Opinion: Mourning Madera icons

The year 2024 may be only two weeks old, but it has already dealt the Madera community a blow that will be felt for a long time to come. The recent deaths of four Madera civic leaders have left me in mourning.

The Dec. 29, 2023, passing of Audrey Pool has taken a friend of education and my classmate’s mother on to her final reward. Her accomplishments, as listed on the Jay Chapel website, are beyond impressive.

Another Madera icon who has left us too soon is insurance guru Steve Copland. His agency, Seabury, Copland & Anderson, has served the insurance needs of local residents for many years. Founded in 1939 by his father, Copland supported many Madera betterment projects throughout his professional life.