Mrs. Sibley, as she is affectionately known, has been an important part of El Tour since 1986. Any bicyclist, volunteer, or event official that had the opportunity to spend time with Mrs. Sibley came to know her as the "grandmother of El Tour." Her enthusiastic spirits and warm smile will be remembered and sorely missed at this year's event. "It's hard to image her not being here," said Sue Srader, registration and results director.

"She always adds a special sparkle to El Tour," said Richard DeBernardis. Mrs. Sibley first became involved with bicycling in 1967 through her friendship with DeBernardis, executive director and founder of the AlphaGraphics El Tour de Tucson. Mrs. Sibley followed his adventures through Japan and the U.S., and although she was never a bicyclist herself, Mrs. Sibley has made El Tour a part of her life for over ten years. "I love every minute of it," she said just a short time ago.

Since her retirement in 1977, Mrs. Sibley has spent thousands of hours volunteering for various organizations throughout the southwest. Aside from bicycling related activities, she has given 24 years of volunteer service to the UCLA Medical Center and 18 years to the West Los Angeles Police Department. Her generous and kind-hearted nature touched the lives of everyone she met.

Her friends at the El Tour office remember Mrs. Sibley fondly. "She was answering phones during one of the busiest days before El Tour," said DeBernardis. "On one occasion she picked up the receiver and said 'Los Angeles Police Department, can I help you?' This is just a funny example of how she donates so much of her time to various organizations that she had a little trouble switching gears. Mrs. Sibley is such a valuable asset."

Once Mrs. Sibley became part of the family at El Tour, she returned year after year for all four PBAA events (Tour of the Tucson Mountains, El Tour de Phoenix, El Tour de Tucson and Cochise County Cycling Classic). She has helped with everything from answering phones and selling T-shirts to riding in the pace vehicle in El Tour de Tucson. "Riding in the lead vehicle was the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me!" she said. "It was such fun."

Mrs. Sibley will be remembered for her style, elegance and kind-hearted nature. All of the bicyclists who have ever rolled through the start line of El Tour de Tucson might have noticed "the grandmother of El Tour" wrapped in her fur coat, smiling, waving, and shouting encouragement to thousands of riders. Her thoughts were with you as you pedaled around Tucson's perimeter.

Many of Mrs. Sibley's friends came to respect her as a role model, as well as a person who leads a full and exciting life after the age of eighty. It is impossible to know just how many people benefited from her giving nature. Whenever she visited Tucson to help with an event, Mrs. Sibley always helped to keep things in perspective for overworked staff and volunteers. "Most people half, even a quarter of her age have a hard time keeping up with her," said Tom Nieman, former GM of PBAA.

A special award has been named in her honor. The Mrs. Sibley Humanitarian Award will be given to one individual each year who has donated an outstanding amount of volunteer hours to bicycling events, as well as other community organizations and activities. And, just like Mrs. Sibley, the award will be given to someone who doesn't bicycle. The Mrs. Sibley Humanitarian Award will be given at the El Tour Dedication Dinner, held the Thursday prior to ride day. Over the years, this award will honor all of those who, like Mrs. Sibley, made a difference through caring, sharing and asking nothing in return.

Close friends of Mrs. Sibley will celebrate her life with a ceremony at the El Tour start line on Sunday, November 23, the day after El Tour. Honoring her at the start line seems fitting; this is the place where she stood so many times, looking so full of life and sharing it with everyone around her. A tree will mark the spot where she will forever stand in the minds of El Tour's volunteers and friends. "El Tour just won't be the same without her," said James Barton, former PBAA employee.

So as you begin your 111-mile trek around Tucson's perimeter this year, take a moment to remember Mrs. Sibley. Her thoughts will be with you.

by: Matthew J. Nelson