A celebration of the life of Diane Thomas will be held on Saturday January 17 at 10:00 a.m. at the Pacific School of Religion, 1796 Scenic Avenue in Berkeley. Thomas, who died peacefully on December 1 of cancer, was a cofounder of the Resource Center for Nonviolence in 1976 and lived in Santa Cruz and served on the staff during the Resource Center’s formative years. Thomas also helped found the UC Nuclear Weapons Lab Conversion Project, served on the staff of the Ecumenical Peace Institute for more than a decade, and helped found the Iraq Initiatives Project. A highlight of Diane’s work for peace and justice was speaking before a massive rally of more than a million people in June of 1982, after having fasted for disarmament for 30 days, to bring pressure on the Second United Nations Special Session on Disarmament in New York City. One of her proudest achievements was establishing the Dismantling Racism Committee at the Pacific School of Religion where she joined the staff in 2000 and directed the annual fund and alumni relations, organized the annual Earl Lectures church conference, and co-chaired the seminary’s Dismantling Racism Committee until the time of her death.
For photos of Diane and information on her work for peace and justice, www.peacehost.net/EPI-Calc/Diane/ Tax deductible memorial donations to support the Iraq Initiatives Project may be made in Diane’s memory to: EPIC/CALC, PO Box 9344, Berkeley, CA 94709 (write Diane/IIP on memo line).