Cecilia May Paderewski

Cecilia May Paderewski  

May 28, 1913 – June 7, 2011

Cecilia was born in Granite City, Ill. to Preston Alexander Boyer and Margaret Mary Kincaid.  She is a descendant of the Kincaid and Lennox family’s of Scotland, the Boyer’s of France, and the Sullivan’s of Ireland. Cecilia joined Girl Scouts in 1919 and has four generations of Girls Scouts in her family that have followed in her footsteps. She graduated from high school in Phoenix, Arizona, and moved to Los Angeles. Cecilia worked for Fox West Coast Studios and Fox Film Corporation in the movie industry in Los Angeles 1929-1931.  Cecilia was the staff artist and made friends and worked with Shirley Temple, Maureen O’Sullivan, Humphrey Bogart, Spencer Tracy, Jean Harlow, Janet Gaynor, Marion Davies, Norma Shearer, Colleen Moore, Clara Bow, Jean Arthur, Myrna Loy, Charlie Chaplin, Clark Gable, Joan Bennett, Owen Moore, Will Rogers, and many more.  Cecilia received her degree at the University of California, Berkeley. Her specialty was Aeronautical engineering, drafting, and design. She then moved to San Diego where she married Clarence Joseph Paderewski (Pat) 6/16/35 a direct relative of the late Ignacy Jan Paderewski the famous musician, composer, and statesmen. During World War II – Cecilia worked for Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego later known as General Dynamics.  Cecilia was the only women design engineer in the United States for the B-24 and C-39.  She was also a nurse’s aid with the American Red Cross.  She was a draftsman for her husband in the early years of his practice at The Paderewski Architectural firm. In the years to follow in La Jolla, California, Cecilia served and did volunteer work for:  the juniors of social service, Camp Oliver, Girl Scouts, San Diego Symphony, San Diego Old Globe Theater, Globe Guilders, San Diego Opera, The Society of Crippled Children, and San Diego Natural History Museum.  Cecilia also served as President of the Social Service Auxiliary and 1^ST President of the Women’s Architectural League of San Diego, Chairman of the State Central Committee of the Women’s Architectural League, Chairman of the Symphony Program for the Women’s Committee, Publicity chairman for the San Diego Opera Club, Treasurer for the Children of Mary of the College for Women in San Diego, President of the California, Nevada, Hawaii Women’s Architectural League, Chairman of the Champagne Ball for the La Jolla Country Club, General chairman for the Couturier Show for the San Diego Symphony Orchestra, Chairman for the La Jolla Country Club Jockey Dinner and Dance,  Chairman of the St. Patrick’s Day Party at All Hallows, co-chairman of The Home and Garden Christmas Caravan of La Jolla, and Mardi Gras chairman for the Juniors of Social Service. Cecilia resided in a home on top of Mt. Soledad in La Jolla, California in which she and her husband designed together and was featured on the front pages of newspapers and magazines for futuristic and creative designs. Cecilia enjoyed traveling over 28 states in the U.S.  Her travels also included; Canada, China, Baja, Mexico, Panama, Columbia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Guatemala. Cecilia moved to Salt Lake City in 2001 to be a part of her expanding family. 

She is preceded in death by her husband C.J. Paderewski; two of her daughters Colette Paderewski and Cheri Paderewski; and 6 brothers and sisters Alice Boyer, Charles Boyer, Arthur Boyer, Victor Boyer, Raymond Boyer, and Gloria Boyer Martin.

Cecilia is survived by her children Coleen Paderewski of Salt Lake City, Utah, Colette (Ralph) McCanna of McCanna, North Dakota; her grandchildren Valerie (Brady) Rasmussen, Christine (Dan) Green, Patrick (Sarah) Floyd, Jason (Tho) McCanna, Katie (Jeff) Sassorossi, Grant (Mary) McCanna, Shelly (Ryan) Richardson; and her great grandchildren Kara, Teghan, Adam, & Alison Green, Aksel & Talan Rasmussen, Kathyrn Floyd, Grace & Simon Sassorossi, and Aileigh McCanna.  

The family would like to thank all the people from St. Joseph’s Villa, Hospice, and Starks for their help!

Friends may call upon the family at a wake on Thursday, July 7^th from 6 to 8 PM at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City.  A funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday, July 8^th at 11:30 AM, St. Joseph’s Villa, 451 E. Bishop Federal Ln., Salt Lake City.  Inurnment to follow at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 4^th Ave. “T” Street.