Remembering Barbara

We are sad to have lost our friend and CERT volunteer Barbara earlier this year, on 21 January 2020. Her passing was unexpected, and thankfully peaceful.

In addition to Barbara’s CERT involvement she was engaged in a number of other Martinez organizations. Two, in particular, were the Martinez Friends of the Library and the Martinez Historical Society.

Over the years Barbara held many positions on the Board of the Friends of the Library including President, during which time she organized several fund raisers to support library programs and purchase on new books and materials. She thoroughly enjoyed participation in “Stories to Go,” a library sponsored program to bring story time to early childhood education and childcare facilities. She loved reading to the kids.

Barbara also served as a docent at the Martinez Museum for the Martinez Historical Society and working on new material. She organized a display and presentation focused on the history of canteens for respite for GIs passing through Martinez during World War II. Did you know the original “canteen” was located at what is now the parking lot between Ginger Thai and Hot Dog Depot, opposite the old train station? Convenient for GIs who would be traveling via train to other destinations.

More recently, Barbara participated in the Martinez Police Department’s Community Academy – a nice compliment to her CERT Disaster Service Worker (DSW) training. As time permitted she volunteered at the Hospice Thrift Shop on Morello Avenue.