Beverly Diane Wallace, UC Cooperative Extension 4-H youth development advisor emeritus and former long-time director of UCCE in San Diego County, died on March 13. She was 84.

Wallace, who was born near Malibu, served UCCE for 38 years.

“Her love for extension, her tireless efforts to secure support for the office and support for all staff made a huge difference in the culture and productivity of our office,” said Ramiro Lobo, UCCE small farms advisor for San Diego County.

Wallace is remembered as a great mentor by former colleagues Sue Manglallan, 4-H youth development advisor emeritus, and Valerie Mellano, former UCCE environmental issues advisor.  

“She instilled the principals of Cooperative Extension bringing research and education to solve community issues,” said Manglallan. “Her leadership as CD was used to support the creation of many innovative programs such as 4-H afterschool care and San Diego Grown. Diane worked hard to secure resources for program development and delivery.”   

Mellano added, “Diane was a great mentor, and an integral part of the ag community for such a long time, not to mention a great single mom and a really great grandma. She was really effective about creating a collaborative staff in our office.”

Her daughter Andrea “Andi” Doddridge recalled that Wallace volunteered for many school field trips and took her to numerous 4-H camps, meetings and conferences, saying “She was a tremendous role model for mothers everywhere.” 

At the time of Wallace's retirement in 2002, then Regional Director Susan Laughlin said, “Diane guided her 13 advisors toward issues programming well before focusing on issues rather than commodities became a standard goal within Cooperative Extension.” Laughlin noted the UCCE San Diego staff was arguably the best example of teamwork in UC Cooperative Extension.

“She was very supportive of her staff and we appreciated that,” said Cheryl Wilen, UC Integrated Pest Management advisor emeritus. “Helping San Diego residents, especially growers and youth, thrive were the most important things in her life next to her family.” 

As a 4-H member, Wallace raised a certified Angus steer named Gus when she was in high school. Gus was named Grand Champion Steer at the California State Fair in Sacramento and his sale at the fair's auction funded her dreams of attending college. The daughter of a cattle ranch manager and a homemaker became the first of her family to attend college.

After earning a bachelor's degree in home economics at UC Davis, she joined UC in 1960 as a 4-H and home advisor in San Bernardino County. Wallace left UCCE in 1964 after marrying and having a child and moved to San Diego, where she took a job with San Diego Gas & Electric to demonstrate new electric appliances for the home to consumers. In 1968, she returned to UC Cooperative Extension to develop and expand 4-H and home advisor programs in San Diego County. 

In 1982, UC ANR named Wallace one of its first female UCCE county directors. She developed relationships with county government officials and agency directors, which enabled the UCCE advisors to assist a wide range of county departments and community-based organizations. That collaboration cultivated broad-based county support and appreciation for UCCE programs.

Over her career, Wallace received many awards, including the Woman of Achievement Award from the President's Council of the City of San Diego, the Distinguished Service Award from the National 4-H Agents' Association, the Distinguished Service Award from Assembly Council and the first Friend of Agriculture award from the San Diego Farm Bureau. 

 “I feel so lucky to have known and worked with Diane,” said Manglallan.

Wallace is survived by daughter Andrea Doddridge; grandchildren Zach, Jacob and Madelyn Doddridge; and sisters Shelba (Lloyd) Crenna and Joan (Kermit) Walker. A private family interment service will be held in Galt this summer. Donations may made in her memory to the Cal Aggie Alumni Association at UC Davis, 530 Alumni Lane, Davis, CA 95616.