The Oakland Tribune, Calif., Chris Treadway column [The Oakland Tribune, Calif.]

Aug. 31--El Cerrito lost one of its most prominent figures and staunchest advocates with the death last month of Marge Collins at age 88.

Collins, a past councilwoman and mayor, leaves a long legacy of civic involvement that includes leading the Chamber of Commerce, supporting cultural activities, being active in service clubs and educational organizations and documenting aspects of the city's history. She died Aug. 2.

"She was just a special, special lady to me," said Tracy Giles, a past president of the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of El Cerrito. "She was involved in everything, and if you needed someone to volunteer or help with anything, she was always there."

A native of Pocatello, Idaho, Collins had a colorful early life that included being a singer with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians and a fashion model in New York City for JCPenney, and appearing in early television commercials. She told the Times in a 1980 interview that her hands were the first used in a "You're in good hands" advertisement for Allstate Insurance.

She married in the late 1940s, moved to Los Angeles and was raising four children when she was widowed. Collins moved to the East Bay, raising her family and working, including 10 years as administrative assistant to the city administrator of Piedmont.

In 1966 she moved to El Cerrito and took an office job with contractor Marvin Collins, who was credited with building much of the city.

They married in 1968, and while her husband was busily building -- including the main building at Sunset View Cemetery, parts of El Cerrito Plaza, the Contra Costa Civic Theatre and Mira Vista Country Club -- Marge Collins was equally involved in working to improve it.

She was active with the El Cerrito Chamber, the local Soroptomists chapter, the Inner Wheel arm of the Rotary Club, the Kensington Area Republican Women, the Doctors Hospital Quest Foundation and a scholarship committee at El Cerrito High School.

In 1978 she was elected to the first of two terms on the El Cerrito City Council, serving as mayor in 1980 and named chairwoman of the Contra Costa Mayor's Conference.

After leaving the council she became an advocate for the business community and served two terms as president of the chamber. Marge and Marvin Collins also led a successful capital campaign for the volunteer Contra Costa Civic Theatre, and the company renamed the lobby of its building in their honor.

Collins was an avid golfer and bridge player at Mira Vista Golf and Country Club and authored an anniversary book on the club's history. She also researched the history of the chamber.

"She was an outstanding leader for the chamber," said Mark Scott, manager of the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce. "She was dynamic and led us in a number of new organizational ways. She was warm, gracious, classic and classy."

Even after suffering a stroke, Collins was up to the challenge of running a business herself in 2005, when she took over management for a time of a hobby shop the family owned in Albany.

Collins is survived by Marvin, her husband of 43 years; children James Stern, Joan Statler, Cheryl Peterson, Kent Peterson, Marlene Hall and Marvin Emery Collins; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and six siblings.

Services in her memory were held Aug. 10 at Sunset View Cemetery.

Contact Chris Treadway at 510-262-2784.

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