Alice Ross Carey (1949 – 2013)  

On July 27, 2013, the city of San Francisco lost an important preservation advocate; the 640 Heritage Preservation Foundation lost one of its three founding members and immediate past president, and the Metropolitan Club lost a Member who played a critical role in the seismic and life-safety renovation completed in 2008. Stricken by an illness that few knew about, Alice Carey faced death as she had conducted her life — with grace, courage, honor and good humor.

As one of Northern California’s premier preservation architects, Alice worked to revitalize and preserve many local landmarks including San Francisco City Hall, the Palace of Fine Arts, the War Memorial Opera House, Jordan Hall at Stanford University, the Marin County Civic Center and our own historic Metropolitan Club at 640 Sutter Street. As a Member of the Metropolitan Club since 2002, Alice served on the Long Range Planning Committee, the Building Planning Committee and the Renovation Construction Committee, as well as her work on behalf of the 640 Heritage Preservation Foundation.

Alice was a respected pillar of the preservation community along with her husband, Paul Fisher, also an architect. Paul, who recently retired, has developed a walking tour under the auspices of San Francisco City Guides that focuses on the historic headquarters of private clubs on Nob Hill and lower Nob Hill, including the Metropolitan Club that was established in 1915 as the Woman’s Athletic Club of San Francisco. Alice also developed a tour, available by appointment to outside groups, featuring the architectural detail and historic use of 640 Sutter Street, both interior and exterior, that she premiered for the Women’s Auxiliary of the Society of California Pioneers.