[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 69 (Monday, May 17, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E885]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 TRIBUTE TO MAEVA NEALE IN MEMORY OF A LEADER, ENVIRONMENTALIST, POET, 
                           SCHOLAR AND DOCTOR

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 17, 2004

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor my constituent Maeva Neale 
who passed away on May 8, 2004. She was a physician, leader, a poet, 
and a hero to those who lived in the coastside town of Pescadero, 
California. She lived a life filled with values, devoting herself to 
improving the lives of everyone around her.
  Maeva Neale was born in Chicago, the daughter of a minister and 
Spanish teacher. She majored in Russian studies at Cornell University 
and was fluent in Swahili, Spanish, French, German, and Arabic. She 
began medical school at the University of Chicago and completed her 
studies at the University of California at San Francisco. In the spirit 
of her thirst for knowledge and adventure, she moved to Kenya for a 
decade where she practiced medicine and raised her two children, Ama 
and Geoffrey. Looking for new adventure, she then moved to Saudi Arabia 
for two years.
  In 1989, our community was blessed with Maeva Neale's decision to 
move to Pescadero, where one of her first acts as a member of our 
community was to foil an attempt to drop sewage sludge above the 
ecologically vital coastal area of Pigeon Point. She spent ten years on 
the Pescadero Municipal Advisory Council, including one as the Chair, 
leading the drive to stop chemical spraying along Pescadero's roadways. 
She wrote volumes of beautiful poetry in several languages that were 
illustrated by local artists and was commended by President Clinton for 
her work on behalf of Russian children who were devastated by severe 
pollution.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I rise to honor the life 
of Maeva Neale. She brought our community together, no matter how 
divergent its opinions. She was an artist and a healer, and always was 
an inspiration to me. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and 
remembering Maeva Neale for her extraordinary life of service to our 
community and humanity. We are better people because of her gentleness, 
her leadership and her incredible spirit.

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