Marion Softky in front of the Almanac’s offices. File photo from the Almanac.

Marion Softky, who wrote thousands of articles for the Menlo Park-based Almanac over more than 40 years, died at a Portola Valley nursing home on Christmas evening of complications from long-term abdominal cancer, the Almanac reports. She was 84.

Softky started at the Almanac in 1965 and her bylines continued to appear until two years ago. Her favorite topics included the environment, local history, the town of Portola Valley, science and San Mateo County government.

Here’s a link to a story about her career at the Almanac by her longtime colleague Majorie Mader, and here’s a YouTube video of Softky being interviewed by Portola Valley historian Nancy Lund. Softky’s son bill has posted many of her stories on this website.