[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 50 (Tuesday, April 13, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S3631]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO ISABEL ``BELLA'' ROMERO

  Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President. I would like to take this opportunity to 
recognize a truly remarkable woman, Mrs. Isabel ``Bella'' Romero, of 
Greeley, Colorado. This gallant woman's life was prematurely cut short 
last year after courageously fighting ovarian cancer for six years. 
Bella's dedication to improving our world transcends her career as an 
inspirational middle school principal and educator and as a woman 
devoted to her family. Her selfless pursuit of bringing out the best in 
all she came in contact with has made her passing that much greater. 
She is fondly missed by her friends and family, but her legacy lives on 
through all those whose lives she touched.
  I ask unanimous consent that an article from the Denver Post on this 
remarkable Coloradan be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the article was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                 [From the Denver Post, Mar. 25, 1999]

         Bella Romero's Life Displayed The Eloquence of Action

                           (By Tomas Romero)

       ``In our world of big names, curiously, our heroes tend to 
     be anonymous.''--Historian Daniel J. Boorstin
       Americans tend to compartmentalize their emotions too much: 
     Feeling patriotic on July 4, remembering the deceased on 
     Memorial Day and putting on a happy face for the holidays.
       Hispanics, though, see tragedy and joy as part of an ever-
     intertwined continuum--so why not acknowledge them 
     concurrently as we do with Los Dias de Los Muertos? Thus, 
     just before Christmas, I've chosen to write a belated tribute 
     to one of those anonymous heroes described by Boorstin. After 
     all, what time could be better to celebrate a woman who gave 
     so many gifts to so many people?
       My friend Isabel ``Bella'' Romero of Greeley died this year 
     after an unbelievably valiant six-year battle fought against 
     a cruel, unforgiving foe--ovarian cancer.
       Action is eloquence. And the eloquently lovely manner with 
     which Bella Romero conducted her life journey must be 
     remembered: an unmatchable, deliberately executed, constantly 
     positive pattern for living.
       She was a loving wife to Ray, a loving mother to Denny, 
     Mark, Juan and Andrea, and a passionate advocate for every 
     school child in need of a good past. As a Longmont middle 
     school principal, Bella knew that a child without a good past 
     couldn't easily aspire to a better future.
       Bella was not related to me by blood, but she was my sister 
     in spirit since we were kids together in Brighton. This 
     winsome girl was married and a mother by age 16. She worked 
     in a cannery to help Ray attend the then-Colorado State 
     College in Greeley. It was an experience filed with bare food 
     cupboards, living in dingy basements. Ray became a teacher/
     university administrator and successful civic leader.
       Then it was Bella's turn to bring dreams to fruition. 
     ``I've decided to go to college and become a teacher,'' she 
     announced. Armed with a GED, she began a daily round trip 
     from Brighton to Greeley. Family needs still came first. Only 
     when everyone was asleep would she sit at a kitchen table to 
     study. In three years, Bella received her diploma--with a 
     straight A average. Later she fulfilled another aspiration 
     and became a respected principal--one of the state's best. 
     Probably her greatest skill was being able to defeat an enemy 
     by making them a friend.
       Then came sudden, unexpected pain and a doctor's diagnosis 
     of ovarian cancer. Bella's war had begun. With prayer, 
     traditional medicine, visualization, holistic health 
     tactics--and, yes even laughter--Bella beat back her vicious 
     enemy. Tauntingly, cancer would retreat and then return. 
     Bella wept when she was finally forced to give up her 
     position as principal. ```It was six years of increasingly 
     difficult anguish for us and pain for her,'' husband Ray 
     says.
       ``Death be not proud,'' I said in a eulogy. ``Bella's 
     intent was never to defeat death--no one does--it was to win 
     at life.'' Through study and reflection, Ray believes, Bella 
     found a spiritually higher level--a place beyond pain's 
     reach.
       She endured beyond our comprehension to understand why she 
     simply didn't just let go. Never did she relinquish personal 
     power or allow physical frailties to become spirit-dominating 
     indignities. University of Northern Colorado President Howard 
     Skinner gladly came to her home when asked to join forces for 
     worthwhile programs. Bella wanted to leave Earth on her 
     terms--``thoroughly used up,'' as George Bernard Shaw wrote 
     in a poem.
       Every grandchild of Bella's received a personal videotaped 
     message. So, too, were family members counseled, parents 
     called from a hospital bed and told goodbye. When visitors 
     came to her, she found strength to console us and offer 
     advice. When we'd been prepared to get on with our lives 
     without her, she left us.
       It's been six months since Bella died, and sister Anna Lee 
     still mourns for a best friend.
       Bella was Cathy Gleesing's mentor and school principal. 
     Cathy became a valued friend and was always there to offer 
     love and support in time of trying need. Bella ``led with 
     elegance, grace and style,'' Cathy says. ```I wish for Bella 
     when I strive to be excellent in my work, mood and 
     relationships.''
       In other words, always.
       Ray lost a beloved companion, one who at day's end every 
     day for 40 years would join her partner to talk and reinforce 
     familia and values.
       We have all lost, and during this holiday season we need to 
     learn from her gift.

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