[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 102 (Wednesday, June 24, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            MARY LOIS NEVINS

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JUDY CHU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 24, 2015

  Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate 
the life and work of my close friend, Mary Lois Nevins, who passed away 
on May 25, 2015.
  A resident of Pasadena for over seventy years, Mary Lois embodied 
civic engagement as she was an active supporter of the Altadena-
Pasadena Young Democrats, the California Democratic Council, the League 
of Women Voters, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Club, and the National 
Women's Political Caucus of Greater Pasadena. She walked the precincts, 
knocked on doors to engage voters, and volunteered her time to monitor 
polling stations on Election Day. In fact, she was gearing up for the 
2016 elections during her last weeks.
  I met Mary Lois when I won a seat on the California Board of 
Equalization, which was previously held by her husband, Richard Nevins. 
From that time, she was my most enthusiastic supporter in Pasadena, and 
I owe so much of my connection to the Pasadena community to her. After 
I came to the House of Representatives and redistricting placed 
Pasadena in my district, Mary was the first one to express her 
excitement and support.
  But my longstanding friendship with Mary Lois is just an example of 
the passion and positive change she brought to Pasadena. After raising 
three sons with Richard, she went back to school to earn her teaching 
credentials, and spent the next twenty years teaching at-risk youth at 
the center now known as Hillsides. But she didn't stop there. She 
founded the Tutor-Friend Volunteer program, which brings together the 
young residents of Hillsides with high school and college students in 
Pasadena. This unique program allows students to build close-knit 
communities as they help each other reach their highest potential. That 
was Mary Lois' strength since she saw the best in everyone she met. The 
students at Hillsides, many in the foster care system, were no 
exception. She was determined that they receive every opportunity 
regardless of their background, and her legacy with the Hillsides 
program will never be forgotten.
  After she retired from Hillsides in 1986, Mary Lois remained active 
in Pasadena. She was devoted to the Mother's Club Family Learning 
Center, and served as the President of the Board from 1988 to 1992. She 
promoted the revolutionary concept of two-generation learning, which 
focuses on educating both the child and his or her caregiver. She 
believed that educating a child during the first years of life is 
critical to a healthy future, but it is just as important to educate 
the child's caregiver. Thanks to her dedication, the Mother's Club is 
now a nationally recognized model for two-generation family learning.
  Mary Lois is truly a shining example of activism. She firmly believed 
that everyone should be engaged in their government, educated about the 
issues affecting them and their community, and that ordinary citizens 
putting their minds together could make a difference. We are thankful 
for her many years of service, and will continue to honor her legacy 
and commitment to her community.

                          ____________________