Our History from the Beginning
staff—especially its Director, Dave Cort—are simply the best, pro- viding optimal service to local communities and to those in need. “Keep on truckin’,” he advises. When asked about his role in supporting the Center’s proj- ects and programs —most notably
identified over 120,000 acres of land to be protected, and Gary and his colleagues worked with Congressmen Phil and John Burton who pushed through the legislation. Again, Gary matched his conservation focus with efforts to protect agriculture—supporting leases for ranches in the park, and supporting MALT (Marin Agricultural Land Trust). The other thing Gary is most proud of in his career is the fruitful evolution of the Marin Community Founda- tion (MCF) and Buck Institute for Age Research. In the late ’70s Beryl Buck’s $12 million bequest to the poor and needy of Marin had literally hit pay-dirt—oil, that is—and burgeoned to over a quarter billion dollars. The San Fran- cisco Foundation, which managed the funds, filed suit to break the Buck will, claiming that some of the millions should go to other counties. Gary went on a campaign, calling the San Francisco Foundation representatives “grave robbing bastards.” Gary recalls with some amazement that one day he was speaking about the issue, and off the cuff he suggested that, rather than break the will, “some of the funds be used to benefit all humankind.” Since we all age, he quipped, perhaps some of the funds could be used to create an institute to deal with the problems of aging. Eventually, the judge agreed, and the suit was overturned, for the benefit of Marin. Over time, the Buck Institute has blossomed beyond all expectation, and the MCF has given over $900 million in grants to Marin causes. Gary’s service to diverse other organizations and causes is immeasurable. He served for 20 years on the Golden Gate Bridge Board, ten on the Coastal Commission, and on the MCF Board of Trustees. In 1982 Gary married Linda, bringing a new partner into his life. When asked about the Community Center, Gary responds with high praise—that he, and the people of MCF, recognize that the Community Center and its
Supervisor Gary Giacomini riding in the Western Weekend Parade in Point Reyes Station 1988
the new Gym—Gary is modest—recalling Turkey Day at the Center in 2008, when the recession had really hit home and there was a line of hundreds of people waiting for food for Thanksgiving. He says that the Foundation as a whole supports our good work—he doesn’t exert any particular influence—“but sometimes I can sweeten the pot.” He did, that particular Turkey Day. Just as the Center was running out of food and about to turn people away, a call came from the Foundation—reporting that $20,000 was com- ing immediately to help serve the needy. Instead of turning people away, Dave and staff members quickly went grocery shopping. Gary is quick to credit his elected and professional col- leagues, along with many community leaders, for these enormous accomplishments. But we all know that the most important achievements in history are made when the right person is in the right place, at the right time. Thank heavens that, in this place, and at that time, it was Gary.
Gary Giacomini passed away at his home in San Geronimo in December, 2016. Here Lagunitas School District children hike the Zig Zag Trail on the Maurice Thorner Open Space Preserve in honor of his birthday in April, 2017.
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50 th Anniversary
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