Monica McDermott possessed a joie de vivre that was impossible to resist. After moving to California from Pittsburg, she found a core set of friends in the South Bay Ramblers. She soon established herself as a co-leader of the Group from 2009 - 2013 and used her marketing skills to design the Group's Annual Picnic banner and its logo, the oak leaf.

Planning and leading many of the Rambler hikes, Monica explored the trails of the Open Space Preserves and County Parks on the Peninsula and in the Santa Cruz Mountains. With her partner she continued to ramble in the redwoods, from the Bay Area to the Oregon Coast, returning time and again to the redwoods of Pescadero Creek County Park and Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP, two of her favorite places.

Monica's sense of humor infused delight and energy into the hikes she led. As the hikers gathered, Monica introduced herself by saying, "Hi, I'm Monica and I lead from behind!"

Monica now joins other Ramblers who have passed and whom we remember on this Memorial page; Larry Matson, Jeff Lamb, Ruby Poon and Chau Trinh. Please join us in maintaining the redwoods that provided each of them so much joy. Every $250 raised, funds the planting of a redwood tree.