Cherry Tree Dedicated to Brad Onorato
Lake County Honors the Invaluable Contributions of Brad Onorato with Memorial Tree
Officials held a memorial tree dedication ceremony to honor Brad Onorato, longtime Deputy Chief of Staff to Congressman Thompson who was beloved in Lake County.
On January 17, 2025, officials including Congressman Mike Thompson, District 5 Supervisor, Jessica Pyska, and Chief Deputy County Administrative Officer Matthew Rothstein, hosted a ceremony to unveil a cherry tree dedicated to Brad Onorato as a symbol for his dedicated work to support Lake County.
County officials dedicated a cherry tree because, in his final months, Onorato, sensing their concern, once asked treating doctors if they had, “seen the beautiful cherry blossoms and blue skies [outside] the surgery room?” Rothstein emphasized the inspiration Onorato’s memorial tree could bring to County residents, stating, “May it be a constant reminder to never overlook the good things all around us.” Supervisor Pyska echoed this sentiment, declaring “I wanted to have a place where we could honor him, but also to be an example and inspiration going forward.”
The Lake County Board of Supervisors voted to lower flags at half-mast in September 2024 in Brad Onorato’s honor.
Read more about the tribute article here.
Brad Onorato will be remembered throughout Lake County for his unwavering public service to our communities, which gained him the reputation of being a champion of the people. Congressman Thompson described Onorato’s dedication, stating, “He wasn’t someone who wanted a lot of attention, but he loved Lake County.” The tree was dedicated with the simple and appropriate words, “In honor of Brad Onorato. He did the people’s work.”
Throughout his 34 years of service on State Senator, and then Congressman, Mike Thompson’s Staff, Onorato also played a key role in advancing critical community projects in Lake County that required Federal funding. In recent years, Onorato supported Thompson’s work to improve water quality in Clear Lake, push for key infrastructure projects, such as a sidewalk to help provide safer routes to school for Kelseyville students in the Fall of 2025, and creation of enduring homes for Lake County’s Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Operations Center. Onorato’s rich contributions made him beloved; he had friends in every Lake County community.
May Brad Onorato’s Cherry Tree be a reminder of his profound impact and recall for County residents the power of dedicated service to our communities.