It is with deep gratitude and reverence that we honor the life and legacy of Rita R. Semel, who passed away at the remarkable age of 104 on May 13. A respected civic and interfaith leader, devoted wife and mother, and a mentor to so many, including myself, Rita leaves behind an extraordinary legacy.
Rita’s vision and leadership helped shape the San Francisco Foundation’s FAITHS Program as we know it today. She brought to life a bold and transformative vision, one rooted in the belief that faith communities, when connected across differences, can be powerful forces for equity, belonging, and collective well‑being.
Her commitment to interfaith collaboration was not only visionary, but deeply relational grounded in trust, humility, and a genuine respect for the richness of diverse traditions. Rita led in a way that reminded us that this work is not just about strategy, but about people, relationships, and our shared humanity.
In recognition of her lifelong contributions, Rita received the San Francisco Foundation’s Community Leadership Award in 2012 for her “life‑long successes in creating healthy, just, and inclusive communities in the Bay Area and worldwide, and for building bridges of understanding to help alleviate poverty and end discrimination.” This honor reflects the depth and breadth of her impact, both locally and globally.
Rita’s imprint on FAITHS is enduring. The program’s emphasis on bridge‑building, shared purpose, and community‑centered leadership reflects her values and the path she so thoughtfully charted. She understood that interfaith work is both sacred and practical requiring compassion, courage, and a willingness to listen and learn across lines of difference.
For those of us who continue to steward and reimagine FAITHS, we do so standing on the shoulders of Rita’s legacy. Her life reminds us that lasting impact is cultivated through consistency, care, and a steadfast commitment to bringing people together in service of something greater than ourselves.
We give thanks for Rita’s extraordinary contributions to the FAITHS Program and the broader interfaith community. I invite you to join me in sending prayers and heartfelt wishes to her family. May we continue to honor her by carrying forward the spirit of connection, understanding, and vision that she so beautifully embodied.
Her legacy will continue to guide and inspire us. As she told us in 2023, when SFF marked its 75th anniversary, “Speak up and you’ll find plenty of people who want to join you to speak up. There are people out there who are willing to help. Just make it known, what the issue is, and find your allies.”
Rest in perfect peace, Rita.
