave afternoon recitals in the San Francisco Claremont Hotel and the Gold Ballroom of the St. Francis Hotel. In 1940 at age 58 she altered course from procuring talent and sponsoring students, to lecturing at various events. She was also active in many charity organizations.
In 1946 when she was 64, Alice was beaten, robbed, and left unconscious by thugs who broke into her San Francisco residence. Shortly after that, she went into semi-retirement and moved from San Francisco to Carmel. She continued to sponsor a few artists, give a few lectures, and she cut down on her traveling. She became interested in ceramics as a creative outlet.
While her obituary stated that Alice left no family, she had many friends. She was an amazing woman, independent and strong during times when that was difficult to do. Putting her life’s story into words keeps her spirit alive, and she deserves such a remembrance.
Biography: Alice Seckels was born in Butte, Montana on September 2, 1882. Her mother, Sarah Gheen Kimball (1861-1913) was a Mormon woman from Salt Lake City who was leaving the Temple in favor of Christian Scientist beliefs. Alice’s father was Louis Seckels ( 1855-1942) a New York born son of German-Jewish immigrants.
Alice was four when the family returned to SLC from Montana, where they were surrounded by Sarah’s family in spite of religious differences, and lived there until Alice graduated from the University of Utah. From an early age she showed an aptitude for music and was a classically trained pianist, also receiving her teaching certificate. In 1915 she and her parents moved to California, where they resided for the rest of their lives.
During WW1 Alice’s musical talents and contacts led her to coordinate events and scout talent for Red Cross benefits. This put her in touch with many musicians and lecturers, and after the war she became a professional concert manager and talent agent.
In 1919 Alice became engaged to Erwin Lea, a professor at University of California, but they never wed. Erwin had become a widower earlier that year and had three small children to raise. Alice was well into establishing her career and independence in an era when many women did not. At any rate, the wedding never took place, and Erwin married another.
Alice became the manager of the Master School of Musical Arts in San Francisco and traveled extensively recruiting talent and offering scholarships. She established a concert, vocal, and lecture series called The Alice Seckels Matinee Musicales, and sponsored many talented musicians such as Yehudi Menuhin, Sascha Heifetz, and Ignace Paderewski. In 1926 she hosted the Mammoth Piano Festival wherein 20 Steinway grand pianos were played together in concert. Alice herself gave afternoon recitals in the San Francisco Claremont Hotel and the Gold Ballroom of the St. Francis Hotel. In 1940 at age 58 she altered course from procuring talent and sponsoring students, to lecturing at various events. She was also active in many charity organizations.
In 1946 when she was 64, Alice was beaten, robbed, and left unconscious by thugs who broke into her San Francisco residence. Shortly after that, she went into semi-retirement and moved from San Francisco to Carmel. She continued to sponsor a few artists, give a few lectures, and she cut down on her traveling. She became interested in ceramics as a creative outlet.
While her obituary stated that Alice left no family, she had many friends. She was an amazing woman, independent and strong during times when that was difficult to do. Putting her life’s story into words keeps her spirit alive, and she deserves such a remembrance.
“Alice Seckels, 88, ill with cancer for year, died last Wednesday [17 March 1971] at Carmel Valley Manor, her residence. She was privately inturned at the Little Chapel-by-the-Sea in Pacific Grove with Paul Mortuary in charge…Miss Seckels, who leaves no surviving relatives but many friends, retired from a career in concert promotions to live at Carmel in 1947.”…The Pine Cone News, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, March 25, 1971, p. 12
Biography: Alice Seckels was born in Butte, Montana on September 2, 1882. Her mother, Sarah Gheen Kimball (1861-1913) was a Mormon woman from Salt Lake City who was leaving the Temple in favor of Christian Scientist beliefs. Alice’s father was Louis Seckels ( 1855-1942) a New York born son of German-Jewish immigrants.
Alice was four when the family returned to SLC from Montana, where they were surrounded by Sarah’s family in spite of religious differences, and lived there until Alice graduated from the University of Utah. From an early age she showed an aptitude for music and was a classically trained pianist, also receiving her teaching certificate. In 1915 she and her parents moved to California, where they resided for the rest of their lives.
During WW1 Alice’s musical talents and contacts led her to coordinate events and scout talent for Red Cross benefits. This put her in touch with many musicians and lecturers, and after the war she became a professional concert manager and talent agent.
In 1919 Alice became engaged to Erwin Lea, a professor at University of California, but they never wed. Erwin had become a widower earlier that year and had three small children to raise. Alice was well into establishing her career and independence in an era when many women did not. At any rate, the wedding never took place, and Erwin married another.
Alice became the manager of the Master School of Musical Arts in San Francisco and traveled extensively recruiting talent and offering scholarships. She established a concert, vocal, and lecture series called The Alice Seckels Matinee Musicales, and sponsored many talented musicians such as Yehudi Menuhin, Sascha Heifetz, and Ignace Paderewski. In 1926 she hosted the Mammoth Piano Festival wherein 20 Steinway grand pianos were played together in concert. Alice herself gave afternoon recitals in the San Francisco Claremont Hotel and the Gold Ballroom of the St. Francis Hotel. In 1940 at age 58 she altered course from procuring talent and sponsoring students, to lecturing at various events. She was also active in many charity organizations.
In 1946 when she was 64, Alice was beaten, robbed, and left unconscious by thugs who broke into her San Francisco residence. Shortly after that, she went into semi-retirement and moved from San Francisco to Carmel. She continued to sponsor a few artists, give a few lectures, and she cut down on her traveling. She became interested in ceramics as a creative outlet.
While her obituary stated that Alice left no family, she had many friends. She was an amazing woman, independent and strong during times when that was difficult to do. Putting her life’s story into words keeps her spirit alive, and she deserves such a remembrance.
Biography: Alice Seckels was born in Butte, Montana on September 2, 1882. Her mother, Sarah Gheen Kimball (1861-1913) was a Mormon woman from Salt Lake City who was leaving the Temple in favor of Christian Scientist beliefs. Alice’s father was Louis Seckels ( 1855-1942) a New York born son of German-Jewish immigrants.
Alice was four when the family returned to SLC from Montana, where they were surrounded by Sarah’s family in spite of religious differences, and lived there until Alice graduated from the University of Utah. From an early age she showed an aptitude for music and was a classically trained pianist, also receiving her teaching certificate. In 1915 she and her parents moved to California, where they resided for the rest of their lives.
During WW1 Alice’s musical talents and contacts led her to coordinate events and scout talent for Red Cross benefits. This put her in touch with many musicians and lecturers, and after the war she became a professional concert manager and talent agent.
In 1919 Alice became engaged to Erwin Lea, a professor at University of California, but they never wed. Erwin had become a widower earlier that year and had three small children to raise. Alice was well into establishing her career and independence in an era when many women did not. At any rate, the wedding never took place, and Erwin married another.
Alice became the manager of the Master School of Musical Arts in San Francisco and traveled extensively recruiting talent and offering scholarships. She established a concert, vocal, and lecture series called The Alice Seckels Matinee Musicales, and sponsored many talented musicians such as Yehudi Menuhin, Sascha Heifetz, and Ignace Paderewski. In 1926 she hosted the Mammoth Piano Festival wherein 20 Steinway grand pianos were played together in concert. Alice herself gave afternoon recitals in the San Francisco Claremont Hotel and the Gold Ballroom of the St. Francis Hotel. In 1940 at age 58 she altered course from procuring talent and sponsoring students, to lecturing at various events. She was also active in many charity organizations.
In 1946 when she was 64, Alice was beaten, robbed, and left unconscious by thugs who broke into her San Francisco residence. Shortly after that, she went into semi-retirement and moved from San Francisco to Carmel. She continued to sponsor a few artists, give a few lectures, and she cut down on her traveling. She became interested in ceramics as a creative outlet.
While her obituary stated that Alice left no family, she had many friends. She was an amazing woman, independent and strong during times when that was difficult to do. Putting her life’s story into words keeps her spirit alive, and she deserves such a remembrance.
Gravesite Details
Cremation.
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