[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E226-E227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         IN HONOR OF ANN SOLDO

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. SAM FARR

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2011

  Mr. FARR. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Ann Soldo, a 
generous community leader in California's Pajaro Valley and the first 
female mayor of Watsonville, California. Ann passed away at the age of 
90 on January 24, 2011. She was an admired teacher that taught from the 
heart and touched the lives of thousands in the Pajaro Valley.
  Born in Watsonville, California, on May 27, 1920, Ann received a 
bachelor's degree from

[[Page E227]]

San Jose State University in 1942, before getting her Master's degree 
from Stanford University in 1954. From there, Ann began her 40-year 
career as an educator on California's Central Coast. In addition to 
teaching, Ann furthered her contribution to education through her role 
as principal at several schools including Aptos Junior High, where she 
was the first female principal. She retired from the Pajaro Valley 
Unified School District in 1978. In 1999, Ann M. Soldo Elementary 
School was named in her honor.
  Ann was the epitome of public service in the Pajaro Valley. She 
became involved with her local government in 1979, when she was elected 
to the Watsonville City Council and appointed as Vice-Mayor. From 1983 
to 1987, Ann served as the first female mayor of Watsonville. Moreover, 
she volunteered for numerous community organizations, including the 
Salvation Army, YWCA, and the Pajaro Valley Historical Association. 
After the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, she co-chaired the fundraising 
drive to rebuild a local church and construction of the Henry Mello 
Center for the Performing Arts.
  Mr. Speaker, Ann Soldo was an inspiring leader to so many, a woman 
who dedicated herself to bettering her community. Ann was proud of her 
Croatian heritage and took comfort in calling the Pajaro Valley home. 
She was preceded in death by her husband Andrew Soldo and is survived 
by her sister Grace Leavitt of Newport Beach, California and 
stepdaughter Mary Ann Jurchan of Colorado. I know that I speak for the 
whole House in mourning the passing of this dedicated and loving woman. 
Her life was a gift to her community.

                          ____________________