In Remembrance

Emily (Emmy) Mumford King

Beautiful Emily Mumford King was born October 30, 1950 in Darien, Connecticut, where she lived a comfortable life, attended a private school, rode horses and became an accomplished tennis player.

In 1969 she came to Stanford University where she became an activist in the antiwar movement and eventually involved in social justice issues in the local community. On campus she attended SDS meetings, participated in many protests, sit-ins and demonstrations to stop Stanford involvement in the Vietnam war. One of her passions was to help create People’s Medical Center (PMC) in East Redwood City which served the low income and diverse population. There was a dire need for a health clinic, because San Mateo County failed to meet these basic healthcare needs. Emmy was instrumental in expanding PMC services to include a pharmacy, childcare, and breakfast for the children.

Emmy met Bob King at Branner Hall where, as freshmen, they both lived in one of the first co-ed dorms on Stanford campus. Once involved in PMC, she recruited Bob to work at PMC. Eventually, they lived together and were married

Emmy was a woman of many talents, ambitions and interests. Emmy and Bob bought land in the Sierra Foothills to build a ranch and fulfill a shared dream. Part of that dream was to grow food that would be shared with low income communities. On the ranch they raised dairy cows, beef, chickens, hogs, goats and catfish. They lived off the grid and built a pine log cabin for themselves and their son Samuel. Family and friends from the Bay Area had the privilege of visiting the ranch and shared in its beauty, food and telling of old stories.

Sadly at the age of 31 she contracted cancer which she fought for 2 years. Eventually, she died at home, on the ranch that she nurtured and loved.

The King and Mumford families became close over the years. When she passed away she left her husband Bob and young son Samuel. Also, surviving her were her father Milton, mother Beps, brother Chris and sister Leticia. A memorial was held on her ranch and her ashes were scattered in the San Francisco Bay.

Emmy will be remembered for her love of children, her strong voice for the voiceless, an independent spirit, her brilliant smile, laughter and generosity.

Memories of Emmy King—

What a well-balanced and knowing woman. Her greatest attribute was being honest and forthright, but without rancor, except for the enemies of the people. What strikes me most is her smile, wry at times, but always backed by good humor. She came from wealth, but mingled easily with those around her.

I first knew her in 1969, I think, when we were both still students at Stanford. She lived in a house near the intersection of Sand Hill Road and Alpine Road close to the golf course. They were political days, but more often than not we played endless hands of fantan, especially that spring.

Later, when Emmy and Bob were together, we shared a house in Redwood City. Bob and Emmy lived in various houses in the area. I lived with them again for a time in one of those houses. They always welcomed me into their homes. It may be that because I was often a housemate, our lives together were wonderfully mundane, steady and reliable, that I can’t remember many particular incidents.

Maybe most I remember sitting on the back porch in Grass Valley because it was so separate from my life at the time. I would visit from wherever I was up and down the coast. I remember sitting on the back porch eating watermelon, throwing the rind over the edge for the chickens.

Myron Filene