Elizabeth Cooper Terwilliger of Mill Valley, California will turn 97 years of age this September. She is a "living" legend and the memories marinites have of their individual treks in the out-of-doors with Mrs. Terwilliger binds them together.     The sound of her voice, her animated stories and the "Something Specials" embedded over the years in the memories of every participant soon surface and are recalled.     Her enthusiasm for both the out-of-doors and people of all places and ages was evidenced daily. Her quote "while you're learning you're living" encapsulated her life and that of others around her.     It took a lot of energy to keep up with her pace. She could walk, talk and make bird calls at the same time. Taking but one day off a week to explore new areas with her late husband, she would spend the rest of the week introducing school age children, young mothers & fathers to the "sounds and sights of nature."     The Cooper's raised their family on a large sugar plantation some 15 miles from Honolulu. Elizabeth's father was the head medical doctor of the plantation. Her mother had been a teacher in the States prior to relocating the family on the plantation where Elizabeth was born. Elizabeth was one of three siblings. Her mother took charge of her early childhood education and made certain Elizabeth practiced the piano and did her chores both inside and out. Most of Elizabeth's activities were out of doors in the warm weather and the convenience of a large, covered porch to protect her from the rain. The surrounding area afforded a garden for Elizabeth to tend and large trees for her to climb. Florence, her mother, enjoyed hours of reading to her children about all the wonders of the world and singing and playing music together.     In the late 1930's, before Elizabeth entered nursing school in San Francisco, she accompanied her aunt and traveled around-the-world. Soon after she met her future husband at the "old" Stanford Medical School in San Francisco. Their bethrothal and wedding celebrations were unadorned and the honeymoon brief. The demands of WWII took priority and influenced the early years of their marriage. Heading to the east coast in their "Model T" the young couple had time to explore and learn together.     After the war Elizabeth and Calvin returned to the Bay Area. They eventually settled in Sausalito then in the 1950's built a home in Strawberry. They lived there for several years and found a more suitable lot for the family needs on Oakdale Ave in Mill Valley. They raised two children, Lynn Ellen and John and like many families in Marin participated in local school activities and on community boards. Elizabeth became an out spoken advocate for families, their children and the out-of-doors. She was instrumental in creating playgrounds in Sausalito and Ross and bike paths with access from Greenbrae, Corte Madera, Mill Valley, Sausalito, Fort Baker & the famous Golden Gate Bridge.     In 1975 the Elizabeth Terwilliger Nature Education Foundation was founded by Joan and Don Bekins. Later the foundation's name was changed to Terwilliger Nature Education Center. Almost 25 years later the Center merged with California Wildlife - and became WildCare located on Albert Park Lane in San Rafael. WildCare is under the direction of Karen Wilson, the Executive Director.     Click here for more information.