Memories shared

I was a student in her French class from Fall 1981 to Fall 1983. I was not the greatest student. I was very disruptive. But I did well on the Alliance Francaise tests and had a good grasp of the language. And I could flirt with my girlfriend (now wife) and pass her Iove notes written in French. I never could have predicted how important French language would be in my adult live. From attending NATO meetings, to business trips, to simply giving a lost motorist directions in French at a petrol station in La Rochelle. It would take a day or two, but the language always came back to me. I attribute my French language abilty to her prodigious teaching skills. Her methods were sound. It was an honor to attend her memorial celebration at Dominican College.

June 9, 2026

I have had the privilege of knowing Marie since I was an infant, as she and her first husband were neighbors and close friends of my parents. I still have memories of childhood visits to the grand house near Dominican that she occupied with her four boys when I was a young girl. It was Marie who was present (and paying attention) when I uttered my first complete sentence as a toddler. Many years later, she provided a safe refuge for my brother during one of his high school years when he was struggling with a challenging home situation. This meant that she had five adolescent boys under her roof at one time! But Marie’s compassion knew no bounds. When I graduated from high school in 1977, I made plans to travel to Europe and spend ten weeks traveling solo. When Marie learned this, she invited me to join her for a monthlong road trip in France, visiting her friends and relatives and several historical points of interest along the way. She was attending a meeting of the American Association of French Teachers (she was the Pacific Regional Representative) in Paris, so we arranged to meet in the 6th Arrondissement, at the Hotel Lutetia (Concorde). I’ll never forget being awakened that first morning to savor café au lait and croissants in bed! That made quite an impression on this unsophisticated 17-year-old! Marie had rented a Renault, which she named “Fifi,” and off we went! Normandy, Brittany, the haute Pyreneés, the Côte d’Azur, Provence, I got to see it all, guided by my “adoptive French Mom” (her term) and personal French tutor. She insisted on taking me to important landmarks (Chartres, Lourdes, the Palais des Papes in Avignon), and she made every step of our journey fun! I’ll never forget stopping to buy an entire flat of peaches en route to Le Castelet, and Marie’s unbridled laughter as we tossed the pits out of our sunroof as she navigated the road. It was the adventure of a lifetime, and the connections I made with her friends and extended family have endured to this day. Although I moved to LA that fall and remained in So Cal until 2025, Marie and I remained in close contact; we made a point of seeing each other whenever I was in the Bay Area. I was so grateful to have been able to share six meaningful days in Verquieres with Marie in January of this year, thanks to the gracious hospitality of Chris. We shared long walks with Moucia, played board games, and talked for hours. I got to ask her some questions to fill in the details of our shared history, and each day she’d think of another person in Fairfax whom she wanted me to meet. That was one of Marie’s greatest gifts; connecting people, and spreading joy. She made our world a better place, and I was blessed to have enjoyed her friendship for so many decades. Nobody will be able to fill the void that she left! My deepest sympathy to her family and enormous circle of friends. ❤️

June 7, 2026

I have fond memories of Marie Goff-Tuttle from my husband, George L. Mills, who taught at San Rafael High School for 32 years, many of those years as a colleague of Ms. Goff-Tuttle. Our two children attended SRHS and also knew Ms. Goff-Tuttle. From the accounts of my family and my own occasional meetings, I knew Marie as vivacious and engaged. She brought light to any group, not the blazing light of the sun, but rather the dappled light caught by Monet in his Giverney garden. I am glad to have known her.

June 5, 2026

I think Madame is among the people who have influenced me the most in my life. I feel that way not just because she taught me a language that I can still use today, even though I've barely practiced it since high school. It's because of the ways that, as she taught me French, she also taught me about how to think and to understand the world. She never took it easy on us because she respected us and our abilities. We read serious literature - Molière, Voltaire, Sartre, Camus - and we made bûches de Noël. I still have many of the books from her classes (sorry, SRHS). When I imagine how many other students went through that classroom and had an experience like mine, it's incredible to realize the impact this one extraordinary person had on the world. I will always be incredibly grateful to her. Thank you, Madame!

June 3, 2026

I was a French teacher in Sonoma County. Teachers from Sonoma, Napa and Marin would put on a weekend French Camp for high school French students, Marie was always a pleasure to work with on the various projects. She brought joy, humor, and knowledge to her peers as well as to the students. Her own stories were also intriguing.

May 27, 2026

Mme Goff-Tuttle was such a memorable French teacher for me at SRHS in the late 1980's! It was my favorite class and I am grateful for her enthusiasm about the French language and everything she taught me. She was tough but fair and I always felt like she cared. I am glad that she had such a rich life and family and leaves a strong legacy. Merci beaucoup!

May 26, 2026

Mrs. Goff was my French teacher at Davidson Middle School and a neighbor in San Rafael. She was an unforgettable teacher who, as was said previously, was tough but fair, endlessly fascinating to a 12 year old girl with her confident, exotic French flair and an excellent teacher. I have never forgotten her and realize how lucky I was to be one of her students.

May 25, 2026

Mme, merci bien!!!! I owe Mme immense gratitude!! In the fall of 1976, when she was teaching French at San Rafael High School, and I was 15 years old, she moved a young man named Mike (16 years old) next to me. He and I became fast friends, later dated on and off for some years, and now have been married almost 37 years. We have two wonderful grown children and are now 64 and 65. I might never have met Mike had it not been for Mme. and to this day, thank my lucky stars for her fateful decision. I'm glad that she continued to inspire students both in the US and in France throughout her life. My most sincere condolences to your family. Warmly, Silvia Hughes

May 20, 2026

20 unforgettable years of French conversation and friendship. Merci Chère Marie! Elspeth, Linda, Tina, Michele, Maura et Helen

May 18, 2026

I had the good fortune of being taught by Mme Goff-Tuttle from 1984-88 and cannot overstate the impact she had on me at an early age. As a teacher, she was tough but fair, and always generous of spirit. When I spoke with her about some challenges with my Québecois host family, she made it a teaching and confidence-building moment way beyond the subject at hand. Her words stay with me to this day, and I feel truly blessed to have been under her beautiful wings. Sending warmth to Marie’s family during this difficult time; she always lit up when she spoke of you and I have fond memories of Christopher coming to school as a tiny boy. I will join you June 7th in spirit, as I am traveling in Vietnam. PS J'adore voir ces merveilleuses photos!

May 18, 2026

On ne voit bien qu'avec le cœur ,ce magnifique texte que notre père Léon Jaume nous a fait connaître ,te va si bien! Il a été mon papa de 1951 à 1957 ,date de son décès;il a énormément compté pour moi .En 1954 il m'a offert Le Petit Prince avec cette sublime dédicace. En espérant que toi tu seras un petit duc Tibi Papa Cave canem ,et j'ai appris que ce livre était aussi ton livre de chevet . J'ai connu hélas bien tardivement Marie ;je savais qu'elle vivait aux USA ;Marie Goff Sonoma . Un jour je me suis dit ,je vais appeler Marie. "Bonjour Marie je suis Christian Moser Jaume ,fils de Léon Jaume ..." Étonnement de Marie, qui donnait un cours de Français chez elle. Depuis cette date nous nous sommes découverts et appris à se connaître . Marie nous a accueillis à San Rafael avec ma famille ,nous avons été gâtés et charmés ,quel souvenir inoubliable ; Connu et apprécié Chris. Parlé de notre père,lui dire mon admiration , tout ce qu'il m'avait appris . J'ai su que vous étiez allés au 1er Festival d'Avignon en 1946, des soirées à l'Opéra ,appris une relation commune avec Jean Vuarnet à Morzine,.Nous avons une soeur Caroline , née le 16 Janvier 1956 ,Léon Jaume est mort le 16 Février 1956,elle ne l'a pas connu. Marie est venue chez nous en Bretagne, elle a bien aimé et devait y revenir.Et surtout j'ai découvert combien Marie était aimée ,admirée ;tant à San Rafael qu'à Verquières .Sa générosité, son empathie,sa disponibilité aux autres ,sont les mots qui reviennent quand on parle de Marie. Je suis fier, moi Christian , d'avoir eu une sœur telle que toi. Christian Moser Jaume

May 17, 2026

I last saw my dear French tutor/friend, Marie, May 5-12, 2025 when I had the good fortune to spend 6 days with her at Mas de Mauche Route de Mollégés. What a glorious time!! We went to the VE May 8 ceremony in Verquières with the mayor and other town folk. We also enjoyed an evening of board games with a number of local familes. We met others at two masses at the local church. One anecdote from that board game evening: Marie forgot her handbag at the community center, so the mayor kindly brought it to Mas Mauche. The main gate by the road was locked and her cell phone in her handbag, so how did the mayor appear at the door to the mas? He called Christopher, who was in San Francisco (or Florida) to open the gate in Provence! The last I heard from her was on What's Ap on April 13, 2026. Then on April 29, 2026, I received the dreadful news: our remarkable Marie had passed away. I was stunned. Always thoughtful yet private, I had no idea she was so ill. These past day, still in shock and mourning, I am flooded by fond memories of times together as tutor/student/friends as we first met in December 2007, when I took my first private French lesson. As a recent retiree with two masters degrees, but no language other than German and Latin (what was I thinking in high school!) and a desire to finally learn to speak a little French, I began our weekly lessons (sometimes lasting for two hours or more) until The Pandemic in 2019/20. I said our last goodbye in Maison Bleue just two days before her final departure to Verquières. As always Christopher was by her side. From those early days in December 2007 to 2020, there were so many fond memories and milestones. I remember when Harrison first came to live in San Rafael: he was 11 years old. There were her pets Tiki, Baudelaire, Catherine? ( Now I wonder who will care for Stanley and Moussia?) Colorful annual flowers changed with the season on her terraced back garden. Always surrounded by books and French novels, her dining room warm from the sun and traces of many students, family and friends. Like so many whose lives she graced, I miss her dearly. She was an angel who touched my heart.

May 15, 2026

Notre première rencontre date des annees 1983/84 , je crois, où, au détour d’une conversation, le nom de Jean Vuarnet a été mentionné ; je me souviens d’avoir dit que ma été l’avait connu à Morzine et Marie a répondu que elle aussi ! Il s’est avéré que ma mère, huit ans plus âgée que Marie, allait dans le même home d’enfants en vacances où Marie passait les années de guerre . Marie était une femme délicieuse et délicate, charmante et charmeuse, stoïque et philosophe . Fine lettrée et gardienne de la grammaire , elle aimait partager son savoir,son attention et sa joie de vivre. Elle cultivait l’art de l’élégance; elle s’abreuvait au réservoir des rencontres dont elle prenait fidèlement grand soin . Elle laisse un grand vide autour d’elle que seuls les souvenirs combleront doucement . Heureux ceux qui ont croisé sa route car Marie sera toujours dans leur cœur !

May 14, 2026

Chris, David, and fam: My sincerest condolences and love for the loss of Ms. Marie. Thinking of you. May her memory be a blessing. Brian Wiggins

May 13, 2026

Mme Goff was one of my favorite teachers! I had her for high school French at SRHS in the early 1990s. She made learning fun, and I always enjoyed her class. She would do things like play Pere Noel and have the students put their shoes out so she could leave treats for us. When she saw that I wrote in my French journal about my cat that ran away, she gifted me a cat figure that I still have to this day. I remember discussing Le Petit Prince in class. And I was lucky enough to join a school trip to France with her leading the way, little Christophe in tow. She was a great lady.

May 11, 2026

J'ai le souvenir d'une mère et grand-mère exceptionnelle que nous avons rencontré pour la première fois en septembre 1989 à San Francisco où nous venions d'arriver en poste, Christopher et notre second fils étaient amis et fréquentaient l'école française. Nous avons pu apprécier la gentillesse, l'humilité et la bonté de Marie. C'était un plaisir de discuter avec elle chez elle ou chez nous. Puis nous avons été mutés à Paris où Marie était venue nous voir. Elle était ensuite venue nous voir chez nous dans le sud de la France avec Christopher, puis nous nous sommes perdus de vue puis retrouvés au téléphone quand nous avons réintégré notre maison après plusieurs mutations. Je suis tellement désolée qu'elle nous ait quittés. Je garde un excellent souvenir de Marie et je vous présente toutes mes condoléances attristées.

May 11, 2026

Madame Goff was an honorable and dedicated teacher that I had the pleasure of being her student at Davison Junior High and San Rafael High School. Although I thought Madame Goff was strict, I came to realize she was teaching us something we would remember all our lives. Madame Goff was the only teacher who paid respects to me as a 13 year old when my sister Janel died during the school year of 1971. I realize she treated me as a human who had just had a loss. I will never forget Madame Goff’s kindness.

May 11, 2026

J’ai rencontré Marie il y a trois ans lors de son arrivée en Provence. J’ai tout de suite éprouvé beaucoup d’affection pour elle, Marie ne laissait personne indifférent . Elle est devenue plus qu’une amie pour moi, une « maman de cœur » comme je lui disais souvent. Elle me manque énormément. Marie, tu resteras à jamais dans mon cœur .

May 10, 2026

Marie OBM was a concientious, well educated and inspiring President of Marin's Chapter of Alliance Française. Her impeccable leading and encouragement toward her committee created a strong growth of French awareness throughout Marin and in San Rafael specifically. Je me souvien les réunions dans se jardin avec plaisir. Aussi, elle s'était dévouée à sa mère qu'elle s'est dévené malade.

May 10, 2026

I’m so very sad to hear of Marie’s passing. She was my French teacher at College of Marin (I was one of a group of “older” students there.) We adored her. When she retired from COM, a friend and I continued private lessons with her at her home in San Rafael every week for a few years. It was always a joy spending that hour or two with Marie every week. She was a wonderful wonderful woman and one of a kind. I will remember her always with the fondest of memories. Andrea Rubin

May 10, 2026

Chère Marie A mon arrivée à San Francisco, tu as été un véritable point d’attache. Ton accueil et ta générosité pour nous faire découvrir la douceur de vivre à Marin County resteront gravés dans nos cœurs. Très vite, tu es devenue une amie précieuse pour toute notre famille, accueillant même mes filles avec tant de bonté. Tu vas nous manquer … Nicolas et sa famille

May 9, 2026

Chère Marie Quelle tristesse pour moi d’écrire ce mot ! Tout commence en 1998 avec Nathalie et les nombreux allers et retours entre nos maisons respectives. Je pense avec nostalgie à tous ces bons plans que tu nous as trouvés : Le French Cancan, le séjour à Disneyland, les vacances à Hawaï… Comment pourrais-je oublier le travail au Dominican College et les fameuses soirées crabes au gingembre ? Que dire de ton sens du partage quand tu as eu la gentillesse d’héberger mes amis lors d’un road trip sur la côte ouest. Ma fille et mon fils se rappelleront longtemps tes poules et ton accueil à Mollégès. Tous ces souvenirs démontrent ta grande générosité et la belle personne que tu resteras dans mon cœur. Tu nous manques … Hélène

May 9, 2026

Marie, mon Amie, ma complice à jamais irremplaçable ! Christine

May 9, 2026

Mme. Goff-Tuttle was the most important teacher of my growing up. I was a late bloomer in many ways, had a gift for languages but had intense writing anxiety and was a chronic procrastinator. She met my gifts and my problem areas with consistency and so much care. She expected a lot from me, put a few of us into AP French as juniors, then created an AP French Literature course for us the following year. She interacted with all of us like real people. I have so much gratitude, love and respect. What a generous life.

May 8, 2026

I adored Ms. Tuttle. She was a wonderful teacher, mentor, supporter of all her students. I travelled to Quebec with her in the early 1980's, loving Montreal and Quebec City, which she showed us, with great enthusiasm, heart, humor, and love. During my "rebellious time" in high school, I decided to take AP French Literature my senior year - she told me that I was not ready for that at that time, but I rebelled and I proceeded, with the attitude of "well! I'll show her!"--- No, she was right. That was the most difficult class I had taken up to that time. I'm proud that I did what the work, but regret not enjoying another year with her, laughing in class as she tried to teach the "oe" sound in French and we tried to teach her the "th" sound in English. Such a star of a woman. She was concerned that I hadn't done my homework one day, but I was too shy to admit to the class in French that my brother had had a surgery the previous night and my mother and I had not returned until very late. She knew my brother, of course - she knew everyone in town!- and exclaimed "Why didn't you tell me?? No wonder you looked so tired today! How is he now", etc etc. She cared and taught with a deep, deep love and connection to all she met. I will miss knowing she is no longer walking this earth, but so grateful that I knew her for a time! May she rest in God's arms now, knowing she "did good" down here!

May 7, 2026

Some 16 or so of us in the Quebec exchange club once all shouted nous avons faim, Maman, in a train station on one of our days in Quebec. Nous avons encore faim, Maman. Mais maintenant, c'est une faim du cœur. Au revoir. Hope my French isn't too terrible. It's been a gift!

May 7, 2026

I remember Mme. Goff-Tuttle was an impeccable teacher as well as role-model for her students at SRHS. She was strict, but always with a smile, and she did her best to inspire us to become Francophiles. Elle manquera à beaucoup de monde.

May 5, 2026

Was probably Marie’s least favorite student due entirely to one’s adolescent stupidity yet she always was fair in her assessment and interaction. Decades later one of her grandsons and one of one’s sons were classmates at Marin Catholic and then we were friends. Was so impressed with her raising her grandsons. What a fantastic woman. Loved seeing her at MC functions. So gracious, beautiful and kind. Love her and will see her in the Kingdom of Heaven. Lord have mercy.

May 5, 2026

The biggest heart, the sharpest wit. The most tireless advocate for her students, for learning, for French language and culture, for international understanding. And a truly amazing teacher. I was a high school student with little means but a knack for language. Marie Goff-Tuttle took me under her wing. She encouraged my academic growth and went out of her way to help me earn the funds I needed to join a 1992 exchange trip to France — hiring me as a babysitter for her grandchildren, which doubled as precious time to practice French. She launched and directed San Rafael High School's glass and aluminum recycling program, hauling carloads of sticky, leaking garbage bags to the recycling center on her own time, then using the proceeds to offset the cost of the international trips she led for students. She instilled in me a love not just for the French language, but for French literature, film, and culture. Her passion for the books we read in class — Huis Clos, the Marseille Trilogy, and her beloved Le Petit Prince — was palpable and contagious. So were her deeply held values of social justice, duty, and equality for all. She lived these values, raising three grandchildren, caring for her aging mother (a veteran of the French resistance), and showing up every day for her students with warmth, humor, and fierce dedication to their growth and wellbeing. I didn't fully appreciate her innovative teaching style until I continued my French studies in college and realized how far ahead of the other students I already was. As much as I looked up to her in high school, my appreciation for Mme Goff’s energy and compassion has grown exponentially as I’ve gotten older. It is only now, looking back at her through an adult’s eyes, that I can truly see the gifts she shared so freely -- of her time, energy, and talent -- and the enormous sacrifices she made without hesitation for family and community. In all my life, there is no one I have admired more.

May 5, 2026