It is with a heavy heart that I share our longtime beloved friend to the Democratic community, Laguna Woods Democratic Club President Linda Nearing, passed away last week.
Linda’s work built the foundation for the blue waves that swept Orange County. Her leadership was one of the many reasons that former DPOC Chair Henry Vandermier recruited her to serve on the Council of Clubs and help build new clubs across Orange County.
DPOC recently awarded Linda our most prestigious honor, the Truman Lifetime Achievement Award. Accepting the award from Henry Vandermier, Linda said, “Thank you so much to all of you. … Love each other, take care of each other.”
I’d like to share words from Linda’s dear friend and DPOC Council of Clubs President Sue Dearing to the Laguna Woods Democratic Club:
“Democratic Club President Linda Nearing passed away mid-afternoon December 17. Only minutes later the skies opened with an unexpected downpour and a beautiful rainbow. Linda’s spirit had passed into the cosmos. Diagnosed with the most aggressive form of glioblastoma, Linda chose the End of Life Options Act to guide her return to stardust. A decades-long advocate of Compassion and Choices, the national organization which promotes Death with Dignity laws, Linda also fought for the California initiatives which finally made end of life options possible in 2016 for people with a six-month terminal diagnosis.
Linda will be missed not only by the members of the Democratic Club but by all in the village and county who knew her. She served as club president for ten years and was active in both the county and state Democratic parties during that time. She served as an alternate for the County Central Committee, member of the executive board, chair of the Truman Dinner and delegate to the state convention. Her infectious laugh, open spirit, and brave optimism were with her until the end.”