October 15, 2011 (Santee) – Born in San Diego on the 4th of July in 1925, Democratic leader Sarah Lowery passed away on October 5, 2011 of congestive heart failure. Active in politics at the local, state and national levels, the Santee resident was known for her passionate advocacy of civil rights and equality for all individuals.  In 2001, the San Diego Democratic Party honored Lowery with a Lifetime Achievement Award.