A Tribute to Anne Seeley

A dear friend and colleague, Anne Seeley, recently passed away after a difficult battle with cancer. Anne was a true pioneer in the area of Active Living through her efforts as Coordinator of the Active Community Environments Program within California Department of Health Services' Physical Activity and Health Initiative. Anne was relentless in her efforts to increase public health's involvement in national and state transportation, land use, trail building, and park and recreation priorities. Under Anne's vision and leadership, California Walks, the Healthy Transportation Network, California Safe Routes to School, and California Walk to School Day Headquarters were established and continue to flourish today. Anne's trailblazing endeavors were recognized when she was selected as the first and only professional ever from the field of Public Health to receive a prestigious German Marshall Foundation fellowship usually awarded to transportation engineers and land use planners. Anne's fellowship allowed her to spend a month in Europe with professionals from diverse disciplines to discover how other countries successfully foster walkable and bikable communities. Her simple dream was to get more people, more active, more often. All of us who knew Anne will miss her vital presence in the work that we are engaged. May we continue to be inspired by Anne's enthusiasm, love, grace and wisdom.

Steven P. Hooker, PhD, Director
Delores Pluto, PhD, Newsletter Editor
University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center