College trustee Leiderman dies College trustee Leiderman dies (September 16, 2005)

By Molly Tanenbaum

Foothill-De Anza Community College trustee Andrea Leiderman, a community activist and Mountain View resident, died Sunday at her home after a long battle with colon cancer. She was 46.

"I have lost a very dear friend, and the community has lost a dedicated servant," said trustee Hal Plotkin. "Her life was cut far too short."

Through rounds of chemotherapy over 15 months, Leiderman battled the colon cancer that metastasized in her body, while continuing to be involved in the board.

"She fought until the very end and pushed herself to serve," said Paul Fong, fellow trustee and close friend.

Her longtime involvement in local politics led her to meet her husband, Hayes Alexander, and Fong, who recruited her to join him on the board in 2002.

"I couldn't think of a better person to recruit for the appointment," Fong said. "Her commitment to the underserved and the students was unparalleled."

Her parents, Drs. Herbert and Gloria Liederman of Stanford, said that she was always surrounded by friends and attracted many people wherever she went. She had a passion for women's rights and a dedicated, energetic, hard-working nature.

"When she started something, she had to finish it. That's why she survived her illness for so long, because she was so tough about it," her father said.

She had been serving as director of government and community relations for Kaiser Permanente's South Bay service area and was instrumental in the opening of the new Santa Clara hospital, Dr. Liederman said.

Born in Boston, Mass. in 1959, she moved with her family to Palo Alto in 1963. A Gunn High School graduate, she became politically active while studying at Vassar College and worked for several congressmen in Washington after graduation.

Later, she went on to receive two master's degrees from the University of California at Berkeley, in public policy and educational administration.

Her extensive community involvement included serving several terms on the Santa Clara County Board of Education, on the boards of the Mission City Community Fund, San Jose Chamber of Commerce Local Issues Advocacy Committee and the College of San Mateo President's Council on Advancement. She also served as chair of the Working Council of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.

Previously, she taught at Evergreen Valley College, served as senior council assistant and chief of staff to San Jose City Councilman Jim Beall, and was a research analyst for the Santa Clara County Office of Education's Center for Educational Planning.

She is survived by her husband, Hayes Alexander of Mountain View; her parents; brother Dr. Joshua Liederman of Montreal, Canada; sisters Erica Liederman-Rex of New York City; and Dr. Deborah Liederman of McLean, Virginia; brother-in-law Virgil Frizzell; and nieces Sarah and Abigail Frizzell of McLean, Virginia.

Her family has established the Andrea Naomi Leiderman Fellowship Fund for Stanford University undergraduates to support services and research with underserved Bay Area youth. Contributions may be directed to the Stanford University Development Office, Gifts Processing, 326 Galvez St., Stanford, CA 94305.

A memorial service will be held later this fall.

E-mail Molly Tanenbaum at mtanenbaum@mv-voice.com

E-mail a friend a link to this story.