Cay Collette Goude

Cat and I car-pooled together while she was working at the Corps of Engineers and I was working at Fish and Game, and we both lived on the highway from Sacramento to Jackson, and we sheltered at her house when our home in Sloughhouse was at risk of flooding from the Cosumnes River. We cherished our connections between our children and the Goude kids, and we still gather with them for holidays, and miss Cay so much!

I think of Cay often and miss her so much. Her honesty, love, charity and sense of humor were bright spots in my life and she continues to be an inspiration to me even in death. Ruth Pratt

Cay and I were neighbors, car-pool partners, colleagues in the natural resource conservation profession and friends of immeasurable depth. When our home on the Cosumnes River was at risk of flooding, the Goude´s home was our refuge. When their son celebrated his wedding, our son was his Best Man. We went to the soccer matches of their children and essentially we are family. Cay´s memory is cherished indeed, and I will be donating one of my hand-turned wood salad bowls to a conservation group...

Cay absolutely embodied "Earth Day" and fought through her whole career and life for the environment. Those who knew and loved her are going to keep on working for the protection and healing of our earth.

We worked together for years within the American Fisheries Society for social justice and environmental justice. She was a great leaders.

It was 2 months today that my sister passed away after her courageous battle with cancer. It should not have been this way as I am 10 years older than Cay. My sister has always been courageous, passionate, kind, and fun. I so deeply miss her and not a day goes by that I am not thinking of her.

I have known Cay for over 30 years. She was a good friend. I will miss her and i will miss the lunch we had planned to have.

I first met Cay in a fish physiology lab where I was a teaching assistant for Joe Cech at UC Davis in the late 1970s. She stood out as an outspoken student with a quick wit and fun sense of humor, so we immediately became good friends. During my career in fisheries, whether working for the State or in private consulting, I crossed paths with Cay many times. She was always a strong advocate for endangered species, was full of energy and ready to take on any entity in the defense of native...

Cay is the one who got me through the loss of my own wife, who was one of her best friends, in 2002. Treated me like family and invited me to all the family functions. I will never forget that love and kindness. My deepest sympathy to Eric and the family.

Bob Coates