The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING DIANE PORTER COOLEY
______
HON. JIMMY PANETTA
of california
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Mr. PANETTA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the vibrant life of Diane Porter Cooley, a pillar of the Pajaro Valley and Santa Cruz County community, who passed away on March 10, 2022.
Born to a family that settled in Santa Cruz County in the 1850s, and raised on Las Lomas Ranch in Watsonville, Diane had a deep connection to the land and people of the central coast of California. Her father Tom was one of the four founders of Driscoll Berries, and Diane continued her involvement with agriculture until her death. Diane and her husband, Don, were active members of the community, constantly engaged in the issues they cared about.
A deeply passionate civic leader, Diane worked tirelessly to protect and preserve the environment, and was an outspoken advocate for the people of the Pajaro Valley. She once said, ``I care for the trees but for humans, too. People should have the chance to thrive just like the Sequoia should stand tall.''
She was a dynamic agent of change who championed the creation of the Elkhorn Slough Foundation, the Pajaro Valley Arts Council, the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, and the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County. She was involved with the Nature Conservancy, served on the Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency board, and was a supporter of many other causes, including Pajaro Valley Shelter Services, Salud Para la Gente, the University of California, Santa Cruz, Cabrillo College, and Second Harvest Food Bank in Watsonville. We may never know just how many lives she touched, or how many people received an education, braces, medical care, a home, or love when they needed it most thanks to her.
Madam Speaker, Diane Porter Cooley's outreach and philanthropy extended far and wide throughout our community. As Santa Cruz County bids farewell to its beloved daughter of 95 years, may her legacy of giving continue to inspire us for generations to come.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 120(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 120(2)
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