Twenty years of honoring women Twenty years of honoring women (February 18, 2004)

More are named to Women's Hall of Fame on its 20th anniversary.

By Marion Softky
Almanac Staff Writer

A low-key caregiver who touches many lives, and a super-student at Menlo School will be honored as new members of the San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame at a dinner March 11.

Then, Patricia Herbst from Menlo Park, Elisa Romero Lopez from East Palo Alto, and four other county women will join more than 180 other women leaders who have been elected to the Hall of Fame in the 20 years since it was founded in 1984 by the Commission on the Status of Women.

"The contributions these women make to our communities is what turns the world around," said Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson at the January 14 press conference announcing this year's honorees.

In the rotunda of the old domed courthouse in Redwood City, now the county's History Museum, the press conference also marked the opening of a new exhibit. Photographs with brief descriptions of Hall of Fame members inducted since 1984 line the walls and corridors of the museum. The exhibit will remain on display until November 14.

Patti Herbst

Patti Herbst has dedicated her life to helping others -- in hospitals, jails, nursing homes and churches, and on the streets, wrote Dr. H.L. Bostic, pastor of the Mt. Olive AOH Church of God in Menlo Park, who nominated her. "We call her 'another Mother Teresa.'"

Ms. Herbst, who lives in Belle Haven near the church, has "shared herself at so many places it would be impossible to list them all," Dr. Bostic wrote. Her human touch has warmed patients at more than a dozen places from San Jose to San Mateo. Nearby, they include Ronald McDonald House, Stanford Hospital Oncology Unit, Lucile Salter Packard Children's Hospital, Lytton Gardens Retirement/Covalescent Home, Sharon Heights Convalescent Hospital, and the Urban Ministry of Palo Alto.

Among many activities, Ms. Herbst is a volunteer chaplain at Stanford Hospital, mentors women prisoners about to be released at Elmwood Correctional Center for Women at Milpitas, and ministers to the homeless. In addition, Dr. Bostic noted, she has single-handedly raised a daughter and put her through Brown University.

Elisa Lopez

Elisa Romero Lopez, one of two "Young Women of Excellence" to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, has helped open Menlo School up to greater cultural awareness and sensitivity, said Mark Haggarty of College Track in East Palo Alto, who nominated her.

"She is an example of the influential, forward-thinking young Latina, who will someday effect large-scale positive change," he wrote.

Now a senior on scholarship at Menlo School, Ms. Lopez has contributed more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service to school and community organizations. The list includes the Girls Club of East Palo Alto, Habitat for Humanity, Latinos Unidos, and College Track, a nonprofit after-school program that helps motivated young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods go to college.

Ms. Lopez also helped introduce at least two programs into Menlo School: a course in Latino studies; and a program to study the multiple impacts of Columbus' historic discovery on the native peoples he encountered as well as the Europeans who colonized.

High among half a dozen honors Ms. Lopez has received is the 2003 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Service Award for Outstanding Community Service. "Efforts equal results," she says.

Others

Other new members of the 2004 Women's Hall of Fame are:

** Daniela Gasparini of Redwood City, who balances professional life and volunteerism. Among many activities, Ms. Gasparini has served as the first woman executive director of the Sequoia YMCA, vice president of the Bay Area Bank in Redwood City, mayor and councilmember of Redwood City, and host of "Community Connections" on Peninsula TV.

** Carolyn Livengood of San Bruno, a community leader, volunteer, and news writer, who has written two reports a week for the San Mateo County Times since 1997. Ms. Livengood has served on crime prevention and culture committees in San Bruno, helped pass bond issues to build Skyline College, worked for a host of community causes, and given 116 pints of blood. San Bruno proclaimed May 2, 2002 "Carolyn Livengood Day."

** Jeanie McLoughlin of San Mateo, a county leader in child care and early education, and former manager for the Child Care Coordinating Council. As coordinator for the new Child Care Partnership Council under the county Office of Education, Ms. McLoughlin now helps improve delivery of child care to county residents, and has helped guide more than $1 million in grants from federal, state and private funders into programs for kids.

** Alicia Janese Babbs of Millbrae, another "Young Woman of Excellence," who is a star athlete and student leader at Mills High School. Last year Ms. Babbs was named most valuable player for the cross-country team; this spring she's been invited to participate in the National Young Leaders' Conference in Washington, D.C.

INFORMATION

** New members of the San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame will be honored at a dinner Thursday, March 11, at the South San Francisco Conference Center. Tickets are $45, and deadline for reservations is February 29.

** The Commission on the Status of Women has published "Portraits of Dedication," a book that describes the Hall of Fame and highlights honorees during its first 10 years, from 1984 to 1994. The book costs $20.

** For information, reservations, or copies of the book, call the commission office at 363-4872, or go to www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/eps/csw.

Photos of past winners on display at history museum

Gertrude Atherton, Joan Baez, Judge Judith Kozlowski, Lennie Roberts, Pastor Hattie Bostic, Margaret Taylor, Margaret Marshall, Phyllis Cangemi, Sharon Williams, Charla Rolland, Dr. Edna "Bonny" Russell, Marian Hemingway, Dr. Diana Koin, Judge Patricia Bresee, Helen Hausman.

Chances are, you may know a few of them. They are a diverse group; they have all made major contributions to San Mateo County; and they have all been named to the San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame in the 20 years since it was founded in 1984.

Now their photographs and more than 150 others lining the rotunda and corridors of the San Mateo County History Museum in Redwood City serve as a reminder of what women have done to improve life in the county.

The special exhibit, "San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame," will be on display through November 14 in the old domed courthouse at 777 Hamilton St. in Redwood City.

For information, call the museum at 299-0104, or check www.sanmateocountyhistory.com.

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