Byrne Mathisen was a force to be reckoned with. Determined, passionate, and straightforward, Byrne brought people together to advocate for PPNorCal, including Barbara Boxer, Diane Feinstein, and Nancy Pelosi. For over 40 years, Byrne dedicated her energy towards protecting reproductive rights, first as a PPNorCal volunteer and later as a board member (1997-2002) and the Public Affairs Committee Chair. She lived through the dangers of a pre-Roe world and was very concerned with what would happen should Roe be overturned. She and her beloved husband of 56 years, Oystein, have been generous in their loyal support of PPNorCal’s mission. As the mother of two daughters, Byrne knew how vital it is to give women the tools needed to make responsible choices for themselves. Byrne grew up in upstate New York as one of six children in an Irish-Catholic family. Inspired by her mother’s career as a head nurse, Byrne became an x-ray technician. Between her experience in health care and growing up in a community with limited access to family planning, she quickly realized how important organizations like PPNorCal are in our society. She became a firm supporter of reproductive freedom and believed that the government should not interfere with this fundamental human right. Byrne would have been 79 on May 8^th, 2022.