
Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.
In Loving Memory of Pauline Stuber
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Pauline Louise Sumner was born August 4, 1944, in Pendleton, Oregon, the eldest of three children. She moved to San Francisco in 1963 to pursue a career in civil engineering. She studied civil engineering at Blue Mountain College in Pendleton, Oregon and later attended St. Mary's College in Moraga, CA, receiving a bachelor's degree in Business Management.
For the next 10 years, Pauline served with several engineering companies, from 1973 to 1990, Pauline was active in founding and serving as co-owner of Stuber-Stroeh Associates, Inc. with her husband John Stuber, who she married in 1976. She served as Vice President prior to the firm's merger with CSW Consultants in 1990, forming CSW/Stuber-Stroeh Engineering Group.
In 1974, Pauline became a charter member of Soroptimist International of Novato and continued as a member for over 40 years. She served as club president from 1979-80 and again from 2009-10 and held many board positions throughout the years. She served eight years as chairperson of the annual fundraiser, a luncheon and fashion show, and chaired the silent auction committee for most of the past 40 years. She also served on the Women's Award Committee as well as the Scholarship Committee.
Pauline was very dedicated to women's issues and was engaged in a workplace campaign to end domestic violence. Soroptimist International of Novato named Pauline "Woman of Distinction for 2004." In 1987, Pauline became a member of the Ignacio Rotary Club, becoming only the second woman to join a local Rotary Club.
During the next 28 years, she served the club in many capacities, including as a member of the board of directors and club president from 1993-1994. In addition, she managed the Wilburn High School Graduate Scholarship Program from its inception.
She became the director of the club's World Community Service Committee, a position she held for over a decade due to her love for this area. Her commitment to helping those in need resulted in her leadership of numerous worldwide humanitarian projects in foreign countries, including the Philippines, Nepal, Columbia SA, Jamaica, Panama, Mexico, and Bali. Pauline was involved in Project "Build Hope", which provides funding for students and chaperone volunteers to travel and build homes for the homeless in Mexico.
She was the recipient of many Rotary awards from her own club and Rotary International and was a Paul Harris Fellow and Major Donor. In 2008 Pauline received the prestigious Rotary International Service Above Self Award, an award given to very few Rotarians worldwide.
In 1989, the Marin County Board of Supervisors appointed Pauline as the North Marin representative for the Commission on the Status of Women. She held that position for 3 years and continued to support the Commission as it evolved into the Marin County Women's Commission.
Pauline served as a member of the Marin Homeless Shelter Committee and was appointed to the Marin County Blue Ribbon Homeless Working Group, later the Marin County Commission on the Homeless. The Marin County Board of Supervisors expressed their deepest gratitude to Pauline for her leadership, enthusiasm, and tireless commitment to others by Resolution adopted May 24th, 2011.
In 1993 she founded and co-chaired Help for the Heartland to aid those in the Midwest after the devastating floods that year. She solicited donations of supplies, building materials and cash from service organizations and private individuals in Marin County. She persuaded Southern Pacific Railroad to donate 4 boxcars and 3 rail lines to provide transportation from Novato to St. Louis where the donations were given to the Salvation Army.
Pauline was involved in supporting Novato's schools and chaired the Wilburn Scholarship Committee, providing scholarships for graduating high school students. In addition, she was part of the Novato High School's Job Shadowing Program and served as chair on the Affirmative Action Committee in Novato Unified School District.
The city of Novato recognized Pauline's commitment and involvement in 1989, naming her Novato's Citizen of the Year. Pauline was involved in many charitable events for the City of Novato including the Novato "Adopt an Island" program, the Novato annual "Clean and Green" day, as well as environmental cleanup projects. She also provided volunteer services for numerous city functions including the Novato Art and Wine Festival, the Novato Streetscape and Maintenance Coalition Committee.
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