Published in the December 9 – 22, 2015 issue of Morgan Hill Life
By Kathy Sullivan
Kathy Sullivan
Photo courtesy MH Downtown Association
Tracey Jeanot and MHDA office manager Raquel Crowell.
Tracey Jeanot was a board member of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association who died too young after two battles with cancer in 2014. She was a Realtor, wife, mother of two and a community activist. She was a women with a positive, can-do attitude and a great laugh. She became involved with MHDA because she was a downtown resident who wanted to improve and celebrate downtown.
When the Granada Theater had a special event in 2012 called “Holiday Movies at the Granada,” Tracey worked with others to raise money and bring in toys and food for various programs in the city. MHDA office manager Raquel Garcia Crowell recalls Tracey noticed during this time the downtown decorations were sparse and worn down. As was her nature, when she saw a problem she did something about it. She wanted to showcase downtown and help it get more of a holiday feel. She went back to MHDA and convinced the board to refurbish the old holiday decorations. The next year the board made a decision to spend more than $12,500 to build up the core pieces of holiday street ornaments which could be used year after year to help make the city sparkle and shine.
Noreen “Reeno” Nemec, a fellow Realtor and MHDA member, remembers Tracey’s passion for wanting downtown to be a welcoming place. She recalls how she used her passion to fight for new and tasteful decorations to be contributed for everyone to enjoy.
After Tracey’s death, MHDA devoted all membership dues last year to help contribute to her vision for improving the festive look for the holidays. This money was used to cover the cost of the tree which was lit up after the Holiday Parade.
Most of us know we will be mourned by our family and friends and we will live on in their memories. An added blessing is when what we did in our lifetime continues to affect an even wider circle of people. Tracey continues to live on and is remembered through her works, one of which is very pertinent this holiday season. Whenever residents look at the merry new look of the downtown holiday decorations, I hope they will remember Tracey this year and for many years to come. Her life just proves how one person can make a difference, especially when working with others for a common goal. Tracey Jeanot was a person who shined and now has literally brightened the city in which she lived and worked.
Kathy Sullivan is a board member of the Morgan Hill Downtown Association. She wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.
