[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 96 (Thursday, June 14, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1299]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           IN HONOR OF JOAN LUNDY--JUNE 16, 1938-JUNE 7, 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 14, 2007

  Mr. BECERRA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Joan 
Lundy, a passionate community activist and loving family woman, who 
passed away on June 7, 2007. Family and friends will gather on 
Saturday, June 16, in Los Angeles to honor Joan's full life which was 
marked by dedicated community leadership, a devoted family and tireless 
advocacy.
  Mother Teresa is known to have said: ``Do not wait for leaders; do it 
alone, person to person.'' Joan never waited for leaders to enact what 
she knew was right, instead she became a leader and influenced people 
one-by-one throughout her life. When she passed away at the age of 68 
she had bestowed her strength and wisdom unto many through the years.
  In the early 1980s, after raising her five children, Joan put herself 
through California State University of Los Angeles' geology program, 
and went on to practice engineering geology for many years--a career in 
which she thrived.
  Joan possessed a passion for fairness and social justice throughout 
her life--she served as the president of her community parent teacher 
association and worked to desegregate schools in Altadena. Her 
community activism continued to flourish when she moved to Northeast 
Los Angeles in 1987. She led the Glassell Park Improvement Association 
for more than a decade and was president from 1996 to 1999. Joan 
spearheaded the effort to adorn neighborhood streets with beautiful, 
flowering jacaranda trees. The rows of jacarandas that were planted 
along San Fernando Road and Eagle Rock Boulevard have become a well-
recognized symbol of Glassell Park. In the spirit of community pride 
and improvement, Joan negotiated the upgrading of Glassell Park's 
community center and the completion of many public works projects.
  Joan was the best kind of constituent any elected representative 
could ask for: she not only committed herself to creating solutions for 
the community and presenting them to her representatives, she also knew 
how to mobilize her friends and neighbors toward civic engagement.
  I extend my deepest sympathies to her beloved husband, Bill; her 
children: Beth Oberholtzer, John Oberholtzer, Laurie Oberholtzer, 
Margie Oberholtzer, and the late Tim Oberholtzer; and her 10 
grandchildren.
  Madam Speaker, it is with heartfelt sorrow, yet deep pride and 
admiration, that I ask my colleagues to join me today in recognizing 
Joan Lundy. Her influence lives on, especially in those hearts and 
minds she touched so deeply in Glassell Park and Northeast Los Angeles.

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