If you've ever wondered what you could do to get more involved in the government side of your community, you couldn't do much better than look at the life of Phyllis Roff, a wonderful lady from Walnut Creek who passed away recently at the age of 86.

She had no compunction about telling government officials what they should and should not be doing. She started years ago as a regular at Walnut Creek City Council meetings, speaking up when she thought it necessary. She was also interested in transportation and after attending many local meetings was appointed to committees as a citizen participant. Her particular interests also spread to water and to county government and its participants.

Many people knew her from Letters to the Editor on a wide range of subjects, especially during election campaigns. Her literacy and expanse of knowledge eventually won her a column in the Contra Costa Newspapers weeklies which she wrote for several years.

Former Walnut Creek Councilmember and Mayor Mary Lou Lucas became a friend and remembers her fondly.

"She wasn't just one of those people who show up at city council meetings who wanted to get their name in the paper," Lucas said. "She was not just a gadfly; she really was very knowledgeable, really bright and believed that people should be participating."

She won numerous honors from government agencies during her lifetime. A real honor would be to take a leaf from her book and pay attention to local government, perhaps write a letter or two to an editor.

–PK