CLAYTON, CA (July 22, 2025) — Sonja Wilkin (née Kischner), 88, a longtime resident of Clayton, died at home of pancreatic cancer on February 23, 2025.  Her two children were at her side. A large extended family and a widespread community of people who loved and admired her grieved from many parts of the country and the world.

Sonja was born in London, England, in 1936.  In 1940, her family moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where Sonja grew up. Ater graduating from the American School in Rio in 1954, Sonja came to the U.S. to attend Cornell University. True to her promise to her father that she would not get married before graduating, she went through her college commencement in the morning and got married in the afternoon to Kim Wilkin of Orinda, California. They were married 53 years until Kim’s death in 2011 They lived in several states before returning to settle in California.  They bought their Clayton home in 1986.

During her long working life, Sonja was a widely respected escrow officer at North American Title and Transamerica, traveling to different cities to close large real estate deals for clients who requested her services.

Sonja was a joiner, and she contributed time, energy, and leadership to anything she joined. At Cornell, she pledged the Kappa Sigma sorority, went back for reunions, and was still in touch with sorority sisters when she died. In Clayton, she joined the Diablo Women’s Chorale in 1998 and sang with them until the end of her life.

Perhaps Sonja’s crowning local contribution was as one of the founders of Clayton Valley Village, a grassroots organization that offers seniors an opportunity to stay in their homes for as long as possible and offers communities a network of services to support their aging population. As Sonja lay ill, that organization published a tribute to her in its newsletter, which Sonja was able to read.  It began “It’s high time we acknowledge a very petite woman who has had a gigantic amount of energy all focused on the success of Clayton Valley Village” and ended “She promoted CVV at city council meetings, at service organizations’ meetings, during fundraising walks for other non-profits, at the 4th of July parade every year, and on the bocce courts! . . . She’s been the always-positive ‘energizer bunny’ on our behalf.”

Anybody who knew Sonja will recognize the “always-positive ‘energizer bunny.’” The phrase pretty much sums up her approach to living, and the many people whose lives she touched will always remember her enthusiasm, optimism, industriousness, loyalty, and unfailing good cheer. The 49ers, whose shirt she wore on every game day, could not have had a more steadfast supporter,

For all her untiring social and civic engagement, Sonja always reserved time for her large family and many personal friends spread across the country – not only her two children and their spouses, but grand-children, great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, siblings, and cousins with whom she stayed in close touch all her life. Sonja is survived by her son, Chris Wilkin (Mary, deceased), Karen Atkinson (Jim), grandchildren Jackson Wilkin, Maddie Wilkin, Camilla Atkinson, Rainey Atkinson, and Lily Rogers-Atkinson (Jordan), and three great-grandchildren.

A celebration of Sonja’s life will be held on Sunday, August 3, 1-4  pm, at Endeavor Hall in Clayton.