[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 188 (Tuesday, November 14, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1101-E1102]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING MARJORIE MACRIS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JARED HUFFMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 14, 2023

  Mr. HUFFMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Marjorie Macris who 
passed away at the age of 88 on October 16, 2023. Ms. Macris was a 
beloved community leader in Marin County.
  Born in Chicago and raised in the Midwest, Ms. Macris attended the 
University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1956, where she received 
a degree in journalism and graduated co-salutatorian. The following 
year, she completed her master's degree in journalism and urban 
planning as one of only a few women in her class. After school, Ms. 
Macris worked for Chicago's planning department until 1969 when she 
moved to Marin County with her family.
  Joining Marin County's planning department, she became the primary 
author of the countywide plan adopted in 1973. This plan significantly 
impacted the landscape of the county, restricting urban development to 
the Highway 101 corridor and maintaining Marin's central and western 
areas for smaller communities, agriculture, and recreation. From 1978 
to 1984, Ms. Macris oversaw the execution of this plan as the county 
planning director, encouraging new collaboration among cities, towns 
and unincorporated communities.
  Beyond emphasizing inter-jurisdictional planning, Ms. Macris 
advocated for and prioritized environmental conservation. Many Marin 
leaders credit her with protecting the environment during a critical 
period of growth. And as one of the few women employed in urban 
planning at the time, she became a role model and mentor for other 
women.
  Ms. Macris's commitment to conservation extended throughout her adult 
life and well beyond her employment with the County. She was a valued 
contributor to the Marin Conservation League, Sierra Club Marin Group, 
Marin Environmental Housing Collaborative, and Marin Baylands 
Advocates.
  Ms. Macris was known by her colleagues for her wit and innovative 
thinking, and to her family and friends as a great adventurer. She 
traveled from Algeria to Pakistan and Patagonia, traversing desert and 
trekking through mountains. Ms. Macris also took up running and 
completed the Boston Marathon three times. She is survived by her 
brothers Roger Wiegand and David Wiegand; her daughter Natalie Macris; 
her granddaughter Charlotte Keilman-Macris; and her former husband Dean 
Macris.
  Mr. Speaker, Marjorie Macris was a dedicated public servant and 
active community leader who left an enduring legacy in Marin County. I 
respectfully ask that you join me in extending condolences to Ms. 
Macris's family and friends and in expressing my appreciation for her 
decades of good work.

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