RENO, Nevada (KOLO) – Dolores Feemster may have lost her second battle with breast cancer in 2018, but her legacy lives on in northern Nevada.
“It didn’t have many things, but it made a lot of difference.”
Woman, mother, mentor, community lawyer, civil rights activist. The list goes on of how Dolores Feemster touched the lives of so many northern Nevadans.
“It was like she had a different secret identity as a superhero in the community,” said Lonnie Feemster, Dolores Feemster’s son.
She was born and raised in northeast Reno. Over time, she raised 12 children. Their doors were always open to children in the area who needed a warm meal or good advice.
Lonnie added, “She really has left an indelible mark on so many young people.”
Feemster worked for the Washoe County School District for more than 30 years, helping with the integration of Renos schools and being a consultant at Hug High School. She has positively influenced hundreds of students.
“She just left a long legacy in the hearts and minds of students who have come through and been touched by her care and love,” Lonnie said.
In all aspects of her life, Feemster sought to eradicate racial discrimination and advocated equality. For years she volunteered in the Reno Sparks Chapter of the NAACP, the Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society, and others.
Lonnie added, “To help people who needed help, and to have empathy and compassion for everyone, regardless of their ethnicity.”
Her love for community involvement went beyond education and civil rights. Feemster has received countless awards and recognitions for her humble humanitarian efforts.
“It is one of the treasures of my life to have known my mother and have the opportunity to be her son and try to follow in her footsteps,” said Lonnie.
She was determined to make a difference and to overcome every obstacle on her way. Feemster has made a lasting impression on future generations.
“She took care of her family and she showed love for many other people.”
You may also remember her name as a finalist for renaming the building for career and technical education at the existing Hug High School. District leaders said they would find another way to honor her as her name was not chosen.
She died peacefully on May 25, 2018, the day after her 89th birthday. Click here to read the obituary for Dolores Feemster.
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