Veteran neighborhood advocate Jean Mather has died

Landscape architect and neighborhood advocate Jean Mather passed away on Jan. 9, shortly after her 99th birthday. She is remembered as a passionate advocate for the environment and for South Austin. Mather and her husband, Bob, settled in Travis Heights in 1961. He was a professor of architecture at the University of Texas, where he taught until his death in 1984. The couple had two children, Emily Mather (Phillips) and Richard Mather. Jean co-founded the South River City Citizens (SRCC) in 1972 and was active in the organization for many years. She became involved with city environmental issues after becoming concerned about the city’s placing water pipes in creeks. Her interest in the environment lead Jean to membership on the Planning Commission and later on the Zoning and Platting Commission. She also served on the city’s Historic Landmark Commission from 2002 until 2008.