Joanne White, known more affectionately as Jody, passed away after a long life of community service. She was a remarkably committed, generous member of the community and a stalwart defender of all that is good about the Santa Ynez Valley.
Jody was born in Whitefish, Montana, on October 16, 1922. Prior to moving to the Santa Ynez Valley in 1982, Jody and her husband, Vernal, lived in a home they built in Malibu Canyon. While Jody began by volunteering in Las Virgenes School District, she ultimately served as a boardmember and president of the district’s Board of Trustees, which gave her insight into the challenges of rapid growth.
When Jody and Vernal moved to Santa Ynez Valley, she quickly became enamored of her new home and soon embarked on a long journey to protect its natural beauty and rural, agricultural character. She never expected “someone else” to fight the good fight, but, instead, stepped up to the plate time and time again.
