[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 21, 1997)]
[House]
[Pages H3148-H3149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Gingrich] is recognized for 5 minutes.

  [Mr. GINGRICH addressed the House. His remarks will appear hereafter 
in the Extensions of Remarks.]

[[Page H3149]]

                IN MEMORY OF MARGARET LESHER-THORSTENSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California [Mrs. Tauscher] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, the Tenth Congressional District of 
California was shocked and saddened last week by the untimely death of 
one of its true community leaders, Margaret Lesher-Thorstenson. Some 
might say a shining light was dimmed in Contra Costa County with the 
passing of Margaret Lesher. I say the light will continue to burn 
bright through her many gifts of generosity, kindness, and friendship.
  As individuals and as a community, we are richer for having had 
Margaret Lesher in our lives. Mrs. Lesher was an extraordinary woman 
who had many facets to her life: A mother, wife, businesswoman, 
philanthropist, and friend. In each role she exemplified a spirit of 
voluntarism and generosity that all of us constantly strive to achieve. 
In every cause or endeavor upon which she embarked, she would give 110 
percent of herself. Throughout all of her community service, Margaret 
Lesher realized that her family and friends were her foundation.
  I had the occasion to meet Margaret Lesher through the Battered 
Women's Alternative of Contra Costa County, a Contra Costa organization 
dedicated to aiding and assisting women in need.
  In 1990 she established the Margaret Lesher Transitional Housing and 
Employment Center. She not only gave financially to the program, but 
she also spent countless hours meeting and talking to the women who 
went through the center. Mrs. Lesher was always there to listen and 
support anyone who needed her help.
  As first vice president for Lesher Communications, the newspaper 
chain founded by her late husband, Dean Lesher, she strove to make the 
papers an accurate reflection of the character and personality of 
Contra Costa County. Mrs. Lesher worked side by side with her husband 
to make the publication one of the most successful in California. Even 
after the newspapers had been sold, the current owners have carried on 
the exemplary quality established by Dean and Margaret Lesher.
  Not many people knew that Margaret Lesher authored music and lyrics 
for 40 copyrighted songs and 14 poems. In 1982 she was honored with the 
Bronze Halo Award of Special Merit from the southern California Motion 
Picture Council for her contributions as a writer, songwriter, and 
vocalist. These talents inspired her to begin a wonderful collaboration 
with the arts and the community.
  Through the Dean and Margaret Lesher Foundation, the magnificent 
building bearing the family name houses the California Symphony, the 
Diablo Ballet, and other theatrical groups. The center, along with many 
other buildings, are symbols of Mrs. Lesher's tireless commitment to 
the betterment of the community.
  Barry Jekoywski, the conductor of the California Symphony in Contra 
Costa County and associate conductor of the National Symphony here in 
Washington, captured the essence of Margaret Lesher's dedication to the 
arts when he said that she believed in the vision and importance of the 
arts in the community, especially for families and children.
  Today her memorial service is taking place at the Dean Lesher 
Regional Center for the Arts, the very center that she was instrumental 
in establishing. Over 1,000 people are expected to attend today's 
service to pay tribute to the first lady of Contra Costa County.
  It is difficult to explain to my colleagues what a special and unique 
person Margaret Lesher was. Many people's lives have been touched and 
blessed by her spirit, warmth, and kindness.
  Here on the House floor, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy 
to Margaret's husband, Collin Thorstenson, and her daughters Tricia 
Ryan Simonds, Wendy Alvs, Roxanne Gibson and Jill Heidt. This is a very 
difficult time for her family and all of Contra Costa County, an area 
that considered itself part of Margaret Lesher's family.
  With some poetic license, I will borrow the words of Robert Frost to 
capture the inspiration and dedication Margaret inspired within all of 
us:

     Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
     And sorry I could not travel both and be one traveler,
     Long I stood and looked down one as far as I could,
     To where it bent in the undergrowth;
     Then took the other, just as fair,
     Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less 
           traveled by,
     And that has made all the difference.

  At a time when it was not popular to support causes like battered 
women's alternatives, Margaret Lesher took a path that most would not 
have ventured down. She neither sought approbation nor applause. In 
fact, many of her wonderful deeds never received public attention. She 
simply wanted to make Contra Costa County a better place for all of its 
residents. In the end, the paths she chose were eventually the paths 
that all of us have followed.
  The many wonderful contributions Mrs. Lesher gave to our community 
will continue to thrive and flourish through the foundation established 
in her and Dean's name. We will miss her warmth and presence within our 
community, yet the light of her spirit will live forever in all the 
good that she has done.

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