Susan Jaeger Watson

Susan Jaeger Watson, a long time Orinda resident, died of natural causes on April 21, 2016. She was widely known for her volunteer conservation work with Save Mount Diablo, the East Bay Regional Park District, the Lassen Park Foundation, and many other organizations. Much of what makes Orinda and Contra Costa County beautiful and livable benefited from her dedicated attention. Among her awards were the 2005 William Penn Mott Jr. Environmental Award of the Orinda Association, which earned her additional recognition from the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, California Legislature and the US Congress; a 2001 Mountain Star Leadership Award by Save Mount Diablo, recognizing individuals who have made difficult and visionary contributions; a Legacy Award for Lifetime Achievement, First Annual Women of Achievement Awards sponsored by Broadway Plaza, in 1996; the Environmentalist of the Year Award from Mt. Diablo Silverado Council of BSA in 1997; and the 1992 John Muir Conservation Award (with her husband, Robert) as long time President of Save Mount Diablo and coordinator of the Technical Advisory Committee for Lassen Volcanic Park and Forest. She led the design and creation of the Lassen Crossroads Regional Interpretative Center from 1985-2001. Raised in Alameda during the Depression, her Alameda High School class was "The War Class", starting at the beginning of WWII and graduating at its end; they had their 70th reunion last year with Susan serving as the secretary of the reunion committee. As a high school senior, Susan honorably served as a Page at the Charter Meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1945. Keenly aware of world events, she became a Political Science major with a focus on international and constitutional law and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from U.C. Berkeley, 1949. She married Robert S. Watson, also a "Cal" grad. They had two children, Sarah and Charles, settling first in Berkeley, then Stockton, then in Orinda in 1957 where she lived until her death. She was proud of her extensive organic garden, skilled as an artist with fine arts training, and was active in her church. She volunteered for the Red Cross International Program at UC Berkeley and made many lifelong friends from around the world. In addition to her conservation work, Mrs. Watson was an avid hiker and backpacker, leading countless hikes locally, at Diablo and Lassen, and in the Sierra. She was a Founding Member of the Geriatric Backpackers Association, 1984. Her husband, Robert, and her parents Marjorie and George Jaeger, predeceased her. She is survived by her two children, and her four grandchildren Kathleen, Alyssa, Alexis and Ryan, as well as her sister, Consuelo Thompson, and her daughter, Debi Best. A memorial service and reception will be held at St. Stephens Episcopal Church, Orinda, on Thursday, May 26, 11a. In lieu of flowers, please make charitable donations to Save Mount Diablo, www.savemountdiablo.org ; Lassen Park Foundation www.lassenparkfoundation.org ; St. Stephens Episcopal Church, Orinda CA www.ststephensorinda.org. Letters of condolences and remembrances can be sent in care of St. Stephens.