[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 28, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E916]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF DIETRICH STROEH

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 28, 2017

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory of Dietrich (Diet) 
Stroeh, who passed away on May 30, 2017, after a lifetime of public 
service to his community. Born on October 22, 1936, Mr. Stroeh attended 
the University of Nevada where he earned a degree in civil engineering 
before joining the United States Air Force Reserves in 1955. After 
joining the Marin Municipal Water District as an engineer in 1960, he 
served a variety of roles in the agency, and became the General Manager 
in 1974. After twenty years with the agency Mr. Stroeh co-founded an 
engineering firm in 1980, which eventually became CSW/Struber-Stroeh 
Engineering group. He successfully ran the firm for 37 years until his 
passing.
  Mr. Stroeh's legacy to the community extends from a personal mission 
to serve the public that was evident throughout his professional life. 
As the General Manager of the Marin Municipal Water District, his 
creative leadership was critical for securing Marin County's water 
supply during the 1976 California Drought. His solutions led to the 
development of a new in-county water supply, the county's first 
comprehensive water management plan, and the implementation of 
conservation education throughout the region. These events led the 
local press to declare him ``the hero of the drought,'' because he not 
only ran the agency during this time, but genuinely inspired a 
community ethic to conserve water as an ongoing practice. Mr. Stroeh 
had a dual life as a civil engineer by trade and a tireless public 
servant throughout his tenure on numerous volunteer boards and 
commissions. His volunteer services include such roles as Director of 
the North Coast Rail Road Authority, Director of the Bank of Marin, 
chair of the Novato Economic Development Commission, member of the Bay 
Area Water Works Association, and president of the Golden Gate Bridge 
District's Board of Directors, among many others.
  Mr. Stroeh is survived by his wife Dawna Gallagher-Stroeh and his 
beloved children: Christina Stroeh, Jody Hunter, Erica Antonio, David 
Brown and Dona Brown, his seven grandchildren, five nieces and nephews, 
and four cats.
  Mr. Speaker, the depth of Mr. Stroeh's service to his community has 
left a positive legacy across the Bay Area, and he will be dearly 
missed. When asked about his role on the Golden Gate Bridge District, 
Mr. Stroeh once reflected that he was ``just a cog in the machine,'' a 
typically humble comment from a man who dedicated his life to public 
service. It is therefore appropriate that we pay tribute to him today 
and honor the memory of leadership that sought service above self.

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