Pat Dando wore many hats in her lifetime, serving on the San Jose City Council for a decade beginning in 1995, including two years as vice mayor, leading the San Jose/Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and spending a year in the administration of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. She led the 1988 campaign to build San Jose Arena and co-founded both the Stroke Awareness Foundation and the Almaden Valley Youth Counseling Center.
But education was her consistent passion, whether as schoolteacher in Schenectady. N.Y., or as president of her children’s school PTA in the Almaden Valley. So it makes perfect sense that a statue to memorialize Dando, who died of lung cancer at age 71 in 2017, would be placed at the entrance to the Almaden branch of the San Jose Public Library on Camden Avenue.
“She was all about youth and community,” said Bill Baron of Brandenburg Properties, a longtime friend of Dando’s who spearheaded the Pat Dando Legacy Endowment Fund effort. “Her upbringing made children and children’s learning really important to Pat personally. Being an elected official was one thing, but what Pat was really about was caring, compassion and community.”
The bronze sculpture, which depicts Dando sitting on a bench reading Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree” to two children, will be unveiled during a livestreamed ceremony on Dec. 19. A separate pedestal next to the sculpture will feature a bronzed open book with details of Dando’s life and career, as well as recognition of donors. Details on how to watch the 2 p.m. ceremony, which is expected to include remarks by San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and former Mayor Tom McEnery, are available at the Pat Dando Legacy website, patdandolegacy.org.
The design originated with Pat Sunseri, a graphic artist at De Mattei Construction, and the sculpture itself was created by Napa artist Mario Chiodo. A group of nearly two dozen family members, friends and civic leaders raised more than $350,000 for the project, and the balance of the money — the exact six-figure amount will be announced on the 19th — will create an endowment for the San Jose Public Library Foundation to fund for children’s programming.
The original plan was for the sculpture to be completed and dedicated in the spring, but the COVID-19 pandemic pushed everything back. Still, Baron said that accomplishing the project adds a silver lining to a year that was filled with darkness. “Life is about inspiration, and it’s those moments in life that give your reason to continue and be engaged,” he said. “So I think there’s some truth in that — that as challenging as times are now, to be able to unveil this public art and the meaning behind it is a fine tribute to Pat.”
CHANGES AHEAD AT THE YWCA: After nearly seven years as CEO of the YWCA of Silicon Valley, Tanis Crosby has announced that she’ll be moving from that position to lead an as-yet unannounced nonprofit in the region.
“My time at YWCA has been a journey of learning, growing and being witness to our strength and resilience,” she said in a statement. “I am so proud of our team and all we have been able to accomplish to move the needle on social justice, eliminating violence and making our community the best place to raise the next generation.”
While a search is conducted for a new CEO, Adriana Caldera Boroffice, currently the organization’s chief program officer, will take the helm in the interim. “Adriana’s strong leadership in key roles over the past ten years at your YWCA sets us up for a smooth transition; I couldn’t be leaving the agency in more capable hands,” Crosby said.
CONNECTING SAN PEDRO SQUARE: The San Jose Downtown Association bestowed its Golden Nail Element of Distinction Award on Friday not to a new or redesigned building, but to the space in between them: The new alley that runs through San Pedro Square connecting San Pedro Street and Almaden Avenue. The award was accepted by Don Peterson of Mill Creek/Modera, the residential development at the site, and Rob Steinberg of Steinberg Hart, which designed the space.
The Alley allowed bars and restaurants like Farmers Union, Britannia Arms and Five Points the ability to create outdoor patio areas fronting the new paseo. And another bonus is that it finally provides a visible entrance for Tabard Theatre Company, which for years practically had to hand out maps so newcomers could find its box office.
EARTHQUAKES SHAKE THINGS UP: The San Jose Earthquakes may have had a disappointing end to a memorable season this year, but the team is still scoring goals on its off-the-field efforts to fight food insecurity in the South Bay. You might remember in July the team launched Pledge 74, an 18-month initiative to raise and donate $740,000 for food banks and other related agencies and amass 740 hours of volunteer hours from the organization’s players and staff.
The results are looking pretty good just five months into the campaign. More than $200,000 has been contributed, the team has put money from its marketing budget toward raising awareness about food insecurity on billboards and the Quakes are using the team’s website and social media channels to highlight local heroes in the community. And those 740 volunteer hours are already in the books.