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The process began with an August letter from Foundation President Victoria DeMoss requesting that the building be renamed to honor Tatzin for his accomplishments on behalf of the city. "Don has had a hand in every significant project that the city has completed over the last three decades," DeMoss wrote. She went on to point out what she termed Tatzin's greatest accomplishment: being the financial architect behind the $50 million Lafayette Library and Learning Center. "It is therefore fitting that the Community Hall, where Don has devoted so many hours and which would not exist but for his efforts, be renamed to honor his service to the community," DeMoss concluded.
On Sept. 12, the Parks, Trails and Recreation Commission board agreed and voted to endorse the foundation's recommendation, and the city council adopted the resolution renaming the building the Don Tatzin Community Hall.
Teresa Gerringer was a charter member of the Lafayette Library and Learning Center Foundation. She explained that the original thoughts of the foundation were to not offer to sell naming rights to the building unless someone came up with an enormous amount of money. "We wanted to leave it very much about the community," Gerringer said. But she told the council that she could not be more in support of naming the Hall after Tatzin. "And I know that the community supports this decision," she said.
"I'm pleased to accept this even though I'm not the most worthy person in this community to get this award," Tatzin told the audience. "I'm not even the most worthy person in this room to get this award."
The naming ceremony for the Don Tatzin Community Hall will be held later this year, concurrent with Tatzin's retirement celebration from the city council.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA