It is with a heavy heart that the Austin EcoNetwork marks the tragic passing of Mary Gay Maxwell, a longtime backbone of the local environmental community. Mary Gay served for more than 15 years on the Austin Environmental Board/Commission, a citizen group that advises City Council on a wide range of different environmental issues. Mary Gay had been the chair of the board for the past eight years. Throughout her time as a leader in the local environmental community, Mary Gay established herself as a tireless advocate for Austin, helping to preserve many of the natural resources that we all enjoy today. She was also a longtime friend of the Save Our Springs Alliance, which put together a touching tribute of her life’s work, which you can read here.

In an effort to celebrate her life and honor her years of service to the community, the Austin EcoNetwork asked some of her closest friends and the city’s strongest environmental advocates to share a few words about Mary Gay. Here is what they had to say:

“Mary Gay was a friend, a teacher, and a determined advocate for Austin’s environment and our natural resources. She leaves a considerable gap in Austin’s environmental leadership. Mary Gay created a legacy of promoting stewardship and responsibility in protecting our city’s unique beauty. I am tremendously saddened by her passing.”  – Austin Council Member Leslie Pool

“Working side by side with Mary Gay for so many years on the Environmental Board and in the community, I remember thinking that I could literally feel her passion for Austin and its natural environment. She single-handedly willed good things to happen and kept our resources protected. Along with so many others, I will miss her tremendously.” – Dave Anderson, Director of Land Use Policy at the Drenner Group, former Chairman of the City of Austin’s Environmental Board

“I worked with Mary Gay and several dozen others on the unsuccessful attempt to stop Water Treatment Plant #4.  Many people scowled at us at the time.  It is now widely acknowledged, even by many of the plant’s boosters, that the plant was either not needed or not needed at the present time.  As the saying goes, ‘they’re not laughing now.’

“We have lost a treasure. Mary Gay put her heart and soul into her environmental leadership. She just deeply cared about Austin, about us, about our world and our future. She possessed a uniquely blunt but loving directness and passion that we sorely need. We miss you and love you, Mary Gay.” – Matt Hollon, City of Austin Watershed Protection Department

“Mary Gay’s commitment as the longtime chair of  Austin’s Environmental Commission and participation on many of its subcommittees was inspirational! Under her leadership the commission was an inclusive forum for areas of ecological importance.

“Mary Gay Maxwell was as skilled and as passionate an activist as has ever spoken at the Austin City Council Chambers. She was a fierce advocate for causes she believed in. She was soft spoken and had that ‘Lady Bird Johnson/ steel magnolia’ quality that made some people underestimate her which was a huge advantage and she knew how to play it – and often did.
She was also an excellent psychotherapist – and it showed. During my 3 terms as Chair of SOS, she frequently helped ‘counsel’ the board and was able to provide important insight into people and their personalities — especially developers and elected officials that weren’t on our side of the issues.
Mary Gay leaves a legacy of advocacy that has made Austin’s environment better- and made many of the people around her better human beings. She is an irreplaceable treasure.” – Robin Rather, CEO of Collective Strength

“Dr. Maxwell was a fierce and passionate advocate for protecting and preserving Austin’s environment. She was also a strong supporter of Austin’s neighborhoods and worked to preserve Austin’s unique atmosphere. I worked with her regularly for the last four years in her capacity as Chair of the Environmental Commission and have known her even longer. She led that body with integrity and honor and devoted many hours every week to that work. I depended on her for her insight and experience in protecting the environment while understanding the reality and necessity of Austin’s growth. Dr. Maxwell was also an incredible supporter of the City’s Watershed Protection Department and our efforts to address water quality protection and prevent flooding. I will miss her so very much and she leaves a void that will be hard to fill.” – Chuck Lesniak, City of Austin Watershed Protection Department

“Rest in Peace Dr. Mary Gay Maxwell. You were a dedicated public servant as a longtime member and chair of the City of Austin’s Environmental Board. You helped shape Austin and by extension urban development on planet Earth. Your life will impact my life, the lives of so many, our city and planet for many years to come.” – Brandi Clark Burton, Senior Policy Advisor to Austin Mayor Steve Adler, Founder of the Austin EcoNetwork

“What stands out in my mind about her life and her generous public service is that she always focused on finding the fair and right solution to whatever issue she was working on. She never hesitated to ask pertinent, “pointed” questions to learn as much as she could before making a decision. I’ll always remember her for, and be grateful for, her selfless servant leadership to the community. Throughout the twenty-five years I was blessed to know her and occasionally work with her, she never wavered in her steadfast commitment to making central Texas a better place for all of us. Let’s not say ‘she’ll be missed.’ Rather let’s say that her memory and passion will live on in our hearts, minds and collective soul. Her memory will continue to enrich our lives.” – George Cofer, Executive Director of the Hill Country Conservancy