Matriarchs
In honor of Mother’s Day and our upcoming Project Matriarch, the Seabirds discuss the Matriarch’s in their lives that provide endless inspiration
Mama, Kim Thoa Duong (Seabird: Tiff Duong)
My mom is my favorite person in the world. She is joy, above all else… not the naive kind, but a joy that has known pain and chooses to light the world up anyways. She is play, and generosity, and love for each and every person. She’s the best person I know and the strongest and most resilient, and I’ll live my life always trying to honor her legacy.
Grandmother, Alma Newcomer (Seabird: Christy Keating)
Mama, Dawn De Celles (Seabird: Daphne De Celles)
Grandmother, Alma Newcomer (Seabird: Christy Keating)
My grandmother, Alma, grew up in the Louisiana bayou as the youngest of 13 children. After graduating high school, World War II gave her the chance to serve her country and to see a bit more of life outside her small town. She joined the Navy as a WAVE and was stationed in Philadelphia, where she met my grandfather. They married and lived happily ever after, running a small pharmacy on the corner of 12th and Spruce and raising three children, including my mom. When I close my eyes, I can still see her hands reaching out for a hug, and I can still hear her laughter.
Grandmother, Edna Hopkins (Seabird: Louise Edwards)
My Grandmother, Edna, grew up in Birmingham, England, the middle of three children. WWII broke out when she was 18 and she watched her beau, Kenneth (my granddad) immediately drafted into the Navy and off to war. She was very smart and had excelled at secretarial college (the only option for women’s education past 14 at that time), so managed to land a job with the Aldis Brothers (inventors of the important Aldis Signal Lamp) where she was writing patent applications and drafting plans. She inspires me because even though she was born in a time when her opportunities were limited, she always found a way to use her skills to help others, both inside and outside the home.
Grandma, Isabel Maxson (Seabird: Ashley Bugge)
My grandma’s catchphrase was, “Just Enjoy!” Born in Camden, Maine, she joined the Ice Follies at a young age and toured around North America as a professional ice skater. She and my grandpa settled in San Francisco where they had three daughters. It is here where my brothers and I would spend each summer of our childhood, my grandma always planning trips to the waterpark and taking the ferry across the bay, walking up to Pier 39 to get sourdough bread and a Ghirardelli hot fudge sundae. She had a smile and laugh that would light up the room and she instilled in me that joy is the greatest gift we can give ourselves and others. She died September 2013, just a few weeks before Brian and I found out we were expecting our first child together, a girl; Isabel. My children have grown up hearing “Just Enjoy!” and will continue to spread this message for many generations to come.
Left to Right: Grandmother, Edna Hopkins (Seabird: Louise Edwards) & Mama, Kim Thoa Duong (Seabird: Tiff Duong) & Grandma, Isabel Maxson (Seabird: Ashley Bugge)
Mother, Kathi Gerspach (Seabird: Nicole Wood)
Growing up, my Mom was an alternative school science teacher. She won a grant to lead a 2yr field research study, with some of her students, in an area that was slated for development. Among many unique features to the area, their biggest discovery was a resident endangered species of frog. It caused quite the stir and got ugly (developers can be the worst). Despite push back, her and her rag-tag team of alternative school kids on the fringes of community, some of whom were experiencing homelessness, did something amazing for their community by taking on the fight for habitat protection. This paid off recently with the opening of Newell Creek Canyon Nature & Education Park. A process that took over 25 years, from field study to park opening. Today you can enjoy 236 acres of protected wildlife habitat, old growth forest, hiking paths, mountain biking trails, picnic spots, and you’ll see wildlife that includes the northern red-legged frog, coastal cutthroat trout, red-breasted sapsucker, beaver, red fox, and more! Thanks Mom
Biological Mother, Donna Lehue & Adoptive Mother, Effie Cotton (Seabird: Carol Blickenstorfer)
With Mother’s Day rapidly approaching, I’d like to reflect on how fortunate I have been to be loved and cared for by two mothers, some amazing aunts, and mothers of friends who made up my matriarchal village. My biological mother was the most selfless woman I’ve ever known. She prayed for me while she was pregnant, knowing she was going to give me up in hopes for a better life than she could provide at age 19. My adoptive mother showered me with love and attention from the time she met me. I had three biological aunts whom I adored, and my adoptive mother’s best friend was so much more to me than an aunt as she was part of my life for as long as I can remember. I adored, respected and admired them all, and even though they are all gone, I will always look to the heavens for their guidance and love. All six of these amazing women were unique, beautiful, strong, kind, intelligent, loving women. Even though I had not met my biological family until ten years ago, all my life they were all my cheerleaders, my guardian angels, and even unknowingly my inspiration. I am very fortunate to have been raised by such strong, kind, and loving people, and I’m super blessed to have met my biological family when I did. After learning about my mother’s childhood, careers, marriages, and amazing daughters and sisters, I could not help but be in awe.
On another note … I get my love for animals from the women in my life and my adventurous nature from both of my fathers. I’ll save that story for another time!
Mama, Dawn De Celles (Seabird: Daphne De Celles)
Some people dream of adventure; my mom went out and lived it. She left her entire life in the Northeast, set off for St. Maarten, met my dad, and built a life by the sea.That choice has profoundly shaped my own journey.
My mom is bold, intelligent, humble, caring, and more of a badass than she’ll ever realize. Together, we’ve faced challenges, we’ve overcome difficult moments, and we come out stronger every time. No matter what, she has always been by my side cheering me on and supporting me in ways I can never fully repay. I am forever grateful for you, mom.
