City of Cathedral City
Street, Neighborhood and/or District Identification Street Sign Blade “Toppers”
INSTRUCTIONS AND APPLICATION
4 Map showing the street, neighborhood and/or district boundaries and the location of the existing street name sign blade poles where sign Toppers are proposed:
Sketch in this space and/or attach a map that clearly illustrates boundary limits and note all locations where Toppers are proposed
SARAH DIGRANDI STREET SIGN DEDICATION
Today we are here to honor a true legend of Cathedral City, Ms. Sarah DiGrandi. Someone who helped form the first visions of our great City. First, some historical facts - Cathedral City was incorporated in 1981, but developers built its first modern subdivision here and named it Cathedral City in 1925. This past August, Cathedral City celebrated its 100th birthday. Also, this past August, Sarah DiGrandi celebrated her 90th birthday.
Who would have known this great individual, born in the southern hills of Tennessee in 1935 would come here to our sprawling empty desert and have such a magnificent impression on our community.
Sarah moved to Cathedral City in 1957 to what was thought of back then as ‘moving out to the country’ for a simpler life. After establishing her household in the Palm Springs Vista Homeowner Association, now known as the Outpost neighborhood, getting married and having her three children, Debbie, Ron and Darla, she pursued her career in banking, reaching the senior position of Vice President, where she retired at after a successful 32- year career.
After moving here in 1957 and establishing her foundation, Sarah felt the love and compassion for her community, wanting to take a leadership role. She decided to run for City Council in 1986, just 5 years after Cathedral City was incorporated.
Having a positive reputation for helping local businesses get established through her banking contacts and support, Sarah easily won her first political election, in fact was a top vote getter. She would go on to win a total of four elections from 1986 to 1998 and serve one of her terms as Mayor pro tem before retiring from political oƯice. Sarah served a total of 16 years on the Cathedral City City Council.
Included in Sarah’s many accomplishments other than helping to establish many local businesses that helped shape the heart and soul of Cathedral City, she was integral in establishing the Cathedral City Senior Center on Buddy Rogers Avenue; opening the Cathedral City Library on Date Palm and launching the Cathedral City Boys and Girls Club on Whispering Palms, in addition to help establish our local Police and Fire Departments.
Sarah also played active rolls for many years by serving as either President, active board member, or key volunteer with the following organizations: Cathedral City Senior Center; Cathedral City Rotary International; Cathedral City Soroptimist; House of Hope; Cathedral City Chamber of Commerce; Read to the Children Foundation; Coachella Valley Association of Governments; and the local United Way. She also served with several other organizations outside of the Cathedral City region, where she was able to direct their activities to our area, which benefited our local economy. We would still be here another half hour if I had to read her full list of accomplishments in her political and private sectors.
I think it’s fair to say that Sarah had an influence on the City of Cathedral City that far exceeded her reputation, and which no one can fully calculate her dynamic impact.