HIP Housing Memories

March 2022

HIP Housing is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, and we will be gathering and sharing stories, memories, and photos throughout 2022 from HIP Housing founders, staff, and supporters.

This month, in celebration of Women’s History Month, we salute the many women who have worked at HIP Housing or served on its Board of Directors or Honorary Board, and been inducted into the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame.

May Lacsamana Nichols, who you can see in the center of the photo to the left, was named a San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame Honoree in 2011.  May had a long career in the postal service, and spent some time as the Postmaster General in Half Moon Bay.  After retiring, she returned to school at the age of 70, and earned her Master’s degree in gerontology.

It was then that HIP Housing hired May as the Resident Services Coordinator at our Edgewater Isle property in San Mateo, a role she held for 10 years.  After her passing, May’s daughter, Suyin, was hired to her mother’s position.  Suyin continues to show the same care and commitment to the residents at our three senior properties as May did before her.

Other women with a deep connection to HIP Housing are members of the San Mateo County Women’s Hall of Fame.  They are:

Barbara Liedtke — HIP Housing Senior Home Sharing Coordinator and 2007 Hall of Fame Honoree (Barbara stands to the left of May in the photo above)

Carol Stroy Boes — Former Member of HIP Housing’s Board of Directors and 1995 Hall of Fame Honoree

Congresswoman Anna Eshoo — Member of HIP Housing’s Honorary Board and 2013 Hall of Fame Honoree

Congresswoman Jackie Speier — Member of HIP Housing’s Honorary Board and 1992 Hall of Fame Honoree

Helen Hilton Raiser — Member of HIP Housing’s Honorary Board and 1987 Hall of Fame Honoree

Honorable Helen Fisicaro — Member of HIP Housing’s Honorary Board and 2000 Hall of Fame Honoree

Judy Gaither — Former HIP Housing Executive Director and 2002 Hall of Fame Honoree

Lois Almen Everett — Founder of HIP Housing and 1990 Hall of Fame Honoree

Ruth Nagler (deceased) — Former Member of HIP Housing’s Board of Directors and 1988 Hall of Fame Honoree

Sue Lempert — Former HIP Housing Staff Member and 1988 Hall of Fame Honoree

We are thrilled that all of these remarkable women have played an outsized role, not just at HIP Housing, but in San Mateo County!