I’m grateful for those making a difference in Silicon Valley

Every year, Thanksgiving gives us a reason to step back and think about the people and things in our lives that make things better.

But sometimes we realize we’ve missed our chance to show gratitude to the people who deserve it. I knew that would be the case this year when I thought about my annual Thanksgiving list, focusing on people who have made San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley better places to live, work and play.

• This list has to start with Chris Esparza and Rick Holden, two men who constantly pushed San Jose to be better and pushed its residents to expect more from their city. Their examples of civic engagement should be role models for everyone, no matter where you live, and I wish I had thanked them more often during their lifetime.

Ironically, they lived less than a block from each other in San Jose’s Nalee Park neighborhood, but their combined influence left a much, much larger footprint.

• Cindy Chavez, who left San Jose this month to take a new job in New Mexico after serving 11 years on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors and eight years on the San Jose City Council. She helped pass the Measure A affordable housing bond and helped secure federal funding for BART in downtown San Jose, but her best work was making sure the Valley’s children grew up healthy.

• Santa Clara County Supervisor Joe Simitian, who is leaving office this year after 41 dedicated years of public service that began with his election to the Palo Alto School Board in 1983. He is probably best known for his brilliant book, “There Oughta Be a Law” campaign, which resulted in 21 new laws, including the state’s hands-free cell phone driving law.

• Heather Lerner, who as president of the San Jose Rotary Club is using her energy — and considerable talent — to raise money to support the city’s restoration of the Japanese Friendship Garden in Kelley Park. The park and its koi ponds are still damaged after the 2017 Coyote Creek floods, and Lerner is committed to making everything beautiful again before a sister city delegation from Okayama, Japan, visits in 2027.

• Greg Kepferle, who is retiring this year after working for Catholic Charities at three different locations for 35 years – including the last 19 years as CEO in Santa Clara County. He was never the type to seek credit, but he was always there, helping with projects to save people from poverty, poor health and hunger.

• Symphony San Jose Artistic Director Robert Massey has revitalized the city’s classical music scene with a series of popular programs that provide entertainment at the California Theater.