Thank you for reminding us to lead with generosity, curiosity and joy
Dear Bill,
You did more than call San Diego home, you helped define what it means to be part of this community.
At the Burnham Center for Community Advancement, we work to make the San Diego region better for all. We bring people together. We build trust. We help leaders find common ground and turn good ideas into action. Your life and leadership inspire our work.
You understood the power of connection. You brought people together wherever you went. You asked questions. You listened. You challenged us to really think. You made people laugh. You made people feel welcome. You treated a conversation with a stranger with the same energy and interest that you brought to a room full of friends. You believed in performing at your best for your team.
You showed us that community starts with people.
That belief also drives OneSD. Today, more than 100 organizations work through OneSD to build trust, strengthen relationships and create a stronger San Diego. We bring people from all sectors and different parts of our region to the same table. We ask them to share, listen, learn and work together.
You would have loved this work.
You knew people do not need to agree on everything to care about the same place. You knew that curiosity can open doors. You knew that a shared love for San Diego can bring people together.
You also showed us that joy matters.
You brought joy into every room. Your voice carried energy. Your stories carried humor. Your presence made people stop and listen. You cared until the very end. You never lost your sense of wonder about people or the world around you.
We will miss that. I will miss you.
We will miss seeing you and Lori at our events. We will miss your stories and your laughter. We will miss seeing you arrive chair in tow, with Lori close behind. Those moments became part of the life of our community.
But your example remains.
You showed us that a legacy does not live on a plaque or a building. It lives in the people who carry an idea forward.
We carry your example forward with us into our work.
As we continue bringing people together, we build bridges, we forge forward to create spaces where San Diegans can listen to one another and find ways to work together.
We will keep choosing connection.
Thank you, Bill, for showing San Diego what community can look like. Thank you for reminding us to lead with generosity, curiosity and joy.
We miss your voice, your laughter and your stories, but we feel your presence in the community you helped build.
With gratitude,
Tad Seth Parzen
CEO, Burnham Center for Community Advancement
On behalf of BCCA and OneSD