Pelosi Statement on the Passing of Betty Jo Stephens

Contact: Ashley Etienne/Henry Connelly, 202-226-7616

San Francisco – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on the passing of California community leader Betty Jo Stephens:

"Paul and I were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Betty Jo Stephens, whose friendship we cherished for over 40 years, when we first met and immediately started loving both Betty and Frank. Over all this time, I loved Betty as a girlfriend and respected her as an extraordinary person. We all knew her as a pioneer and a champion, who shattered ceilings and broke barriers throughout her entire life. Her tireless advocacy and her personal wit and warmth will be missed by all.

"Betty believed deeply in people and their power to make a difference in our nation. As the Chair for the California Commission on the Status of Women, an early leader of the Democratic Women of Santa Barbara and a lifelong supporter of Planned Parenthood and Domestic Violence Solutions, she was a relentless champion for equality, justice and liberty for all. Betty's advocacy was driven by her experience as a female CEO in a male-dominated industry. She fought relentlessly for equal pay and equal opportunities in the workplace for women. After the tragic loss of her son, Bruce, she turned her grief into a decades-long mission to reduce heart attacks and cardiovascular disease, helping save countless lives.

"Betty was a unifier and an organizer, who loved the arts and deeply understood their power to bring us together. Her involvement in the Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera, Granada Theatre renovation and local jazz community leaves a beautiful legacy. Her greatest love was her family. May it be a comfort to her husband Frank, daughter Joi, four grandchildren and cherished great-granddaughter that so many share mourn with them and pray for them at this sad time."

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