Dublin Unified trustee struck by vehicle, dies
Catherine Kuo, a mother of two and a Dublin Unified School District trustee, died Wednesday after she was struck by a vehicle while volunteering at a food distribution event at a Dublin middle school, police and school district officials said.
Dublin police said they responded to a report of a vehicle striking a pedestrian at Fallon Middle School at 3601 Kohnen Way, and determined Kuo, 48, was standing near the back of one vehicle when another vehicle struck her from behind, pinning her between both.
Alameda County fire officials and Falck paramedics gave her medical treatment at the scene before she was taken to Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, where she died, police said.
Police said the cause of the
accident is under investigation.
In a statement addressed to the school district community, Interim Superintendent Daniel Moirao said Kuo — a “mother of two, loving wife, dedicated community member, and school board trustee” — had been volunteering at a food distribution event on campus on Wednesday. Moirao called the death a “tragic accident.”
“She dedicated so much of her heart, soul, and time to our community. Catherine had a lightness about her, a comforting manner that helped
people feel at ease,” Moirao said. “She was friendly, nurturing, kind, and generous. We were lucky to have known her and will miss her more than words can express.”
Moirao said Kuo’s death leaves a “gaping hole in our hearts” and said, “Our schools, students, staff, and families are forever indebted to her.”
Dublin city officials said Kuo was a “longtime Dublin resident and a valuable member of our community.” Officials added, “She will be greatly missed.”
According to her Board of Trustees biography, Kuo was elected in a November 2019 special election for the district’s Trustee Area 3 and “has been an active volunteer in our schools and in the community for nine years and has also served on districtwide committees.”
“Her areas of focus are math, better opportunities for girls and minority students, and raising the awareness and mutual appreciation of diversity in our district,” her school district biography read. “When she is not talking to parents, staff and students, and preparing for and attending board meetings, she loves getting lost in books, gathering with friends, watching movies with her family, and finding creative ways to teach her children to be responsible and to be kind.”