Betty Bobeda was born and raised in Watsonville and sat on the City Council from 1991 to 2002, including two stints as mayor.
That, coupled with a career in local agriculture that spanned more than four decades, drove her to support Measure U in 2002 and Measure Q 20 years later.
Both measures aimed to protect agricultural land by limiting urban growth.
“The most important part to me was saving ag land,” she said.
Doing so, she said, helps bolster business in the downtown area and creates jobs.
“And all the benefits that you get from produce,” she said. “Financially and economically. I just think it’s important to preserve it. And I was very happy. I was very pleased. And hopefully I did a good job.”
Bobeda, who turned 90 on March 6, worked for Valley Harvest with her husband and later worked from home handling accounts receivable for a local company.
But if the Measures U and Q—which passed with overwhelming community support—brought her a sense of professional satisfaction, she derives her greatest pride from another source.
That, she said, comes from her son, 67, daughter, 65, and grandsons, 22 and 25.
Her oldest grandson works for United Genetics in Hollister, and the other works for Granite Rock in Santa Cruz.
“That’s what I’m most proud of with everything I’ve done in life. I’m proud of my family.”
Bobeda has stayed active even after retiring at 85.
She belongs to the Watsonville Woman’s Club and is a member of the Slavic American Cultural Organization (SACO) and the Sons of Italy.
She also makes a daily trip to nearby Coffeeville.
In her spare time, Bobeda says she likes to read, tend her garden, go on walks through her Bay Village neighborhood and knit afghans, which she donates to the Salvation Army.
Bobeda graduated from Notre Dame High School in 1951 and the College of Notre Dame four years later.
And she has always remained in the town where she grew up.
“I stayed here basically because I married a local boy, and it was just a natural thing to do,” she said. “I had no inclination to move anywhere else. I was happy being home with my family and friends and whatever. Watsonville was home. It was always home. It always will be home.”
Her advice for a long life?
“Stay active. Stay healthy. Get involved. And I think those three things will help you reach 90.”
