"I first met Diana in 2010 through meetings of a local Audubon Society. I was Treasurer of the society at the time, and Diana soon became a Member of the Board of Directors. For the next eleven or so years, I got to know Diana through Audubon Society activities, perhaps most importantly those involving bird studies at the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, where I was engaged in systematic monitoring of bird life for the purpose of providing information that could be used for conserving the area’s birds following ongoing remediation activities. Diana joined in that effort, kept records of bird sightings, and was instrumental in arranging a tour of the site through the land owner for the benefit of SFVAS board members. In later years, Diana and I became more closely aligned in attempting to prevent the encroachment of political activities into Audubon affairs. I left the society in 2021 and asked Diana to join me in an effort to create a new non-profit organization more carefully focused on wildlife conservation not tainted by politics. She readily agreed, and, with the help of other like-minded people, the Simi Hills Wildlife Observatory was born. Our newly created Board of Directors chose Diana as Secretary, a role she fulfilled with aplomb. 

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She helped us work through the intricacies of California’s bureaucracy to gain official recognition as a non-profit, tax-exempt, public benefit corporation, maintained our official records, and compiled the minutes of our board meetings.  When we had difficulty finding an in-person venue for our members, who lived substantial distances apart, she graciously offered her home as a meeting place. She never missed a meeting, whether in-person or via online conferencing, and was always an active participant, stimulating discussion and offering practical solutions to issues that arose. All the while, she maintained her committee chair responsibilities with the Audubon Society and helped establish a “Bird Sit” program at a local park for people who wanted to observe birds but had difficulty with walking.  

I will always remember Diana for her courage in opposing knee-jerk political moves that had the potential of undermining our primary conservation mission, her calm, but firm, demeanor, her willingness to listen and consider the points of views of others, and her clear-thinking level-headedness – not to mention her enthusiasm for conserving our precious wildlife. Diana will be sorely missed."

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- Mark Osokow, President