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Remembering Diane Porter Cooley
It’s with a heavy heart we learned this week about the passing of Diane Porter Cooley, a preservationist of both history and nature, a fierce advocate for youth and a trusted community builder.
Diane left her mark on our physical and cultural landscape in so many ways. The number of organizations that counted her as a founder, key supporter, or special champion is legendary. At Friends, we were humbled to be part of that universe of nonprofits that benefited from her time and talents, generosity and freely shared advice and counsel.
She was an early advocate who made good things happen at The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park, where she had deep family connections.
We count her as a true guardian angel of the Castro Adobe. Starting with the community campaign to save the building from melting into the ground after the 1989 earthquake, she was always there at key moments, pushing to create California’s newest State Historic Park in her beloved Pajaro Valley. From getting her hands dirty placing volunteer-made adobe bricks into the building, to connecting people from different walks of life throughout the community to pitch in, to making sure local youth had job opportunities and college students could study archaeology close to home. Diane’s involvement was as varied as it was important.
Diane was a force of nature with high standards and an amazing intellect. She helped everyone keep their eyes on the goal down the road, all the while reminding you how you fit into what came before. She had a very kind heart.
You always knew it was going to be a very special event when Diane arrived, in her cowgirl hat or in her honorary State Park Ranger Stetson. We will miss you, Diane.
— Bonny Hawley, Friends of Santa Cruz State Park Executive Director
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Photos:
• Diane shares a story in the Potter-Church Garden with the late State Parks Commission Chair, Ernest Chung, and “History Dude” Sandy Lydon.
• Diane watches alongside Charlene Duval, Castro Committee Chair and Friends board member, as dirt at the Castro is sifted for artifacts.
• Diane lays an adobe brick made by volunteers in the new cocina wall at the Castro Adobe (April 2008).
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Transport yourself to your favorite state park or beach with a new Zoom background
Are Zoom meetings here to stay? Bring the beauty of a park or beach to your next video conference.
Download one of our free Zoom backgrounds featuring Sunset State Beach, Pigeon Point Light Station State Historic Park, Seacliff State Beach, Castro Adobe State Historic Park, Natural Bridges State Beach, Wilder Ranch State Park, Montara State Beach or a pre-wildfire image of Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
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Apply now to work in beautiful places!
Work with Friends! Become a Senior Visitor Services Aide at Half Moon Bay State Beach. Pay for this full-time and benefited position starts at $21.40 an hour.
Jobs are available now! Friends is a nonprofit organization that works in concert with California State Parks to maintain and enhance the state parks in the Santa Cruz District. Learn more and apply online today!
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