[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   HONORING MANUEL de JESUS ALVARADO

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. ED PASTOR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 27, 1996

  Mr. PASTOR. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the life of Manuel de 
Jesus Alvarado, a man who brought hope and laughter to all who knew 
him. His goodwill was contagious but he had a serious mission in life. 
Manny, as everyone knew him, was an educator and an activist. From his 
earliest days at the University of Arizona in Tucson, he worked 
aggressively to improve the educational and employment opportunities 
for minorities.
  Manny's commitment to civil rights and educational activism is 
evidenced by the range and length of his community and volunteer work: 
Board of Directors for Southern Arizona Legal Aid--22 years; Tucson 
Dropout Prevention Collaborative--15 years. The list goes on.
  Manny was often recognized for his immeasurable contributions. Among 
the awards he was most proud of were the Tucson Association for 
Bilingual Education Award, the Chicano Student Leader Award, the TUSD 
Dropout Prevention Award, the Pima Community College Award for 
Dedicated Service.
  This award from Pima College best exemplifies his love for his work 
and his students as talent search program director at Pima Community 
College. His compassion and his enthusiasm found their outlet through 
this work with Tucson's youth. Manny recognized that many academically 
talented Hispanic and native American youth were not prepared to go on 
to college. Working through Pima College, Manny created the talent 
search program in 1988 to monitor junior high and high school students. 
Those students with academic potential were recruited and many have 
gone on to complete their college education.
  Above all, Manny was a ``doer''. He created, built, and energized 
people, groups, and communities. Although Manny can never be replaced, 
the legacy he left is strong. He was a role model and achieved all the 
worthwhile things of life: a loving, close, and supportive family; 
devoted friends; the respect of the community; a meaningful life's 
work, the trust of his students; a deep and abiding faith in God.
  Again, I would like to pay tribute to the lifetime of accomplishments 
of Manuel de Jesus Alvarado, and extend to his family, his wife, 
Theresa, his daughters Angela and Monica, and of his step-son, Fred 
Medina, my condolences on the loss of a great and honorable man.

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