Recognition & Stewardship

The Southwest Corridor Park Conservancy is stronger—organizationally and culturally—because of Lorraine Steele.

Lorraine was a deeply committed steward of the Southwest Corridor Park and a driving force behind much of the Conservancy’s steady progress over the years. She believed in the park as a shared civic space and in the Conservancy as a vehicle for protecting it through thoughtful governance, reliable operations, and sustained community support. She did not wait to be asked. When something needed attention—systems, funding, access, follow-through—Lorraine stepped in and stayed with it until it was done.

As a board member, she combined persistence with collaboration. Lorraine understood that structure matters and that decisions have downstream effects. She was careful to bring meaningful discussions to the full board, to involve the right people at the right time, and to ensure that work moved forward with clarity and shared ownership. She was pragmatic, solution-focused, and firm when the Conservancy’s long-term interests required it—especially when safeguarding organizational independence, administrative access, and institutional continuity.

Lorraine’s leadership extended well beyond formal roles. She was a central figure in neighborhood life, actively involved in the St. Botolph Neighborhood Association and the St. Botolph Dinner Club, where she helped sustain traditions, organize seasonal events like the neighborhood wreath sale, and bring people together around shared meals and shared purpose. She understood, instinctively, that strong civic organizations are built on relationships as much as on structure.

That belief shaped how she worked within the Conservancy. Lorraine was generous with her time, appreciative of volunteers and colleagues, and attentive to the people behind the work. She checked in. She said thank you. She noticed effort and followed up with care. Her professionalism never came at the expense of warmth.

Friends and neighbors often described Lorraine as a “force of nature”—outgoing, funny, and generous, with a love of travel, gardening, and the performing arts. She brought that same energy to civic life, making participation feel purposeful and, just as importantly, enjoyable. Her presence made people want to stay involved.

The respect she earned is reflected in the many ways she has been honored, including community members and organizations choosing to support the Conservancy in her name. Those gestures speak to the breadth of her impact—not only on the park itself, but on the people and institutions connected to it.

Lorraine helped shape how the Conservancy works and how it shows up for the community. Her legacy lives on in the standards she set, the relationships she strengthened, and the expectation that this work be done thoughtfully, collaboratively, and with care. Continuing that approach is one of the most meaningful ways to honor her contributions.

Deeply Missed and Honored: The profound impact of her personality is reflected in how much she is missed by her friends and the lasting legacy she left through her civic work and the kindness she showed to everyone around her.