Janis Kate Turner passed away on October 30, 2018. She was an amazing woman who dedicated her life to making our community and beyond a better place for all.
As an avid environmentalist, Janis was always first to advocate for positive change, speaking at public hearings, writing letters to the editors, and working with numerous organizations and decision-makers to bring about changes that would protect our natural resources.
Janis worked for decades as a leader in the Sierra Club’s Tri-Valley Group. At the time of her death she was serving as the group’s chair. She also served on numerous chapter committees in efforts to leave a better world for our children.
In her advocacy, Janis helped to establish urban growth boundary lines, protect groundwater from pollution by treated sewage, and, most recently, stop oil drilling in Livermore. She actively opposed the expansion of landfills in the Tri-Valley. She always led by example; she recycled everything she could long before it was mandated.
Janis was always willing to fight for more open space and parks. As a member of the Friends of Tesla Park, she traveled to Sacramento to support efforts to stop further erosion and damage caused by off-road vehicles in sensitive habitat areas. She traveled great distances even if she was only allowed to address state committees for a few minutes.
Janis loved the outdoors and was a gifted athlete. For years, she hiked every week with the Hill Hikers and knew every trail in the Tri-Valley. She cherished the beautiful vistas and wildlife one could see from Brushy Peak and Sycamore Grove Park. She backpacked and loved being in the Sierras.
In addition to hiking, Janis was an inspirational cyclist, swimmer, and cross-country skiier. With a group of friends, she rode her bike across the United States from the Pacific Ocean to Virginia Beach, Virginia in sixty days. She recounted how she would get up in the dark with a flashlight strapped to her her helmet to make coffee before biking more than sixty miles a day. An outstanding swimmer; she could complete fifty laps and then spend another hour or two on synchronized swimming routines.
Janis’s efforts to create a safer world went beyond environmental groups. She was acting president of Tri-Valley CAREs, an organization working to stop nuclear testing and reduce the arsenal of nuclear weapons. She organized local marches and meetings against weapons and traveled to Washington D.C. advocating for peace.
Janis was constantly giving of her time to support others. She taught math at East Avenue Middle School for years and continued to work as a substitute after retirement, always nurturing young students. She volunteered for the Laundry Ministry, helping the homeless so they would have clean clothes and bedding. As a master gardener, she volunteered at the farmer's market teaching others how to grow organic and sustainable produce. She replaced her front lawn with California native plants and grew fruit trees in her backyard: figs, apples, pears, lemons, persimmons, apricots, and plums, sharing the fruits with all of her friends.
Most of all, Janis loved her family and friends; she was devoted to her granddaughter Piper, her son, Dr. Brian Bettencourt, and his wife Leslie, and her brother, Steve Turner. She cherished her friends, especially Stu Fine, her significant ex-husband with whom she remained very close. She was so proud of her young granddaughter, Piper; she always shared pictures of her and was so happy to see Piper off to her first day of school this year. Janis worked consistently for our families and our future. Her caring nature, indomitable spirit, positive attitude, and hard work helped create a safer environment for all of us and she will be greatly missed.