by anonimous sender
About 20 UC Berkeley students are staging a hunger strike to push the university to oppose Arizona’s stringent new immigration law. In the photo paramedics examen the students. (PHOTO BY MEMBERS OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE STUDENTS)
After a long battle against cancer, Mrs. Luisa Ezquerro, a native of San Francisco but originary of Nicaragua, died at home next to her family on May 1. Born in Jan. 5, 1934, she was 76.
Mrs. Ezquerro, a lifelong educator and community activist, leader and mentor spent her life serving her San Francisco community. She taught for 43 years in San Francisco’s Unified Public Schools impacting the lives of countless young adults throughout the City she loved dearly. Mrs. Ezquerro started her student teaching at Poly Tech High School, taught at Lincoln High School, Lowell High School, and retired while teaching at McAteer High School. Those that knew Mrs. Ezquerro, know that she never retired but kept active helping other in the community.
Mrs. Ezquerro was a community activist for most of her adult life helping to found the Mission Coalition Organization and serving on its board of directors. She helped create other community organizations Cenwhich continue to enrich the lives of so many today including the Mission Housing Development (MEDA) where she was a member of their Executive Board, Mission Model Neighborhood Corporation, Coleman Advocates for Children and Youth, Mission Economic Development Association, The Mission Reading Clinic now known as the Mission Learning Center, The Mission Tutorial Program, Arriba Juntos, Mission Neighborhood Health Center, Mission Community Legal Defense and Mission Hiring Hall.
“On behalf of the City and County of San Francisco, I honor Luisa’s life and legacy and am grateful for all Luisa has done for the people of San Francisco,” San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said.
“I will remember Luisa as a tireless and committed leader in the educational and community aspects of San Francisco and in particular the Mission District. She could be tough but had that very pleasant smile. I shall always remember you Luisa,” said Ricardo Noguera, former executive director of MEDA.
“We lost a great person with great human qualities, she was an excellent woman and educator who helped many people. We thank God who gave us great joy to have met Luisa and take it into our lives and family,” said Alicia López in Managua, Nicaragua.
Mrs. Ezquerro was very active in the Teachers Union, and a member of their Executive Board, where she served as president for approximately six years. In 2001, she was awarded Teacher of the Year by San Francisco State University.
Mrs. Ezquerro was appointed to the Recreation and Parks Commission by Mayor George Moscone in 1976. In 2004, she was appointed by Mayor Gavin Newsom to the Commission on the Status of Women. Throughout the span of her life she was appointed to and served on the transition teams for three San Francisco Mayors.
In addition, Mrs. Ezquerro was active with the United Educators of San Francisco, Jamestown Community Center, San Francisco Planning and Urban Research (SPUR) and was a consultant for the San Francisco Board of Education.
Mrs. Ezquerro is survived by her brother Manuel Ezquerro, her sister Carmen Ezquerro Fletcher, and her many beloved nephews and nieces.
Viewing took place at Duggan’s Funeral Home at 3434 17th Street, San Francisco, Thursday, May 6, followed by the rosary at Saint Anne’s Church of the Sunset. Funeral services were held the following day, Friday, May 7th at St. Anne’s Church, followed by her burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma, California. Contributions can be made in Mrs. Ezquerro’s name to Mission Learning Center www.mlcsf.org.
You may also write a thought for Luisa at: http://www.legacy.com/gb2/default.aspx?bookid=2843410849031&cid=gbsrchres.
