Jake Martinez passed away peacefully on May 10, 2012, with his wife of 53 years near his side. Born February 21, 1935, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he moved to California in 1966 and became a resident of Poway in 2003.

Jake is survived by his wife Frances, daughter Katherine Nuernberger and husband Craig, son Jacob and wife Georgia, daughter Denise Kapitzke and husband Peter, son Michael and wife Stephanie; grandchildren Daniel and wife Marissa, Andrew, Brian, Kevin, David, Kristen, Julie, Scott and Steven; great-grandchildren Max and Milo; brother Joe and sister Prudence Chavez and husband Manuel. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m.on Monday, May 21, 2012, at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Poway.

   Sarah Lowery, 86, passed on Wednesday, October 5, 2011. Born in San Diego to Edward B. Contreras and Ruth Fernisa de Almenara on the 4th of July 1925, she was taken to Mexico upon the death of her mother to be raised by her grandmother Maria in Mexico City, Mexico.

   She returned to San Diego during WWII and launched a career in photography as a colorist. She married Jearlee Lowery in 1949 and gave birth to the first of three sons with him in 1950. Son Raoul was born in Mexico City before she returned to the United States. She entered the restaurant business as a hostess and manager in the early 1960s concurrently with commencing a four decade plus political career as a leader of the Democratic Party in San Diego and California. She worked in San Diego’s City Hall as an assistant to San Diego Councilwoman Lucy Killea and later for the Registrar of Voters then retired from the County where she was a Senior Supervising Clerk and Eligibility Technician for Medical.

   She was elected to the San Diego Democratic County Central Committee by the voters in the 1970s and was reelected by Democrat voters every two years for almost 30 years. She served on the State Executive Committee of the California Democrat Party for 20 years. She served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions of 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002. She was the Democratic nominee for the 77th Assembly District seat in 2002.

   She organized the Jimmy Carter Democratic Club in 1976 and served as Jimmy Carter’s County Co-Chairman in 1976 and 1980. She organized White House visits for San Diegans during the Carter Presidential Years (1977-1981). She served in various campaign management positions with Congressman Lionel Van Deerlin and State Senator Wadie Deddeh. She worked professionally in the 1998 Campaign for San Diego’s Petco Park.

   She served as a volunteer at University Hospital and helped various charities raise funds.

   She is survived by sons Guy of San Juan Capistrano, Rex of Ramona, Jearlee Jr. of Oregon and Raoul of San Diego; 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

   Private ceremonies will be conducted followed by cremation.

Shifra M. Goldman, September 1992

 Shifra M. Goldman
1926-2011

By Carol Wells

    Shifra Goldman, a pioneer in the study of Latin American and Chicano/a Art, and a social art historian, died in Los Angeles on September 11, 2011, from Alzheimer’s disease.  She was 85.

    Professor Goldman taught art history in the Los Angeles area for over 20 years. She was a prolific writer and an activist for Chicano and Latino Art. In Dimensions of the Americas:  Art and Social Change in Latin America and the United States, one of her award winning publications, she stated that part of her life’s work was to “deflect and correct the stereotypes, distortions, and Euro-centric misunderstandings that have plagued all serious approaches to Latino Art history since the 50s.”

    Born and raised in New York by Russian/Polish immigrant parents, art and politics were central to her entire life. Goldman’s mother was a trade unionist and her father, a political activist. She attended the High School of Music and Art in New York, and entered the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a studio art major when her family moved to Los Angeles in the 1940’s. As an undergraduate, she was active in the student boycott against the barbers in Westwood who refused to cut the hair of the Black Veterans entering UCLA on the GI bill following the Second World War.

    After leaving UCLA, she went to work with Bert Corona and the Civil Rights Congress, a national organization working to stop police brutality against African and Mexican Americans, and the deportations of Mexicans and foreign born political activists. Living in East Los Angeles, Gold-man learned Spanish and became immersed in Mexican and Chicano culture. In the 1950’s, during the repression of the Cold War, Goldman was subpoenaed before the House UnAmerican Activities Committee (HUAC). Two decades later, she lost her first college teaching job because a background check revealed that she had been called before HUAC.

    In the 1960’s, after supporting herself and her son, Eric, as a bookkeeper for fifteen years, Goldman returned to UCLA to complete her B.A. in art. After receiving her M.A. in art history from California State University, Los Angeles (CSLA), she entered the Ph.D program at UCLA where she ran headlong into Eurocentrism when she was unable to find a chair for her doctoral committee because her topic of choice was modern Mexican art.

    Goldman refused to choose a more mainstream topic, and waited several years until a new faculty member finally agreed to work with her. Her dissertation was published as Contemporary Mexican Painting in a Time of Change by University of Texas Press in 1981, and republished in Mexico in 1989.  She also initiated and co-authored the bibliography and theoretical essay, Arte Chicano: A Comprehensive Annotated Bibliography of Chicano Art, 1965-1981 (1985) with Dr. Tomás Ybarra-Frausto.

    Professor Goldman taught her first class in Mexican Art in 1966, possibly the only one given at that time in all of California. She later went on to a full time teaching position in art history at Santa Ana College where she taught courses in Mexican Pre-Colombian, Modern and Chicano Art for 21 years.  She was one of the organizers for the Vietnam Peace Tower in 1966. Goldman also cofounded the Los Angeles chapter of Artists Call Against U.S. Intervention in Central America, in 1983, and was instrumental in bringing solidarity with the Central American struggle to the Los Angeles community.

    In 1968, she began the campaign to preserve the 1932 Siqueiros mural America Tropical in Olvera Street, and in 1971 approached Siqueiros for a new mural derived from the original. According to the California Ethnic and Multicultural Archives (CEMA), he agreed but the plan was thwarted by the artist’s death in 1974. His last mural in Los Angeles, Portrait of Mexico Today, 1932, was restored and moved to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art in California with Goldman’s advice and assistance.

    Goldman has published and lectured in Europe, Latin America and the United States and led several delegations to Cuba to attend their Art Biennials. In 1994 she became a Research Associate with the Latin American Center at UCLA and taught art history there. Goldman is also Professor Emeritus from Santa Ana College, Santa Ana, CA.

    In February 1992, she received the College Art Association’s (CAA) Frank Jewett Mather Award for distinction in art criticism and, in February 1993, an award from the Women’s Caucus for Art for outstanding achievement in the visual arts. She was elected to the board of the CAA, 1995-1999. In 1996 she received the “Historian of the Lions” award from the Center for the Study of Political Graphics.

    The Shifra Goldman Papers, including her slides, books, and videos are part of the California Ethnic and Multicultural Archives (CEMA) at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her extensive Chicano poster and print collection is at the Center for the Study of Political Graphics in Los Angeles.  She will be remembered for her important contributions to Latin American Art scholarship and for her seminal work in Chicano/a Art History and support of the Chicano/a art community.

    Professor Goldman is survived by her son Eric Garcia, daughter-in-law Trisha Dexter, and grandson Ian of Los Angeles. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Avenue 50 Studio [www.avenue50studio.com], Center for the Study of Political Graphics [www.politicalgraphics.org] and/or Tropico de Nopal [www.tropicodenopal.com]. The date and location of an October memorial will be on all of the above websites.

Mrs. Ivy Williams and son Jimmy Williams hold pictures of Mr. Johnnie Williams inside his popular laundermat, located in the heart of Sherman Heights.

    Although this week it’s going to be a month since Mr. Johnnie Williams passed away on June 10th, those who knew him and who frequented his laundromat say his spirit remains.

    “His presence is still here,” said Mrs. Ivy Williams, Johnnie’s wife of 60 years. “When I look at that corner over there where he used to seat on his motor chair by the window, I can still feel he’s here,” she said, pointing to the front window of Johnnie and Ivy’s Washhouse, located near the corner of Imperial Ave. and 26th St., in the heart of Sherman Heights.

    That’s not too far from the house where he was born on May 20, 1925, off 36th St. and Ocean View. Ivy remembers that Johnnie used to say, proudly, “I have always lived within three miles of my birthplace.”

    Although Johnnie grew up in the same area where he was born and remained here all of his life, he had a life full of achievement, dedication, and professionalism. Above all, his sense of community made him a leader in everything he did, throughout his years of service.

    “He treated everybody right. Now, that didn’t mean he didn’t fight back when he saw something wrong being done against someone else. Every decision he took was based on respect for all,” Ivy said. “People loved him.”

    That love was gained thanks to Johnnie’s dedication to his community. And because he was one who was able to beat all odds.

    He was born in 1925, during the height of the depression, in a family with an abusive father.

    “Because of his childhood memories, Jonnie couldn’t stand a man beating a woman,” Ivy said.

    After graduating from San Diego High School in 1943, Johnnie did a series of odd jobs, until marrying Ivy in 1949, with whom he had two children, Tommy and Jimmy.

    She was the one who encouraged Johnnie not to settle for less, so he joined the San Diego Police Department in 1952 as a beat cop, one of the few African-American officers at that time. He then rose through the ranks, becoming a Homicide Detective, a position where he became a mentor for other African-American officers in the department. He retired in 1978.

    But since he was always full of energy, Johnnie never stopped working.

    After retiring from the police department, he and his wife Ivy opened the laundromat, something that turned out to be as challenging as being a cop.

     “When we moved in to this place, it was horrible,” remembers Ivy. “Drugs everywhere, crime. I think Johnnie helped to turn it around, now this area is much better. People come from all over to wash their clothes here, because they know here they find respect. Johnnie’s policy was simple: We respect everybody.”

    Local resident Bisal Seifullah said that Johnnie helped him straighten his life throughout the years.

    “Johnnie was a very generous person,” he said. “He was very knowledgeable, very friendly. He helped me get housing and a job after my divorce. Johnnie was truly always in ‘helping mode.’”

    In the laundromat, Johnnie knew his customers by name. Up to this day, when customers come in and they find out he passed away, they start crying, Ivy said.

    “He loved the laundromat with a passion,” said his son, Jimmy. “He would fix the machines himself, he would be here from opening to closing, making sure everything was running smoothly.”

    Sergio Lopez, who owns a 99 cent store across the street from Johnnie and Ivy’s Wash-house, said that 20 years ago, if Johnnie ever saw anybody selling drugs on the streets, he would call the police.

    “He made sure that didn’t happen here,” Lopez said. “He was very strict.”

    Johnnie was a popular person in San Diego. His work in the police department, his charity work in the community, and his willingness to lend a helping hand, made him a respected man throughout San Diego.

    He was very good friend with Mr. Dan Muñoz Sr., founder of La Prensa San Diego and who passed away last year. That’s why Johnnie has been one of La Prensa San Diego strongest supporters in the newspaper’s history.

    “Johnnie and Ivy have advertised in La Prensa every week for as long as I can remember, at least 20 years,” said Dan Muñoz Jr., current editor of La Prensa San Diego. “They have worked hard to maintain a thriving business in a part of the community that has seen a lot of change over the years and had more than its fair share of problems.”

    For Muñoz, the laundromat has become an icon in Sherman Heights, “a safe and secure haven for the community to go and gather, and feel safe. As an ex-Police Officer Johnnie knew how to provide his community a safe and comfortable place to go gather, talk, and wash their clothes.”

    Although he passed away, Johnnie’s spirit lives on. For example, there’s a room and swimming pool named for him at the Boys and Girls Club on Marcy Ave.

    His wife Ivy put it best when she said that “Johnnie will forever be remembered as someone who helped his community and loved his family.”

 Richard R. Resendez, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend passed peacefully on June 21, 2010 surrounded by his inner circle of family and friends.  He was 78 years old. 

In his early beginnings, his family hit hard times and he was sent to an orphanage as a teenager to Saint Boniface Indian School in Banning, CA. Facing adversity at a young age pressed him to succeed through determination and hard work. His first major achievement as an adult was graduating from San Bernardino High School in 1949. He immediately pursued and attained an Associate’s Degree at San Bernardino Valley College. 

Those accolades, coupled with a strong sense of patriotism enabled him to start an apprenticeship as an aircraft electrician at March Air Force Base, CA. He later worked at the North Island Naval Aviation Depot as an aircraft planner and estimator with a career culminating 33 years of service to his country. 

His additional achievements centered on selfless acts of support for his local community.  He was an Equal Employment Opportunity Committee representative, supporting upward mobility advancement in the workplace. He was also a member and President of the San Diego Chapter of the American G.I Form, a congressionally chartered Hispanic veteran and civil rights organization serving as a scholarship fundraiser. He vigorously motivated his sons to pursue a higher education, and maximize their potential to become contributors of society in the highest order. He was an avid supporter of the Committee on Chicano Rights, an influential state wide civil rights organization. He is survived by his 4 sons, 6 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. The community and all who knew him will dearly miss him. 

Services – viewing on Sunday, June 27, 2010 from 5 to 9 p.m. Glen Abby, Bonita Rd. Memorial Mass – Saint Rose de Lima, “H” Street, Chula Vista, CA, – Monday, June 28, 2010, 11:00 a.m. Burial, following the mass at Glen Abby Mortuary, Bonita Rd.

By Herman Baca, President CCR

As is the custom of our people I want to express our deep condolences from my family, from all who knew her, our community, and our people to Emma’s family. I also want to thank Emma’s family for asking me to say a few words in remembrance and celebration of her life.

I first met Emma, who was a member of the Committee on Chicano Rights (CCR) as a young MEChA student approximately 35 years ago when she first came to National City to help assist the community, and the AD Hoc Committee on Chicano Rights in our struggle to seek justice for a young 19 year old Puerto Rican youth from Old Town National City named Luis “Tato” Rivera. Tato had been shot in the back and killed with a 357 Magnum by a National City police officer (Craig Short), supposedly for stealing a purse with $1.87!

In the decades that I knew Emma, I always knew her as a social, political and community activist struggling and fighting for the civil, constitutional and human rights of students, the disposed, the poor and the Mexican migrant caught up in the immigration issue.   

Emma joined the Committee on Chicano Rights based in NC during the turbulent 1970’s, after the decade that followed the political assassinations in the late 1960’s of Malcolm X, Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy. The 1960’s were a time of the Afro-American civil rights movement against segregation, youth marching in the streets to stop the Vietnam War, Women, Native American, and other groups boycotting, demonstrating and rioting to demand changes in U.S. society.

For San Diego’s Chicano community that Emma was part and parcel of, the 1970’s were a historical time that had been set in motion after:

· Cesar Chavez in California had launched a worldwide Grape Boycott to organize farm workers,

· Humberto “Bert” Corona a labor organizer from the 1930’s had launched an immigration movement to organize Mexican undocumented worker, or the so-called “illegal aliens.”

· Reis Lopez Tijerna from New Mexico had picked up arms to address the issue of stolen historical land grants,

· Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales a former world-class boxer in Denver Colorado had organized under Chicano nationalism to advocate for nation (Aztlan) building and,

· Jose Angel Gutierrez in Texas had called for the creation of an all-Chicano third political party… La Raza Unida Party.

Like so many others Emma also heard the call for change, and action thru self –determination, and became involved.

What I remember most about Emma was her deep involvement with the CCR’s effort to address the immigration issue that was starting to develop into a Mount Everest of an international issue along the U.S./Mexico border, especially here in San Diego and Tijuana.

In 1977 the immigration issue started to heat up.

1. The KKK announced plans to patrol the U.S./Mexico border to stop Mexican immigrants from crossing. The CCR along with numerous national organizations called for a protest march at the U.S./Mexico border to denounce the KKK’s plan, and state that violence by any white supremacist organization against any Mexicans would be met in kind by the Chicano community.

2. Politically, President Jimmy Carter announced his plan to address the immigration issue. The Carter Immigration Plan was immediately denounced and opposed by all Chicano/Latino organizations in the U.S and Mexico as a racist plan to militarize the border, and continue the exploitation of Mexican labor.

What I distinctly remember about Emma is that in 1979 after numerous pickets, demonstrations, protests and marches held by the Chicano community to denounce Carter Immigration Plan, President Carter called for a meeting in Washington, D.C. to co-op Chicano opposition to his plan. One of the organizations invited was San Diego’s Chicano Federation that Emma chaired. After the president invitation was received, San Diego’s Chicano community met and voted to boycott the President Carter’s meeting. Emma at the time issued a press release stating in no uncertain terms that she would not attend, or dignify the meeting and continue to support the community’s struggle to create a fair and just immigration policy. For that, the community owes Emma a historical debt of gratitude.

Emma’s passing, along with the recent passing of local fellow activists Hermenia Enrique, Charlie Samaron, Ruben Rubio Roberto Martinez, Ruben Dominquez, and others in San Diego, and Cesar Chavez, Humberto “Bert” Corona, Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales at the national level signifies that a generation, and a political era is slowly; but surely coming to an end.

To the young people present remember, in the near future our people will be the majority population in California and other states in the United States. Emma’s life; along with many others who have passed was a struggle to correct the social, economic and political injustices that afflict poor people, the disposed, the migrant, and our people.

If we are to remember Emma and all who have passed, we must continue that struggle.

REST IN PEACE

EMMA LUISA CREEL-VARGAS, – PRESENTE!

 Ruben Dominguez passed away peacefully on September 1, 2009 at the age of 70. Born in Indio, California, Ruben grew up in National City and graduated from Sweetwater High School. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from San Diego State University and a Master’s Degree in Urban Planning from Occidental College in conjunction with Yale University as a National Urban Fellow.

 Ruben’s career in the public and private sectors was distinguished by his driving vision of establishing equal opportunities and an even playing field for people of every race, color and gender. Early in his career he worked with the Economic Opportunity Commission and Head Start organizations in the San Diego area.

 Ruben served as assistant City Manager for the City of San Diego and held a distinguished career in City and County Government in the 1970’s and ‘80’s, where he supervised the city’s Affirmative Action program and was responsible for the Model Cities Program, the Community Relations Board, Human Resources, Airports and Library.

 After retiring from City and County government in the 1980’s, he was a private entrepreneur and business owner until he rejoined public service with Neighborhood House in the 1990’s. Additionally, Ruben worked with the MAAC Project, Episcopal Community Services, and served as an adjunct professor for Evergreen College. Most recently, Ruben served on the Board of Directors for the San Ysidro Health Clinic for more than a decade.

 A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Ruben is survived by his wife Janet, his daughter Lisa, and his granddaughters Penelope and Alice. A Memorial Service will be held at 9:00 AM Saturday, September 19 at the El Camino-Sorrento Valley Chapel at 5600 Carroll Canyon Road in San Diego, CA.