by Roberto Gaitan
We are saddened to hear that Diann Ballesteros (Class of 2003) passed away shortly after midnight today. She was a pillar of our Chapter, achieving certification as part of our 2nd class of students.
Diann worked for many years at Hugh Ramsey Nature Park. She helped develop our vision for the park and worked on the Betty McEnery Memorial Garden, the first garden created on the park’s Ebony Loop.
When AEP made a mess at the park back in 2017 when they trimming trees away from the power lines, Diann came out to help salvage the McEnery Garden. Having been there from the beginning, she knew exactly what had been planted and knew where they should be.
Diann loved native plants, birds, and all natural things of the Rio Grande Valley. She was a retired teacher and loved to share her knowledge. She was active in the Native Plant Project and the Port Isabel – South Padre Island Shell Club.
My last memory of Diann is that of a true nature stalwart. During the Boca Chica cleanup on November 21st, we were driving down the beach to our target area when we came upon a small SUV we recognized. Sure enough, there was Linda Butcher cleaning up a piece of the beach. We were pleasantly surprised to see Diann, her walker over by the car, gingerly walking along the dune line, helping clean up our beach.
It reminded Barbara of a Wildflower Trek she had been invited to attend in 2016. Having only recently graduated from TMN, Barbara didn’t really know what to expect but knew to accompany Frank and Diann on any journey was an important, educational opportunity. It still makes Barbara smile when she remembers trying to keep up with the two of them, especially when Diann led them across Highway 77 near Raymondville to see the wildflowers blooming in the median.
As we send Diann’s family our warmest wishes during this difficult time, let us celebrate the life of our fellow RGVC member. May we carry on her work with the same dedication that many saw from Diann Ballesteros.
Follow these links to learn more about Diann’s contributions to the RGV.
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