Bench honors late Auburn advocate and councilmember Bill Peloza

Former Auburn City Councilmember Bill Peloza has been honored with a park bench in his name — a bench that overlooks the Auburn Farmers Market that he worked hard to establish.

City of Auburn spokesperson Kalyn Brady said Peloza was a city council member for 16 years. He earned a reputation for “having a toe in the water” on almost everything in the community.

Peloza died April 29, 2020, at age 86 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Brady said Peloza also served as deputy mayor for a time and was part of more than nine regional governance committees including the King County Metropolitan Solid Waste Management Advisory Committee, the South County Area Transportation Board and WRIA 9 Watershed Ecosystem Forum, where he served as chair for all three.

Within Auburn, he was part of many community groups and organizations including the Auburn Elks Lodge, the Auburn Rotary Club, the Auburn Symphony Association, the Auburn Police Department Volunteers and many others.

Brady said one of Peloza’s top achievements was his work to found the Auburn Farmers Market. She said Peloza proposed the idea of the market more than a decade ago when many thought it was not possible.

Because of Peloza’s “tireless” advocacy, the farmers market now attracts hundreds, even thousands, of people on a weekly basis and has over 50 vendors, according to Brady.

“Bill was a proud man, dedicated to making his community a better place. He was dogged in his approach, tireless in his efforts and loved to dig into the details,” said Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus. “I hope people remember Bill as a champion for his community. He was a man of his word, dedicated to veterans’ issues and never met a stranger. He loved his beautiful wife, Joyce, and I think he would be proud to know that his work mattered.”

Joyce Peloza and Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus speak to the crowd Sunday, June 6, after the unveiling of a bench in honor of Bill Peloza. (Photo courtesy of city of Auburn)