Edie Dorosin Kirkwood
June 18, 1935-Jan. 30, 2026
Palo Alto, California

Edie (Jacobson) Dorosin Kirkwood passed away peacefully on January 30, 2026, surrounded by her family’s love. Edie had an active and wonderful life, filled with family, time in nature, an impactful career and community engagement. Her spirit, strength and sparkle will be missed.

Edie was born in Jersey City, New Jersey to Clara (Reidler) and Saul Jacobson. When Edie was six, her family moved to Stockton, California. Edie attended the public schools and was active in school and community theater and dance productions (dance was a lifelong passion for Edie). In the summers, she worked as a lifeguard at public pools and as a camp counselor in the Sierra. Following graduation from Stanford University in 1957, Edie moved to San Francisco and began working in advertising.

While in San Francisco, Edie met David Dorosin. They married in 1958 and moved to New York City. In 1962, their growing family moved to Palo Alto. After Dave had passed in 1983, Edie met Bob Kirkwood and she and Bob married in 1993. Edie made Palo Alto her home for over 63 years, raising her family, building many lasting friendships and always remaining active in her community.

Edie found joy in nature and family. She loved spending time at Woods Creek Camp, Edie and Bob’s property on Carson Pass in the Sierra, and at Sea Ranch on the Sonoma coast. Both destinations were favorites for gathering with family – especially with Edie’s beloved grandchildren, Skylar, Davis, Elana and Miles. Edie could always be counted on to lead family hikes, often to Winnemucca Lake for the July wildflowers or along Sea Ranch’s ocean bluffs and tide pools over the New Year’s holiday. Fly fishing was a favorite for Edie, especially in remote mountain streams, like the one where she landed a huge rainbow trout that became the stuff of family legend.

Edie had an active and impactful career. She was ahead of her time when she returned to Stanford in 1973 to earn her master’s in civil engineering: urban planning. A common thread in Edie’s varied career was a commitment to serving her community. She worked in leadership roles at the Santa Clara County Manufacturing Group and the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce and served on numerous community and non-profit boards. In all of this, Edie developed relationships with people that touched their lives, especially as a mentor and role model to other women navigating active careers and busy lives. Colleagues along the way described her as a force for good.

Edie moved to Channing House in 2021 after Bob had passed. Her time at Channing House was filled with warm friendships and delightful fun with the other residents. As was always true for her, during this time Edie remained engaged in her community, curious about what was going on in the world and always happy for a sunny perch outside or a good laugh. Edie is survived by her children Dan (Fern Mandelbaum), Abbie (Dan Rich) and Lish, her four grandchildren, her brother Paul Jacobson and many nieces and nephews. Edie will be missed and her impact, energy and memory will live on in the many lives she touched.