Mary Victoria King's Obituary
In lieu of Flowers, the family request donations be made in Mary’s name to P.D., a group of Berkeley and Oakland-based people impacted by Parkinson’s disease who act to build and strengthen our local community through advocacy, classes and other activities. Contributions to PD Active are fully tax deductible. Please be sure to include your name, address & email.
• To mail a check, send to: PD Active, P.O. Box 9246, Berkeley, CA 94709
• To make an online donation to PD Active, go here: https://pdactive.wordpress.com/donate
Mary V. King
May 29, 1946 – November 15, 2015
Services Held
Friday, November 27, 2015
12 Noon
Cathedral of Christ the Light
2121 Harrison Street
Oakland, CA 94612
Father Jay Matthews & Rev. Cheryl Ward
Officiating
Repast following Mass to be held at Scott’s Seafood
2 Broadway
Oakland, CA 94607
1:30-4:30 pm
Remembering Mary
Mary V. King was born May 29, 1946 to Alfred Thomas King and Victoria Helena Coclough King in San Francisco, CA and brought to their home in East Oakland to meet her 3-year-old sister, Cecelia. She was baptized at St. Lawrence O’Toole Catholic Church in Oakland. Mary attended St. Lawrence O’Toole Elementary School and Bishop O’Dowd High School. Upon graduating, she studied at Laney College and later at the American Conservatory Theater, where she studied acting with Danny Glover. Mary performed with ACT and also became very active in Oakland’s Ensemble Theatre.
As she continued to pursue acting, Mary also supported her 2 children, her mother and herself. As a single mother, she received welfare benefits to help care for her daughters before going back to work. Mary’s earliest jobs included working at the public library and at the front desk at the California Hotel. Her entry into public affairs work started after she became employed as a Phone Operator at Oakland’s Children’s Hospital and was soon promoted to a Community Relations Outreach position in the Department of Social Services, where she met her dear friend, travel buddy, and later Director of Highland Hospital, Sandra Holiday. Mary began her work in electoral politics in the office of then State Assembly member, the Honorable Bill Lockyer. When Judith Briggs and Mary began working together in Bill Lockyer’s San Leandro District Office she was still auditioning for TV commercials. “One that I remember was a kitty litter spot, says Judy, Mary said, “I will never get this part because they won’t give it to a woman of color”… she was correct. “But,” Judy said, “she fit perfectly in our political office. And really blossomed in that position.”
Mary worked as a Secretary, then Field Representative and later became Bill Lockyer’s Chief of Staff, helping him transition from State Assembly to the State Senate. Her time with Lockyer helped develop her commitment to organized labor that flowed from her connection to the people of Oakland. To this day, her daughters feel a twinge of guilt when biting a grape because of Mary’s commitment to the UFW’s boycott. During her time with Lockyer, Mary developed deep and lasting friendships and alliances with Judith Briggs and Elsa Ortiz. Through her Oakland work, she developed friendships with Paul Cobb and Gay Plair Cobb. Mary later worked as Chief of Staff for the late Oakland Mayor Lionel Wilson, then Assistant City Administrator Henry Gardner and Alameda County Supervisor Bob Knox.
In 1988, Mary became the first African American woman elected to the Alameda County Board of Supervisors, the second African American Supervisor after the Honorable John George. As a Black woman, Mary ran to represent East Oakland, San Leandro, and Castro Valley. Assemblymember Johan[GC1] Klehs, whom she met when working with Lockyer and had helped run for office, and many other local leaders supported her. Mary was re-elected for 2 consecutive terms, serving a total of 3 terms, as President of the board for her final two years. Mary was a courageous and energetic warrior for justice – especially on behalf of the poor and disenfranchised. She led two marches against racism in San Leandro and Castro Valley after someone painted a swastika on the home of African American families in her District. She worked tirelessly for her District and the Board of Supervisors to carry the agency through tough economic times. Mary, a true trailblazer, used her considerable expertise in government and her courage and persuasive skills to develop and advocate for efficient transportation systems and services to help people move around the Bay Area.
During her tenure as a public leader, she was involved in many organizations and authored many policies with lasting impact on the Bay Area including:
· The King Plan– a major land-use amendment to the County General Plan to protect open-space while maintaining sustainable development in unincorporated areas that’s now considered a model for smart-growth.
· The Values Based Budgeting Process– an innovative approach to county budget reform, which received statewide recognition and continues to be used by the county.
Prior to being elected to public office, Ms. King led the drive for a successful county tax initiative campaign (Measure B) that created new sources of funding for public transit and other transportation projects and made Alameda County one of the first “self help” counties in the State.
Always keeping her connection to her roots, Mary also worked to improve economic conditions and social services for lower income residents, promoting health and education, and youth violence prevention programs. The Mary V. King Health Education Center is named in her honor as part of the Eastmont Wellness Center in Oakland.
Upon leaving office in 2001, Mary became a private consultant specializing in government affairs, regional housing, land-use, and transportation issues. In 2004, she was recruited to become the Assistant General Manager for Communications and External Affairs at the Alameda Contra Costa Transit District, and, in 2009, she was appointed to head the transit district as General Manager. She retired from the agency in early 2012 and was later appointed to fill a vacancy on the BART Board of Directors in August 2012.
Mary was awarded the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Grand Award in recognition of her leadership as Chair of the Bay Bridge Design Task Force that oversaw the public involvement process and selection of the unique self-anchored suspension element (SAS) for the new East Span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. That was a challenging project that Mary ushered through with grace and skill an community input. The Bridge is a beautiful way to remember Mary.
Organizations Mary was pleased to serve include: [GC2]Oakland Citizens Committee for Urban Renewal (OCCUR[GC3]), Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA), California Attorney General’s Commission on Hate Crimes, Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG), Former President, Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), Bay Bridge Design Task Force (MTC) Former Chair, Joint Powers Authority/Network Associates (Oakland/Alameda County Coliseum), Former Chair, Bay Area Air Quality Management District Board, One Hundred Club of Alameda County, Transportation/Planning Committee, Alameda County, Alameda County Transportation Authority (ACTA), Center for Ethics and Social Policy, Graduate Theological Union, UC Berkeley, Alameda County Democratic Central Committee, Former Chair, Democratic National Platform Committee, Oakland Civil Service Commission, Former Chair, Alameda County Civil Service Commission, Former Chair, Alameda County Employees Retirement Association, Former Trustee, and the Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation.
Among other honors, Mary was given the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the Conference Of Minority Transportation Officials; the “Allen E. Broussard Memorial Award for Outstanding Humanitarianism” by the Alameda County Bar Association; the “George Moscone Memorial Award” by the American Society of Public Administration; the Community Leaders Recognition Award by the Black Elected Officials and Faith Based Leaders of the East Bay and was named the “Legislator of the Year” in 1992 by the Association of Retarded Citizens. Most notably, she is a founder of the Alameda County “Women’s Hall of Fame Awards,” which has grown to be a signature countywide event and is now comprised of 200 honorees.
Mary was well known throughout the community and shared very special relationships with many people. She had a sparkling personality, a stunning mind, a great sense of humor, a belief in herself, knowledge and sage advice on many topics, a commitment to excellence and a love for travel in the Caribbean. She was unique, courageous, fun and enjoyed socializing with her friends at several local establishments, including the Seranader[GC4] , Café Van Kleef’s and Art’s Crab Shack. Mary maintained close relationships with her fellow Bishop O’Down graduate, Father Paul Vassar and with Rev. Cheryl D. Ward, both of whom she considered her personal Pastors.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2012 and later with Multiple Systems Atrophy, Mary participated and gained strength from involvement with Parkinson’s Disease Active, a local advocacy and support organization. Mary struggled with considerable pain from her disease in the past few years. She was very appreciative of friends and family who visited and supported her and her family in various ways. On Sunday, November 15, 2015, Mary transitioned from this life, leaving her family, colleagues and friends to carry on her legacy: her loving 100-year-old mother, Victoria H. King; daughters Kimberly King and Victoria King; Sister, Cecelia Jensen, Grandchildren, Cora King and Joshua King, and of her friends and colleagues throughout Oakland. To know Mary was to love her and she left an indelible mark on the countless lives of all of those who were blessed to come in contact with her.
My friend, I’ll say it clear,
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain.
I’ve lived a life that’s full.
I’ve traveled each and every highway;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.”
– Paul Anka, My Way
Miss Me
When I come to the end of the
road and the sun has set for me,
I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
Why cry for a soul set free!
Miss me a little, but not too long,
and not with your head bowed low.
Remember the love that we once
shared, miss me but let me go.
For this journey we all must take,
and each must go alone.
It’s all part of the Master plan,
a step on the road to home.
When you are lonely
and sick of heart,
go to the friends we know
and bury your sorrows
in doing good deeds.
Miss me, but let me go.
What’s your fondest memory of Mary?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary?
Share a story where Mary's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary you’ll never forget.
How did Mary make you smile?