TRACY MORGAN HOLLINGWORTH
PSAR GOV’T AFFAIRS DIRECTOR (1956-2024)
The PSAR family is heartbroken at this time following the sudden passing of Tracy Morgan Hollingworth, who held PSAR’s Government Affairs Director position for the past 21 years. According to husband Andrew Hollingworth, Tracy passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 5. She was 68 at the time of her passing.
Considered the dean of real estate lobbyists in San Diego County, Tracy was greatly loved and admired. No one in San Diego had worked longer in real estate government affairs than Tracy. She was proud of her record of longevity in government affairs services among Realtors in California-based REALTOR® associations.
Tracy was more than just a colleague. She was a pillar of the community, a dedicated leader, and a true friend to many. She served on many boards and commissions in service of her community and as recently as July 23, she attended a meeting between members of the PSAR Government Affairs Committee and California State Senator Brian Jones. Over the years, her savvy political advocacy efforts contributed to the prevention of passage of
many state laws deemed detrimental to the best business interests of PSAR members.
Rich D’Ascoli, PSAR CEO, commented, “As a REALTOR® advocate for PSAR, Tracy was instrumental in defeating rent control in National City, a critical victory for property owners. She also played a key role in protecting private property rights in East County by helping as an opposition member to downzoning efforts. Her advocacy extended to the county level, where she worked on several land use initiatives, including the General Plan update, to ensure the interests of private property owners were represented and protected.”
PSAR member Mike Anderson, a long-time participant on the PSAR Government Affairs Committee, stated, “Tracy’s governmental updates for the GA committee were always thorough and enlightening, and she was invaluable during our GA meetings and on our annual Sacramento Legislation Day trips.”
A San Diego native, Tracy was born Jan. 2, 1956. She grew up in the East County and attended Flying Hills Elementary School in El Cajon and Cajon Valley Junior High. Her grandfather had moved with his family from Illinois to the Bostonia area of El Cajon in 1911, so her East County roots ran deep. She graduated from Santana High School in Santee. At Santana, she organized school assemblies and served as a peer counselor, confidentially assisting other students with personal problems ranging from family issues to drug addiction.
As a summer job, she worked in the Kings Canyon National Park, where she met actors Tim Conway and Harvey Korman, alums of the long-running TV show "The Carol Burnett Show", who were traveling with their families. After summer's end, she was awarded a scholarship and attended Mount Vernon College, a women’s college in northwestern Washington, D.C., from 1976 through 1977. There, she studied international law and worked alongside professors who helped craft legislation for members of Congress. She also took a “Comparative Politics” course, for which she traveled to Rome and London and met with national lawmakers.
In 1977, Tracy landed a staff position with California U.S. Senator S.I. “Sam” Hayakawa. Tracy assisted in the drafting of legislation that helped San Diego’s tuna fishing industry stay competitive with fishing fleets in other countries. Later, while completing her bachelor’s degree in political science and economics at San Diego State University, she worked to implement those policy recommendations.
An economics professor encouraged her to join an internship program at the state Capitol in Sacramento. While there, she earned a master’s degree from California State University, Sacramento. She spent 10 years working at the state Capitol for members of the California State Assembly, the League of California Cities, and other governmental bodies. During her time with the State Assembly, Tracy worked with key policy staff to draft legislation designed to create the California Welfare to Work Program, the first and only tax surplus rebate to state taxpayers. She also helped the California Association of REALTORS® carry a bill that expanded the C.A.R. Legal Action Fund.
Tracy met her husband Andrew "Andy" Hollingworth while both were working late hours analyzing committee bills for hearings. Before the age of PCs, the state had developed a cumbersome computer network that Andy had mastered. Andy, who was working as an advisor to four legislative committees, instructed Tracy on how to search for key bill information that showed legislators what special interest groups were supporting certain legislation and what organizations supported or opposed the legislation. Tracy and Andy dated four years before Andy proposed on one knee in the snow during a trip to Lake Tahoe.
Tracy’s work in the Legislature led to her serving 13 years with the Sacramento Association of REALTORS® (1988-2001). She then spent 21 total years serving the East San Diego County Association of REALTORS® (ESDCAR) and Pacific Southwest Association of REALTORS® following the merger of the two associations.
In 2002, she started her own association management consulting firm. In addition to PSAR members, her clients over the years included the American Society of Landscape Architects San Diego Chapter, California Council of the American Society of Landscape Architects, East Otay Mesa Property Owners Association, California Municipal Managers Association, ACE Mentor, Urban Land Institute and several other land-use organizations.
Tracy is survived by her husband of 35 years Andrew Hollingworth, sisters Kathleen Morgan and Mary Ellen Morgan, and their 90-year-old mother Diane Morgan. Andrew stated that he was Tracy’s confidant as well as business partner. “We collaborated on everything, Tracy was a wonderful spouse and partner. She was the smartest person I know of in terms of land use real estate policy and politics. She has mentored many real estate lobbyists and elected officials. Tracy lived and breathed real estate.” In March of this year, Tracy and Andrew participated in a formal marriage recommitment ceremony officiated by County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk Jordan Z. Marks.
“Tracy was fiercely loyal to her friends in good times and bad, and friendly and helpful to everyone,” said Andrew. “Once you were her friend you remained so for life.”
Services
The family has planned the following public events to celebrate Tracy’s life:
A viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday, Aug 26, at Glen Abbey Mortuary’s La Jolla Chapel facility in Pacific Beach, located at 4710 Cass St., at the corner of Cass and Diamond Streets.
Burial and prayers will follow at 2 p.m. at Glen Abbey Memorial Park, located at 3838 Bonita Road, Bonita.
A celebration of life ceremony will be held from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7, at La Jolla Presbyterian Church sanctuary, located at 7715 Draper Ave., La Jolla. The parking garage entrance is on Kline Street. A reception will follow in the church Fellowship Hall located across the courtyard.
For more information about these public events, contact Kathleen Morgan at katinparis03@yahoo.com.
PSAR expresses our sincere condolences to the Hollingworth family at this time. Cards and notes can be mailed to the PSAR offices.