Jo Anne Darcy’s Celebration of Life to honor the former city mayor who championed the city’s founding is set to take place Sunday in Newhall.

The celebration is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 12 at 2 p.m. in the historic Newhall Family Theater for the Performing Arts, formerly known as the Newhall School Auditorium.

Darcy, a founding Santa Clarita City Council member who was considered one of the driving forces behind Santa Clarita’s push for cityhood, died Oct. 29 after a decade-long battle against a serious illness, according to a report by SCVNews.com.

She served on the City Council for 15 years, starting with the very first Santa Clarita City Council in 1987. She left the council in 2002 after serving four one-year terms as mayor.

The 529-seat Newhall Family Theater is located on Walnut Street between 11th and 12th streets. Overflow parking should be available at the Old Town Newhall Library, roughly two blocks distant.

Here’s a history of Jo Anne Darcy’s notable achievements, provided by SCVHistory.com:

Darcy was a resident of Saugus, and served on the Santa Clarita City Council from 1987-2002. She was elected mayor in 1990, 1995, 1999 and 2000. As of 2014, she is still the only person to be selected as mayor in consecutive years.)

A resident of Santa Clarita for over 23 years, Darcy had 4 children and 7 grandchildren. She was widowed after Curtis “Curt” Joseph Darcy died in 1991 at age 69.

Curtis and Jo Anne Darcy owned and operated the Acton ’49er saloon, located at 31908 Crown Valley Road (corner Cory Avenue), from 1968 to 1974, before moving to Saugus.

She attended Los Angeles City College for one year, before transferring to Santa Monica City College for 1½ years. She attended classes at the University of Colorado, Long Beach College, El Camino College, UCLA, USC, CSUN, Mills College and various classes and seminars at UC Davis.

Here are some of the accomplishments and positions Darcy held over the years:

• Senior Deputy to Board of Supervisors (15 years).
• Councilwoman (1987-2002). Mayor (1990, 1995, 1999 and 2000).
• Former small business owner / operator (7 years).
• Accredited / experienced Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President / Manager (7 years).
• Professional Executive Assistant to Vice President of Fortune 500 company major corporation (13 years).

Her public service record also stands out:

• Appointed to California State Film Commission in 1989 by Governor Deukmajian and reappointed in 1993 by Governor Pete Wilson.
• Actively participated in filming activities in Acton, Agua Dulce, Newhall, Saugus, Valencia, Val Verde and Castaic since 1970.
• Chaired original film committee of Newhall-Saugus-Valencia Chamber of Commerce and Acton Chamber of Commerce from 1974-1980.
• College of the Canyons Special Task Force on Small Business (1990-1991).
• 1992 Chairperson for the Santa Clarita Valley Small Business Development Center Business Survival Committee.
• Santa Clarita Valley Regional Vocation Education Council (1982/1991).
• Elected President 1994, President Elect 1993, former Director, 1st and 2nd Vice President of Independent Cities Association Board (50 Cities) 1990/1991, Programs & Conference Committee 1991, and 1992 to present, Legislative Chairperson and 1993 Special Events Chairperson, Chairperson 1994 Winter Conference.
• Chairperson, City of Santa Clarita Entrepreneurial Library Council 1995.
• Santa Clarita Valley Special Task Force on Library enhancement 1989-1991.
• Founding Officer of the Friends of the Libraries of SCV in 1978.
• Member C.H.I.S.S., Consumer Housing Information Services for Seniors (1989-1990).
• Elected Director Santa Clarita Redevelopment Agency, 1991, reelected 1992-1995.
• Appointed Santa Clara River Plan Task Force 1993, Tri-Cities Liaison Group 1993 and Ventura council of Governments Sub-Region Delegate 1993 to present.
• Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee Member (1991-1995).
• CCCA appointed to committee from 1991-1993.
• Elected to City of Santa Clarita Public Finance Authority. Treasurer and Director 1991-1995.
• League of California Cities Traffic Reduction and Free Flow Interagency Committees Growth Management & Regional Issue Committee 1992-1993.
• Director of L.A. County Sanitation Board District 32 & 26, 1998-1991 and 1994-1995.
• Founder / Officer /Member of many organizations representing business, environmental, transportation, educational, philanthropic and community issues. Experienced President / Chairperson, administrator, delegate and member of numerous councils, associations and committees in county, state and local government.

Darcy was an active member of the community, joining and sometimes leading several organizations in Santa Clarita:

• Co-chaired and is Executive Director of the Western Walk of Fame and Newhall Walk of Western Stars, 1981 – present.
• Member of California Country Music Association, 1985 – present.
• Zonta Club of SCV (International Women’s Organization) Founding Officer, Past President, member 1978 – present.
• Founding Member SCV Zonta Club Kids program 1993.
• 1991 Chairperson Status of Women Committee, Zonta International.
• Founding Honorary Director SCV Mobile Dental Clinic Association (1993-1994).
• SCV Historical Society Founding Member, Secretary 1988-1989, member since 1985.
• Association to Aid Victims of Domestic Violence, Founding Member.
• Santa Clarita Valley American Heart Association Celebrity Waiter and Past President 1991.
• Chairperson Santa Clarita Valley Benefit Wine Auction 1991-1993, benefiting SCV Senior Center’s Meals on Wheels Program.
• Appointed Director of SCV Arts Council from 1993-1995.
• SCV Professional Referrals Organization (PROS), 1993.
• Honorary Member Kiwanis Club of Newhall-Saugus and Santa Clarita Valley (1995).

In the past 25 years Jo Anne Darcy has worked with over 30 community groups and service organizations covering a gamut of issues from Area on Aging, Environmental, Planning, Infrastructure, Water Conservation, Filming, Business, Strategic Planning, Transportation, Legislation, Economic Development, Child Care, Youth Programs, Senior Citizen’s Affairs, Housing and Vocation Education for students and Women and Family Values Commission.

Honors

• “Woman of the Year” award from the SCV Chamber of Commerce in 1984.
• “Outstanding Woman” award from the Soroptomists in 1986.
• “Founder’s Award” from Zonta Club of SCV in 1986.
• First woman to receive “Citizen of the Year Award” in 1990 from Santa Clarita Elks Lodge.
• “Appreciation Award” from Newhall Rotary for community service.
• “Founder’s Service Award” from Western Walk of Fame and SCV Walk of Western Stars in 1990.
• American Heart Association Continuing Service Award in 1991.
• “Appreciation Award” for earthquake services to Crescent Valley Mobile home Park in 1994.
• Honoree of Sterling Who’s Who Executive Edition for City Leadership in 1994.
• “Woman of the Year” award from I-ADARP in 1994.
• “Appreciation Award” from American Legion Newhall-Saugus Post 507 (1994).
• Award of Merit from American Legion (1994).
• Award from Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital Trauma Center Support Group (1994).
• Honorary Elk of the Year (1994).
• Community Partnership / Business Partnership award for dedication to youth at risk.
• Outstanding “Woman of the Year” for SCV Senior Center and Committee on Aging.
• “1995 Independent Cities Association of California President’s Achievement Award.”

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