Illa May Collin

1932 - 2024

Illa May Collin

January 24, 1932 - August 8, 2024

Sacramento, California - Illa May (nee Edwards) Collin of Sacramento died Thursday, August 8, 2024, at the age of 92. Illa was born on January 24, 1932, in Rock Springs, Wyoming, to Peter Edward Edwards and Vivian Lange Moon.

Illa was only 10 years old when her father died from injuries sustained in a coal mining accident. After IIla's mom remarried, the family moved to Portland, Oregon. Illa remained in close contact with her Rock Springs extended family throughout her life.

Illa graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in Journalism. She met her future husband, Donald Collin, at the University of Oregon, but it would be a few years before they became a couple.

Upon graduation, she secured an elementary school teaching position. With the summer off, she sold her car and dipped into her savings (much to the dismay of her mother) to take a long vacation in Europe with three girlfriends. While in Germany, she ran into Don who was in the Army. When Don returned to Portland from Germany, their romance blossomed.

She married Don in 1957 and left Oregon for California. While Don was working for an insurance company in Oakland and later attending UC Berkeley School of Law, Illa was busy as a stay-at-home mother raising three daughters, Karen, Anne, and Barbara. While living in the Bay Area, she was involved in the PTA and her daughters' extracurricular activities.

She and her family moved from the Bay Area to Sacramento in 1968, where she and Don established strong roots in the community.

Illa worked for different political movements and campaigns. From 1973-1975 she led the League of Women Voters in Sacramento. She worked on improving social services and community planning in Sacramento before being elected to the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in 1978, where she served District 2 for 28 years.

Illa had a passion for issues like women's rights, Asian American rights, providing education for the underprivileged, helping revitalize the urban downtown and surrounding communities, protecting all areas of the environment, and creating an efficient public transportation system in Sacramento. While in office, she was instrumental in the creation of the region's light-rail system, the American River Parkway, and the Sacramento Tree Foundation.

The Calvine Dairy Park was renamed to "Illa Collin Park" recognizing Illa as an unwavering supporter of Southgate Recreation & Park District during her 28 years on the Board of Supervisors.

The Mather Preserve, established for the purpose of protecting, in perpetuity, sensitive and high-value vernal pool habitat and associated listed species, was renamed to the "Illa M Collin Conservation Preserve" in 2018, in recognition of her vision and leadership in setting aside approximately 1000 acres of land acquired by the County during the closure of Mather Air Force Base for conservation.

While heavily involved in local politics, Illa always found time for her husband, daughters, and grandchildren.

She and Don enjoyed baseball and were River Cats season ticket holders for many years. They went on Jay Buckley's baseball tours, seeing many baseball games and stadiums in the US, including her beloved Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Some of their memorable travels included trips to Japan, China, Mexico, and Australia. They thoroughly enjoyed their Alaskan cruise and Panama Canal cruise.

Illa continued her involvement in the PTA in Sacramento and took a strong interest in her daughters' education and extracurricular activities such as Girl Scouts, softball, piano lessons, and horseback riding lessons. As her daughters grew into adulthood, she became their trusted advisor as they navigated becoming spouses, parents, and grandparents.

Illa enjoyed taking her grandchildren on outings to local parks & open space areas, the Sacramento Zoo, Fairytale Town, and the Effie Yeaw Nature Preserve. She took them to see movies at movie theaters and plays at the Chautauqua Playhouse. One summer she took her three daughters, one son-in-law, and five grandchildren to Southern California to visit Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, and Universal Studios creating great memories for all. Her home always had age-appropriate toys and video games to keep them entertained during the many family gatherings she and Don hosted.

Survivors include daughters, Karen Weisner (Clemens), Anne Jackson (Jay), Barbara Briesemeister (Alan); grandchildren, Amber Tsuchida, Brandon Haislet (Stephanie), Jared Haislet (Kirstyn), Justin Weisner (Holly), Melissa Weisner; great-grandchildren, Keira & Liam Haislet, Jordon & Zylah Haislet, George & Madelyn Weisner, Lana Stucki; niece, Mish Romeo (Mike), nephew, Les Guinn; nephew, Daniel Collin (Anne).

She was preceded in death by her husband, Don; her parents, Peter and Vivian, stepfather, Wilfred Matson; her sister, Darhl Guinn, brother-in-law Don Guinn, nephew Jeff Guinn; her brother-in-law Victor Stuart Collin, sister-in-law, Mary Anne Collin, nephew, Greg Thomas Collin; mother-in-law, Vera Collin, father-in-law, C Victor Collin; and grandson-in-law Daniel Stucki.

Illa's memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 28, at 2:00 p.m. at St Paul's Episcopal Church, 1430 J Street, Sacramento. The service will be live streamed on YouTube and Facebook please visit https://stpaulssacramento.org/ for links to the livestream.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Illa's memory to St Paul's Episcopal Church, KVIE, Starcross Monastic Community, or a charitable organization of your choice.