I recently learned that Dona Spring, my friend and mentor, passed away in July. I was completely unprepared to receive the news, and I still haven’t completely come to terms with the loss.

I interviewed Dona in August 2006, to find out about her involvement in politics. She was an outspoken political activist, who fought for the rights of the disabled, the elderly and the poor, as well as being a champion of animal rights, environmental stewardship, and nonviolence. She served on the Berkeley City Council from 1992 until her death.

Dona was very popular with voters in her district, and after being elected she won every subsequent election by a strong margin. Her 2002 opponent, Robert Migdal, was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle as saying, “Running against her was absurd. It was like running against Mother Teresa. She’s this tenants rights icon, a peace icon, a disability rights icon. I knew it was hopeless.”

When I met Dona Spring, she had a tremendous impact on me personally. I was impressed by her energy and determination, and I think some of her enthusiasm rubbed off on me. She fought relentlessly for the causes she believed in, and regularly passed legislation which benefitted minorities in her area.

When she was in her twenties, Dona developed a progressive immune system disorder which eventually restricted her to a motorized wheelchair. In July, she contracted pneumonia and died, at the age of 55, as a result of complications with her condition.

The news came as a shock to me. Dona was so full of life and energy and determination. Her health may have been fragile, but there was nothing else fragile about her.

My heart goes out to those in the Berkeley area and elsewhere who are mourning Dona’s passing.