Lorraine Boyce started her work as a nurse in the obstetrics ward of Los Angeles County General Hospital. But even outside the hospital, caring for people in need, especially low-income women and children, became her life’s work.
Boyce, the first woman mayor of Escondido, co-founded the Escondido Community Child Development Center in the mid-1970s so mothers could have child care while they went to work to support their families. Boyce was involved in supporting the center for 50 years. One of the nonprofit’s buildings on 9th Avenue in Escondido was named in her honor. A full-length portrait of her is on a mural outside the center. She also helped form Friends of Planned Parenthood and a family planning clinic in Escondido.
“She was a passionate advocate for women’s rights and health. She wanted to help low income families better themselves,” said Danielle Rush, human resources manager at the Escondido Community Child Development Center.
Boyce, who died at age 97 on Jan. 15 in Escondido, continued to visit the kids at the Escondido Community Child Development Center until her last days.
When Boyce met with Rush a few months ago, Boyce told her “the Escondido Community Child Development Center was the best thing that I ever did.” The center now serves roughly 500 children, 4 months to 5 years old, and provides early learning and family support services for parents who are working, looking for a job or attending school.
In the late 1960s, while Boyce was involved with the League of Women Voters, the community was concerned about the shortage of low-income housing, which led Boyce to run for city council to help solve the problem. She also mentored young women who were interested in politics. She served on the Escondido City Council for eight years from 1970-1978 and served as mayor from 1974-1976.
At one city council meeting, while Boyce was mayor, five women came before the council and said they could join a program to attend college and go to work if they had day care for their children. But there was none in Escondido. They asked if the city could do anything. Boyce said she’d try and did some research. That led Boyce to serve on the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Early Child Development Programs. Boyce met Ruth Clothier, a Palomar College professor who was on the committee and established the college’s child development program and preschool laboratory. The women got a $79,000 grant to start a child development center for 21 children.
“Lorraine has been a powerhouse ever since in our community,” said Ryan Fergison, Escondido Community Child Development Center board of directors’ chairperson and president of the Escondido East Rotary Club. “As the city’s first woman mayor she mentored many who followed in her steps politically from both parties. A leader by example as well as what was spoken, Lorraine was looked up to by everyone who knew her.”
The one thing about Lorraine that Fergison said would always stay with him was her attendance at the Center’s 50th anniversary celebration last year, where she was honored by Escondido Mayor Dane White. “What stole the show and had me standing in awe was when Lorraine was introduced. The crowd stood and applauded for a long time. No one could get enough of her smile and wave,” Fergison said.
Among her kudos, Boyce was selected as one of nine 2019 Escondido Forever Legends by the Escondido History Center and was inducted into the San Diego County Women’s Hall of Fame in 2014.
Boyce was born in Los Angeles in 1927 and graduated from Hollywood High School. She earned a nursing degree from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Nursing Education from National University. After World War II, in 1948, she married Dr. William Boyce. The couple had four daughters and moved from Whittier to Escondido in 1954. The couple was married 67 years until William passed away in 2015.
When their daughters were young, Boyce served as Girl Scout leader for 12 years and taught free community swimming lessons as part of a Red Cross backyard swim program. “But most importantly she was always available to help people in need. Our family home welcomed foster children and foreign exchange students. She was always a joy to be with and loved by all, ” said Boyce’s daughter Carolyn Diaz. The family adopted two boys and sponsored a Vietnamese doctor and his family of five in the 1970’s after the Vietnam war.
“Lorraine and her husband were an anchor in town for more than 60 years,” said longtime friend Dennis Jones, a retired firefighter.
A celebration of life for the family and the community is planned for 11 a.m. Feb. 8 at the First Congregational Church in Escondido. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Escondido Community Child Development Center.
