[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 5 (Monday, January 9, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E35]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING GARY GIACOMINI

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 9, 2017

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Gary Giacomini, 
who passed away on December 2, 2016, after a lifetime of service to his 
community.
   Born in San Francisco in 1939, Mr. Giacomini spent most of his life 
as a resident of Marin County. He attended St. Mary's College in 
Moraga, and earned his law degree at San Francisco Hasting College of 
Law in 1965 as an honor student. A stalwart, civic-minded community 
member, Mr. Giacomini occupied many roles over the course of his highly 
productive professional and political career. Renowned for his bedrock 
strength, and sometimes cantankerous demeanor, he was always straight-
forward and clear about his principles and convictions.
   Political from a young age, Mr. Giacomini was student body president 
of Marin Catholic High School. He won a seat on the Lagunitas School 
Board in 1968, and was elected to represent Marin's 4th District on the 
Board of Supervisors in 1972, where he served until 1996. Upon his 
retirement from the Board of Supervisors, he was the longest-serving 
county supervisor in the history of California. In addition, he was a 
member of 25 other state and regional boards and commissions, including 
10 years on the California Coastal Commission and 20 years on the 
Golden Gate Bridge District. In 2007, Marin Magazine named him one of 
the 13 most influential people in county history.
   Chief among his many exceptional accomplishments for Marin's 
residents and environment, Mr. Giacomini led the movement to preserve 
West Marin open space, protect the environment, and preserve the 
county's historic ranchlands. In appreciation for his enduring resolve 
and track record protecting these lands, in 2001 a 1,500-acre open 
space preserve in the San Geronimo area was named for Giacomini. He was 
dubbed as one of the heroic group of Rebels with a Cause for his work 
to save a vast stretch of Marin's coastline for parks and farms. He 
also instigated, with his colleagues, public ownership of the Southern 
Pacific Railroad right-of-way from Marin to Eureka in the 1980s, paving 
the way to Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit's future use of the tracks, 
where service is expected to begin this year.
   In 1985, Mr. Giacomini coordinated a strenuous battle to ensure the 
Buck Trust, bequeathed to Marin for its needs and programs by Ross 
philanthropist Beryl Buck, was not dispersed outside Marin. This 
culminated in the formation of the Marin Community Foundation in 1986. 
After leaving public service in 1996, Mr. Giacomini went on to serve 
two terms on the board of the Marin Community Foundation, including 
time as Chairman of the Board.
   Over the years, Mr. Giacomini developed a well-earned reputation, as 
noted by the Marin Independent Journal, for his ability to promote 
common ground between the interests of Marin's diverse agricultural 
community and preservationists. He is survived by his wife, Linda; two 
sons, Andrew and Antony; a sister, Roberta Powers; and five 
grandchildren. He has left an indelible mark not just on his family and 
the community of Marin, but on children and families far and wide.
   A formidable force whose presence will be greatly missed, it is my 
honor, Mr. Speaker, to recognize the breadth and depth of Mr. 
Giacomini's legacy of commitment and his many victories for the people 
and places of Marin. It is therefore appropriate that we pay tribute to 
him today and honor his memory.

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