Honoring the Life and Legacy of MS. Fatima Soares

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Mr. LICCARDO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life and legacy of Ms. Fatima Soares, who passed away on June 14, 2026. For more than four decades, Soares dedicated her career to Coastside Hope, where she served with kindness, generosity, humility, and an unwavering commitment to the community. She rooted her leadership in compassion, service, and a deep belief in the dignity of every person. Born on April 2, 1954, in the Azores, Soares immigrated from Portugal to the United States in 1969. Her family first settled on her aunt's farm in Brentwood, California, before moving to Half Moon Bay. Soares graduated from Half Moon Bay High School and later attended San Francisco State University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work. Soares began her career at the Coastside Opportunity Center as a secretary and then as a social worker. She eventually became the organization's executive director, playing an integral role in its transition from the Coastside Opportunity Center to Coastside Hope. During some of the organization's most difficult financial times, Soares made courageous and thoughtful decisions, carrying the organization through hardship without sacrificing its mission to ``enhance the quality of life for all of our neighbors.'' Even after long workdays, Soares volunteered at the local RotaCare Clinic, helping ensure that community members without insurance could access the health care they needed. Those who knew Soares remember her as soft-spoken, thoughtful, and deeply attentive. She was a leader who listened with patience, and responded with wisdom, not judgment. She gave with a heart that asked for nothing in return. Because of her, Coastside Hope is stronger and the community is kinder. While Soares' professional accomplishments were remarkable, she also found joy in reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. Whether sharing coffee with her sisters or cheering with her great- nieces and great-nephews at sporting events, Soares treasured the simple moments spent with the people she loved most. Soares is survived by her sisters, Rosa Avila and Orlanda Soares; her nephew, James Avila; her nieces, Cassie Avila-Rotondo and Jessica Avila; her great-nieces, Abigail and Sadie Sullivan; and her great- nephew, Walker Sullivan. She was preceded in death by her parents, Antonio and Leontina Soares, and her brother, Tony Soares. I ask my colleagues to join me in remembering Fatima Soares, whose life's work remains woven into the heart of the Coastside community. May her generosity, kindness, and courage remind us that leadership can be both strong and tender.

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