Date: 2006-03-02
Speaker: LINDA T. SANCHEZ (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Cali

fornia. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to honor the life of Mrs. Idalia Luna Smith. Idalia was a caseworker in my district office. She was also a dear and loving friend to hundreds in our region of California. She was a community activist. and she was a loving wife and-. mother of three children. Idalia passed away on Saturday. February 18. 2006. ending a long. and difficult battle with cancer. She is survived by her husband. John. and her two sons and daughter: Jack. Patrick. and Veronica. Idalia was born and raised in East Los Angeles. Her interest in politics and social justice developed early in life. At the age of 14. she was influenced by her fathers involvement in the famous 1970 Chicano Moratorium. an event which raised political consciousness for thousands in the Mexican America community of greater Los Angeles. As a teenager and college student. Idalia became politically active in her community. fighting for the equal treatment of Latinos and other underrepresented people. Idalia graduated from Sacred Heart of Mary High School. then studied premedicine at Immaculate Heart College and Chicano studies. journalism and theatre at East Los Angeles Community College. She then earned her bachelor ofscience degree in biology at the University of La Verne. Upon graduation. Idalia went to work for- the Southern California Edison Company. In her 20 years there. she worked in many departments. including power production. informational technology. health care. and occupational health and safety. As a testament to Idalias good will and generosity. she organized several blood donation drives and health fairs at Southern California Edison. In 2001. seeking to combine her love of science. children and education. Idalia went back to school to earn a teaching credential at California State Polytechnic University. Pomona. From 2001 to 2003. she taught science to young children at Beatitudes of our Lord School at La Mirada. California. However. her time at Beatitudes was unfortunately cut short by breast cancer. For the next 3 years. Idalia underwent the difficult rigors of chemotherapy and other treatments. Through her strength and courage. she was determined to return to help her community. In 2003. Idalia did just that as she joined her husband. John. in founding the Robert F. Kennedy Democratic Club in La Mirada. In this way. Idalia continued the legacy of fighting for social justice that she began in East Los Angeles 30 years earlier. In just one year. Idalia and John. Smith increased the RFK Clubs membership from 20 to 112 people. In acknowledgment of her work. Idalia was named the 2005 Democrat of the Year for the 60th Assembly District of California by the Los Angeles County Democratic Party. and that same year she was honored by her local peers with the 2005 Community Service Award from the Robert F. Kennedy Democratic Club. Over the past year. I had the pleasure of getting to know Idalia well as she worked in my district office as an office manager first and then a caseworker. Idalias humor. optimism. and general goodwill always brightened our office and the lives of the constituents that she served. Not a day went by that she did not make us smile and laugh. As a caseworker. she tirelessly worked to help others with their problems. all while she struggled with cancer. Despite her own health concerns. Idalia always lent an empathetic -ear and dedicated herself to the individuals she helped. She was incredibly modest. humble. and charming. My staff and I will miss her greatly. Through it all. Idalia believed in being proactive. She was committed to learning about her disease and did what she could to help others facing the same pain. I urge everyone to follow Idalias example and make a personal commitment to ease the suffering .of others as well and to help eradicate the horrible disease of cancer. Mr. Speaker and distinguished colleagues. please join me in honoring Idalia Luna Smith. May God bless her and ease her familys pain as they mourn for their loss.