District 1 photo
By Myles Cochrane
District 1 public information officer
On April 16, a heartfelt ceremony in Scotia brought together family, friends, colleagues and community leaders to officially dedicate the Annette Brooks Memorial Bridge along U.S. Highway 101 south of Stafford in Humboldt County.
Annette Brooks served Caltrans and the state of California for more than 36 years, rising from a toll collector to become a no-nonsense structural steel painter supervisor. Before settling in the Eel River Valley in 2000, she spent years in the Bay Area, where she helped preserve iconic structures like the Bay Bridge.
District 1 photo
Beyond her work, Annette was known for her artistic spirit. She was active in the Eel Valley Quilt Guild and participated in the Decorative Painters Society. Tragically, she was killed on April 24, 2017, at a Caltrans facility in Rio Dell, just shy of retirement. She was 61.
The dedication ceremony featured remarks from several speakers, including Annette’s siblings, California Senate President pro tempore Mike McGuire, Caltrans District 1 Maintenance Manager Paul Johnson, District 4 Deputy Director of Maintenance Leah Budu, Humboldt County Supervisor Michelle Bushnell, and Rio Dell Mayor Debra Garnes. Approximately 70 attendees gathered to honor Annette’s life and legacy.
Annette was the eldest of six siblings, all named alphabetically—A through F—with Annette as the “A,” followed by Brian, Curtis, Douglas, Evalani and Ferlin. All five joined the ceremony, some traveling from Hawaii, and honored her memory by spreading the ashes of her beloved pets at the bridge site prior to the event.
Annette’s Hawaiian middle name, Kaleialoha, means “wreath of love”—a fitting reflection of her deep passion for her family, friends and animals.
The dedication stands as a tribute not just to Annette’s service, but to the love and dedication she brought to her work, her art, and the people around her.