SOMERS

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Saturday, December 22, 2012 at 06:14:24 :

Independent Journal
Thursday, September 20, 2001

SOMERS, Roger, of Marin County, passed away September 13, 2001. Adobe Creek/ Ceda & Lyons, Petaluma, 707-789-9000.

Roger Ward Somers
Roger Ward Somers was born on October 14, 1926 in Evanston, Illinois. Somers moved to Marin County in 1950. In 1953 he co-founded the Bohemian community Druid Heights with the late poet Elsa Gidlow in Kent Canyon near Muir Woods.

Somers was a designer, builder and jazz musician. He designed and built several well-known homes in Northern Marin. Influenced by architect Frank Lloyd Wright and several traditional Japanese designs Somers created intricate woodwork influenced by the physical body and the natural environment surrounding Druid Heights. In 1972 he was commissioned by Neil Young to design and construct his famous tour bus Emily Flowers.

The rural community, Druid Heights is known around the world as one of the first bohemian enclaves that was established before the beat generation took hold in the San Francisco Bay Area. Druid Heights has housed dozens of musicians, writers, artists, and social activist over the past four decades, including Zen philosopher and intellectual Alan Watts, poet Gary Snyder, and Margo St. James, founder of the prostitute rights group, Call Off Your Old Tired Ethics (COYOTE).

Somers was also instrumental in the development of several Bay Area organizations including the Asia Society and the Henry George Society. Somers was featured in the 1968, James Broughton film, The Bed.

Somers died at his home on Thursday, September 13th, 2001 from heart failure. His daughter, Dr. Geraldine Somers, of Boston, Massachusetts and his son Tagore Somers of Houston, Texas and his longtime companion Faye Somers survive him.