The memorial for Ellen Fletcher, Palo Alto's iconic bicycle advocate and longtime City Councilwoman, will be held Sunday afternoon, Nov. 18, at the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center.
Fletcher, who served on the council from 1977 to 1989, died Nov. 7 after a battle with lung cancer. She was 83.
A Berlin native who fled Germany in 1938 after the Nazis took power, she lived in London and New York City before settling in Palo Alto. She has been involved in the city's civic life for nearly half a century, serving as one of its most prominent champions for bicycling improvements and environmental causes.
Fletcher was often seen riding her bicycle to public meetings, even into her early 80s.
Her memorial will be held Sunday, Nov. 18, at 1:15 p.m. at the Albert and Janet Schultz Cultural Arts Hall in the Oshman Family Jewish Community Center, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto.
Donations in Fletcher's memory can be made to the Silicon Valley Coalition, 1922 The Alameda, Ste. 420, San Jose, CA 95126, bikesiliconvalley.org.
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Comments
Midtown
on Nov 13, 2012 at 6:33 pm
on Nov 13, 2012 at 6:33 pm
Many stories I could tell of Ellen's boundless energy that was directed into quality of life for Palo Altan's.
The bike corral at Stanford Stadium football games, downtown art+crafts shows, and various other shindigs in our town.
The one story that is so vivid to me right now is when her old car broke down in Half Moon Bay. She took the bus back to palo alto, then, once her ol jalopy was repaired, rode her bicycle out through Woodside,Canada rd+over hwy 92 to HMB + drove her clunker back.
I remember w clear memory, her unbridled glee in recounting the bull headed determination she exibited in ridin her bike over that stretch of shoulderless hwy coming into HMB...and how relieved she was to have made it uninjured.
She was 70 yrs on when she did this.
I'll miss you Ellen, and Thanx for Being...
Old Palo Alto
on Nov 13, 2012 at 7:22 pm
on Nov 13, 2012 at 7:22 pm
Thanx to Ellen, we have the Bryant St Bike Route, which I live near and am happy to use every day.
College Terrace
on Nov 19, 2012 at 9:09 am
on Nov 19, 2012 at 9:09 am
If you were not able to attend yesterdayÕs lovely commemoration for Ellen Fletcher at the JCC -- or even if you were -- you can catch a piece of it and then some at this eveningÕs (Monday, Nov 19th) City Council meeting.
A slide show produced by the family is expected to be re-played during Agenda Item 3, a resolution in her honor. The item should begin at 7 pm in the council chambers.
Also, preceding and during the resolution, there will be mini-exhibit (in either the lobby or council chambers), including Ellen's bike and signature trailer, helmet, jacket and various other memorabilia of her extraordinary life.
If you have time, please consider attending and asking others to join you.