Remembering Sylvia McLaughlin

Citizens for East Shore Parks honors the life of Sylvia McLaughlin, Grand Dame of environmentalism, who advocated for parks, open space and the San Francisco Bay. Click here to read more.

We invite you to share your memories of Sylvia McLaughlin here on our remembrance page. We will compile all contributions to share with the McLaughlin family.

We invite you to share your memories of Sylvia McLaughlin here on our remembrance page. We will compile all contributions to share with the McLaughlin family.

• Click here for Robert Cheasty’s eulogy remembering Sylvia.
• Click here for Doris Sloan’s eulogy remembering Sylvia.
• Click here for John Briscoe’s eulogy remembering Sylvia.
• Click here for Harvey A. Shapiro’s eulogy remembering Sylvia.

Sylvia McLaughlin was the co-founder of Citizens for East Shore Parks whose mission is to see a necklace of shoreline parks from Oakland to the Carquinez Strait. Thanks to McLaughlin and hundreds of other activists, 8.5 miles of our east bay shoreline that was formerly privately held is now a public park with access to all.

Due to her work as co-founder of Save the Bay, and the assistance of her friends, Kay Kerr and Esther Gulick, San Francisco Bay is now 40,000 acres larger than it was in 1961.
More than half of it is ringed with public trails connecting a series of shoreline parks.

An environmental activist all her life – Sylvia also helped establish the Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the first coastal protection agency in the US. We are so grateful for Sylvia and we accept the charge to continue to work to expand parklands on our east shore and save the bay.

Here are some thoughts from CESP Board and Staff:

“She has left us an inspiring legacy of parks, open space and environmental activism. She was an inspiration to us all and would want this important work to continue for future generations.” – Robert Cheasty, CESP Executive Director

“Sylvia poured her heart and soul into parks and open space projects and one great example of her regional footprint is the McLaughlin Eastshore State Park.” – Patricia Jones, Former Executive Director CESP

Please use the form below to share your thoughts.

More shared thoughts:

“Thank you Sylvia. Each day I’m reminded of you as I walk along our Bay. May your name be a blessing for us all.” –Robert L.

“I only met Sylvia once at the Goldman Awards even in San Francisco that I attended with my friend Patricia Jones. She was a lovely woman and most definitely did amazing things in her life! I want to be more like her.” –Leslie D.

“I never met Sylvia or her two “co-conspirators”, but I really admired them, as all it takes for nothing to happen is for no-one to stand up and protest…..” –Christine H.

“Sylvia was an iron horse in a cloak of velvet. Her tenacity and persistence in the causes she cherished will benefit generations to come in the Bay Area. We will miss her all-encompassing smile and great joy of life.” –Amy S.

“After becoming involved with protecting San Francisco Bay in San Mateo County especially in Redwood City around the Cargill properties, I came to know about Sylvia and the team of women ,and the work that they started that made it possible for us to continue the work without inventing the wheel. Thank you Sylvia, you left us a lasting legacy for generations to come. In gratitude to you. You will be missed greatly.” –Cynthia D.