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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2010 THE NEW MEXICAN SECTION D Dayy, monthh xx, 2010 THE NEW MEXICAN 1

who made a difference

Volunteer work is not always clean. Whether it’s working at a homeless shelter, building Zozobra or leaving your day job at a hospital
to run with kids, it sometimes requires rolled-up sleeves and vigor. That’s what sets this group of the 10 Who Made A Difference
honorees apart — they all found something they love to do and have made time in their busy lives to jump in and engage.
As we give thanks and blessings on this holiday, we hope readers find some inspiration in their stories.

MARY HELEN ROMERO KELTY


Creating bonds through music
By Inez Russell • Photo by Jane Phillips • The New Mexican
nside the band room at De Vargas Middle boards of Gerard’s House, Partners in Educa- participating after school. “If we could have have pride in their culture and to pass it on.”
School, a cacophony is building. Noise from tion and the Santa Fe Fiesta Council, and she classes during the school day, we would have Kelty knows what it is like firsthand to
trumpets, guitarróns and violins echoes as has won the Teachers Who Inspire award. a hopping mariachi program.” assimilate — as the youngest of seven children
musicians prepare for that day’s practice. And that’s a short list. Even so, mariachi players have graduated growing up in Truchas, she had older broth-
In the midst of chaos, Mary Helen Romero Once back at work at De Vargas, Kelty from Mariachi Conquistador to play with ers and sisters who spoke mostly Spanish. “By
Kelty is calm, watching and strumming her wanted an activity to excite her middle-school local professional groups. “I hate to lose them, the time I got to school, I knew English,” she
own instrument as Mariachi Conquistador students. Gonzales, known for his mariachi but you know they’ve achieved when they’re said. “At Capital, I was expected to meet with
gets ready to work. expertise at Kaune and Chaparral elementa- asked to play with adult groups.” parents. You know how I learned my Spanish?
“I thought, ‘Why am I sitting here when ries (he’s a past 10 Who Made A Difference Different sections of Mariachi Conquistador Watching telenovelas.”
I could be playing?’ ” she said of her decision honoree) had just retired. “I nabbed him,” — the trumpets, the guitars or the performing Music can serve another purpose — bring-
to pick up the vihuela at 54. “It’s a lot of fun. Kelty said. “I noticed immigrant kids weren’t group — meet after school, depending on the ing together immigrant and local children for
And the very fact that I do play with the kids participating in any groups. No sports, etc. I day. Not every musician attends every after- a united purpose. “Music is a common lan-
— they feel more relaxed around me.” didn’t have one red cent.” noon, but Kelty and Gonzales are there, direct- guage,” she said. “I think it brings kids together.
That inability to waste time is one reason So what? Kelty got out her sewing machine ing the trumpets or the violins, or watching the We go on trips. That’s when we all bond.”
Kelty has accomplished so much over her life- and made Pumpkin Pals for Halloween. The performing group play. Additionally, the musi- The hours of volunteering, she said, are
time of teaching, counseling and volunteering. cute pumpkin people (complete with a basket cians perform at different functions around possible because her husband, Chic, is under-
She just won’t stop — or, as Ernest Gonzales for candy) have been popular ever since. town and attend workshops and conferences. standing. “He’s learned to be really flexible,”
put it in his letter nominating Kelty as one of “I donate my time,” she said. “I wanted to do They even practice during the summer — and she said. Perhaps that’s because he’s busy as
the 2010 10 Who Made A Difference, “Mary this for the kids, but I can’t expect the instruc- the entire operating budget (anywhere from well, teaching youth rugby and volunteering
Helen is the organizer, the fundraiser, the tire- tor/director to donate that amount of time.” $7,000 to $8,000 a year — but more would with the Adaptive Ski Program. Both her par-
less worker, the vihuela player and singer, and She got a boost when a local Rotary Club mean more kids could take part) comes from ents were active volunteers — her mom busy
the heart and soul upon whom the program’s donated money for the trajes, the uniforms Kelty’s fundraising activities, whether her at church and at her daughter’s school; her dad
success depends.” the musicians wear. Like with everything put Pumpkin Pals or school dances or grant-writ- active at church, community groups and as
That program is Mariachi Conquistador, together by volunteer effort, sometimes the ing. Donations from Partners in Education, mayordomo of their acequia in Truchas.
which Kelty founded after going back to work outfits fit, sometimes they don’t. But Kelty Frost Foundation, Los Alamos National Labo- “When I started working,” she said, “that
at De Vargas as a counselor in 2003. She had doesn’t let black pants and white shirts mixed ratory Foundation, Los Alamos National Bank was the thing to do. It’s second nature to get
already spent some 17 years teaching con- in with the trajes stop her kids. and the State Employees Credit Union have involved.”
sumer science in the Santa Fe Public Schools, helped keep Mariachi Conquistador going. Or, in her case, third, fourth and fifth — she
The music is what matters.
and then another four years directing the doesn’t quit, whether helping children or rais-
This year, 69 students showed up during It’s a way, Kelty believes, to interest students
Grads Project at the SER/Career Academy ing money to get even more children involved.
the first week of practice, she said — most in school activities while at the same time
before becoming a counselor at De Vargas. Her motto is simple, summed up in her favor-
from De Vargas, but also from Santa Fe High, keeping them culturally grounded.
ite quotation to describe her group: “Where
Typically, Kelty earned her counseling cer- Monte del Sol and other city schools. “We “I really believe that a lot of minorities who excellence is our attitude.”
tification while on a “sabbatical” as a Golden didn’t have enough instruments,” said Kelty, come to the U.S. get assimilated. They forget
Apple award winner for excellence in teach- who added that after some kids dropped out where they come from,” she said. “It’s impor- Contact Inez Russell at
ing. Over the years, she has served on the for sports or other activities, about 50 are tant to remember where they come from, to irussell@sfnewmexican.com

Section editor: Bruce Krasnow, 986-3034, bkrasnow@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Lori Johnson, ljohnson@sfnewmexican.com BREAKING NEWS AT WWW.SANTAFENEWMEXICAN.COM
D-2 THE NEW MEXICAN Thursday, November 25, 2010

who made a di≠erence

PAST RECIPIENTS

2009
JAMES GALLEGOS
veteran funeral honors

MANNY ORTIZ
Boy Scouts

ERNESTINE HAGMAN
college guidance

DOROTHY MASSEY
Collected Works bookstore owner

DESIREE ROMERO
nursing home volunteer

AL LUCERO
Maria’s New Mexican Kitchen

DAVE McQUARIE
disability advocate

JOHNNY MICOU
Gailsteo Basin preservation

LOU FINLEY
tutoring

JOSE & CLARE VILLA


Northern Rio Grande Heritage

2008
SANTA FE INDIAN SCHOOL
SPOKEN WORD TEAM

CHRISTOPHER WILLETT
animal rescue

JUANITA MANZANARES
helping students into college
From left: Guy Gronquist, Kenneth Semon, Sue Breslauer, Vahid Mojarrab, Tom Ortiz, Angela Merkert, Amelia H. Romero, Bob Gaines, Sandra Tompkins, Brooke Pickrell,
TESSIE LOPEZ Ray Masterson; not shown, L.V. West, Charles Cole, James Leehan
Our Lady of Guadalupe Church

INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SHELTER


MARIO MONTOYA & DENISE NAVA
Guitars not Guns

MELYNN SCHUYLER
YouthWorks
Feeding the homeless
JIM BLACK By Erika Dávila • Photos by Jane Phillips • The New Mexican
St. John’s Soup Kitchen

SANTA FE RAILYARD
COMMUNITY CORPORATION
very night, just before the Interfaith show up. Some of those people came every
Community Shelter opens its doors, night throughout that winter.
ROLAND TRUJILLO volunteers gather in a circle for prayer. “At the end of that year, it became clear to us
parish and family volunteer It is part of the daily routine at the that we really needed to do something more
shelter on Cerrillos Road, though faith significant,” Semon said.
CONNIE AXTON and a willingness to help those in need have It also became clear, he said, that not every-
ARTsmart been the foundation for the group of people one who used the shelter would transition to
who came together several years ago and permanent housing. Some guests were simply
decided it was time to stop letting Santa Fe’s chronically homeless.
2007 homeless die on the streets.
This month, the vision that began to take
“It spoke to us about how the transitional idea,
30 days (until a person moves to more perma-
MONICA LOVATO shape three winters ago became a reality. nent housing), just was not appropriate for some
boxer Over the summer, the city of Santa Fe pur- people,” said Angela Merkert, board secretary.
chased the Pete’s Pets building at 2801 Cerril- From the beginning, the group’s policy has
MARY LOUISE los Road, allowing the Interfaith Community also been to turn no individual away, including
& GORDON BETANCOURT
youth sports, delinquency, Shelter to lease it indefinitely and make the those people who were drunk.
at-risk teens facility its permanent home (the group leased Since the shelter’s founding, Merkert said she
it from the previous owner last winter). Here, has seen an improvement in how community
FRED BENDER the group can provide up to 100 homeless peo- agencies deal with issues of homelessness.
education reform, ple a place to sleep each night — something “There’s just more communication and more
Boys and Girls Club no other facility in Santa Fe had ever been able awareness of the issues of homeless people,
to accomplish. and how do we attempt to create a more seam-
JULIA ABEYTA Guests can stay as many nights as they want less support network in the city,” Merkert said.
Indian education between November and April — the months “The awareness of just how many people are
during which the shelter is open. out there is something that is ongoing.” SUSAN ODISEOS, former board member
DIANNE BAROS
“I find it remarkable that we’ve been able to While the founding groups might not have
Pojoaque youth sports
accomplish what it is we’ve been able to do,” shared the same religion, they did share an CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS
DONALD STOUT said Susan Odiseos, the founding board chair- inherent desire to take care of the needy,
woman of the group, who has since stepped Semon said. Sue Breslauer
gay rights
down. Volunteer groups have grown beyond the Bob Gaines, treasurer
BARBARA WOLFF Odiseos is just one of many who helped faith communities to include such organiza- Guy Gronquist
medical disaster assistance spearhead the shelter. The list includes St. tions as Veterans for Peace, AmeriCorps and Ray Masterson
Elizabeth Shelter, the Santa Fe Public Schools Capital High School. Angela Merkert, secretary
MARCELLA ORTIZ GONZALES Adelante program for homeless students, the Board member Guy Gronquist said the key
St. Anne Church Vahid Mojarrab
city of Santa Fe — which has provided financial to getting so many groups to work together has
Tom Ortiz
support — and especially the group of 20 faith been simple: “Respect. We respect each other’s
FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY Brooke Pickrell, vice chairwoman
communities that started the process. religious traditions.”
Southside Branch Library Amelia H. Romero
The number of faith and community groups Today, the Interfaith Community Shelter has
VIRGINIA WILSON involved has since grown to 43, comprising 10 paid staff members who stay overnight with The Rev. Kenneth Semon, chairman
National Alliance for Mental Illness more than 1,860 volunteers who make it pos- the guests, but the vast majority of the work is Sandra Tompkins
sible for the shelter to operate smoothly night done by the hundreds of volunteers. Each of L.V. West
after night. the 43 groups rotates staffing the shelter for a Charles Cole
Last winter, the shelter provided more than week or two during the winter.
2006 10,000 bed nights, housing between 55 and Volunteers arrive at the shelter at 5 each
James Leehan
CARLOS MARTINEZ SR. 76 guests each night. night. Meals prepared at home are dropped off.
PREVIOUS MEMBERS/FOUNDERS
preservation of cultural “It is amazing the level of compassion in this Each night, there is a team leader who
and historical traditions community,” said the Rev. Kenneth Semon, pas- ensures the shelter is operating smoothly. Donald Behnke
tor of the Church of the Holy Faith and chair- When the shelter opens its doors at 6 p.m., Barbara Belding
JOE MAESTAS man of the board. several volunteers check guests in. Others Marilie Blanchard
acequia advocacy Semon is another founding member among check in bags (guests can leave bags at the facil- Erik Mason
the group of representatives from Santa Fe’s ity during the day), while another group over-
RAY ROMERO Susan Odiseos
faith communities that began meeting in 2007. sees the serving of the food. One day a week,
acequia advocacy
The previous winter had seen about two dozen guests can look for clothes in a room set aside The Rev. Bethany Carpenter
homeless people die in the streets. However, for Community Closet, an organization that Geri Martinez
SHIRL ABBEY
care of elderly St. Elizabeth Shelter could house just 22 men, collects clothes for the homeless and needy.
a few women and a family each night, with Dinner is served throughout the evening
MAYNARD CHAPMAN guests allowed to stay for up to 30 days. (some people come for meals only). Volunteers
Food for Santa Fe Semon said the group quickly realized this are free to leave at 9 p.m. when the night staff On a recent Sunday, the Rev. Gary Kowlaski
did not begin to meet the need for emergency comes on duty. from the Unitarian Universalist Congrega-
ANNE McCORMICK shelter during the winter months. A major remodel of the building will begin tion of Santa Fe watched as the last of a line
Many Mothers So a grass-roots effort began with Santa Fe’s in the spring, and the facility will eventually be of guests trickled into the shelter. The main
churches holding a “round robin,” where each known as the Santa Fe Resource and Opportu- course was turkey and lasagna. The congrega-
SARAH ROCHESTER
group would house women and children for nity Center because it will provide more than tion was hosting, having signed up for two
visiting nurses
two weeks at a time during winter. Men were just meals and a place to sleep; it will also offer weeks duty this winter.
PETER DONIGER sheltered at the Salvation Army. health care for the homeless and other com- Kowlaski, who is new to Santa Fe, said it
tax assistant The plan was not ideal, however, because munity resources, such as counseling and job- was clear the community had responded to a
many of the churches were not near bus lines, placement assistance. great need.
ROSEMARY CRAWFORD and it wasn’t easy to get the word out on which The plans for the new facility have been “There’s so many people who are a pink slip
childrens’ theater group was hosting when. In the winter of 2008, drawn by Vahid Mojarrab, another board mem- or an illness away from homelessness,” Kow-
the group began leasing a facility on St. Michael’s ber and an architect, who is providing his ser- laski said. “Clearly there’s a need for food and
VALDEZ ABEYTA Y VALDEZ Drive. Some nights, up to 80 people would vices pro bono. shelter for people living on the edge.”
youth advocate, community activist
Thursday, November 25, 2010 THE NEW MEXICAN D-3

layton Lewis said his birth certifi-


cate doesn’t have a city or state
listed on it. Rather, it has longitude
and latitude determining the locale
in the Atlantic Ocean where he who made a di≠erence
was born on the SS George Washington on
Feb. 10, 1923.
There was no official doctor on board, he
recalled, and some passengers wondered if
the diminutive Lewis was going to make it.
He did, and he kept on making it, becoming
one of the 10 Who Made a Difference this
year for his volunteer work at Capital High PAST RECIPIENTS
School and his support for the Santa Fe
Community College.
“Clayton taught me that you never stop 2005
learning,” said Johnny Glaze, a Capital High JUDY ESPINAR
graduate who is studying medicine at The International Folk Art Market
University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.
“He is awesome. He got to know you to SALOME DeAGUERO
where he could joke around and still be patient retired educator, senior-service advocate
as you learned. At the same time it got to the STEWART YOUNGBLOOD
point where how he related to each student was Assistance Dogs of the West
based on each student’s individual personality.
He is almost 88, and he does not act like it.” THOMAS ROMERO
No, he doesn’t. Spry and full of good humor, El Museo Cultural
Lewis insists he’s only climbing on the 10 Who
Made a Difference bandwagon because he wants SARA MELTON
land-use planning, preservation
to draw attention to both Capital and SFCC.
“I identify with young people,” he said of his CLARK CASE
work in the schools. “And it’s not easy being a Community radio station, Dixon co-op
teacher today.”
Robert Sorenson, who brought Lewis into YOLANDA COLORADO,
the Health Career Pathways medical program PAT GREATHOUSE, & EDDIE HERNANDEZ
at Capital, called Lewis in to help about three Little Mozart and Mariachi program,
and a half years ago to work with the students
on various projects. CLAYTON LEWIS youth symphony and music programs

CONNIE TSOSIE
“Clayton is a retired surgeon, he’s a renais-
sance man,” Sorenson said. “He couldn’t do
Mentoring teens Pueblo Opera Program
enough for us. I don’t know how many hours DIANE GRANITO
he spent out there with those students. We By Robert Nott • Photo by Jane Phillips • The New Mexican adoption, Heart Gallery
would do lab practicals that would start at
6 o’clock in the morning and by golly, he was REBECCA DONOHUE
there. The students just loved him. He would be looking at the ceiling, scratching their back- ated with a medical degree from the University school counselor
hold their feet to the fire, but he has this grand- side and belching during the interview with of Michigan.
father appeal.” the patient.” Among his extracurricular activities: fly
Lewis is not volunteering at Capital this Lewis arrived in Santa Fe in 1973 and fishing, sailing, tennis and skiing. Irene Levitt, 2004
semester, because Sorenson retired last spring. worked as a general surgeon at St. Vincent a longtime friend, recalls Lewis showing up
Lewis said he hopes the new leaders in place at Hospital — since renamed Christus St. Vin- for a 1980s ski trip in Santa Fe wearing a Little ARLENE EINWALTER
the Health Career Pathways program will call cent Regional Medical Center — for 17 years, Orphan Annie wig, which he kept on all day. Gerard’s House
on him next semester. he said. Before that, he practiced in Michigan, She still wonders why.
BOB PIERCE
Among Lewis’ many projects at Capital was a served time in the Navy during World War II “I’ve been bald since I was 21,” Lewis computer fixer
theater/film/communications program in which and with the Army during the Korean War. explained. “I usually buy some wigs the day
Lewis would videotape medical students acting During the latter conflict, he served as chief after Halloween — you can get them very MIKE NARANJO
as doctors as they dealt with Capital’s theater of surgery at the 97th General Hospital in cheap. So I will wear them for my friends once Rock Christian Outreach Church
students in the role of patients. He first utilized Frankfurt, Germany. in a while, just for a laugh. I think I still have
this method of teaching communication skills He studied photography years ago under that Little Orphan Annie wig.” WES STUDI
at Michigan State University 50 years ago. Ansel Adams, who told Lewis to stick to his Why does he volunteer? actor
“One of the main problems between physi- day job. (Lewis still photographs, paints and is “I had a lot of people help me out when I APRYL MILLER & JOANN SARTORIUS
cians and the public has to do with commu- taking a digital photography class at SFCC.) In was a student,” he said. “I want to give back to Suicide Intervention Project
nication,” Lewis said. “The students thought the late 1930s, he used his paper-route savings young people. I don’t know if it’s me that has
they were doing fine, but they later saw them- to tour Europe for nearly a year, taking photos made a difference here. I think Santa Fe made a GRIFF DODGE
selves on camera not communicating. They’d along the way. After World War II, he gradu- difference in my life.” cross country coach

SCOTT ABBOTT
teacher, volunteer, Habitat for Humanity

ROBIN REINDLE
Pecos Schools PTA
onsuelo Hernandez, known to one JACQUELINE RAE GOMEZ
and all simply as Connie, has made Pojoaque High student
her difference one person at a time,
one day at a time, over nearly nine ALIA MUNN
decades. Second Street Experience
Writer Jaima Chevalier, who nominated Her-
nandez to be one of the 2010 10 Who Made A
Difference winners, described her as “one of 2003
the guardians of the soul of the city. She helps
JOSE BENITO
virtually everyone she meets.” Ben Garcia scholarship fund
Helping was what Hernandez learned as a for Pojoaque students
child, watching her mother and grandfather
make sandwiches for the passing hobos during CHARLENE TETERS (SPOKANE)
the Depression, and often packing extras for the IAIA artist who has led charge against
road, too. She and her family lived in a house using Indian insignia by sports teams
on Old Santa Fe Trail near Paseo de Peralta; her
grandpa’s grocery in front. Proof of their gen- DICK ROTH
erosity — left behind for the next down-on-his- lobbied for ignition interlock
luck bum, a telephone pole marked with a heart ARTHUR HEMMENDINGER
around a cross, “which means,” she said, “if you repairs cassette players for the blind
stop here they will give you something to eat.”
Today, the family house is where Hernandez DORIS KRAUSE
runs her Old Santa Fe Trail Gift Shop, selling cares for Alzheimer patients
religious items and milagros, working sev-
eral days a week despite her 85 years. She’s a DAVID ORTIZ
soft touch for local artists, and her shop is an Pojoaque water planning, acequia issues
important year-round outlet for them to get CHRIS PEDERSON
their wares before the public. Capital High teacher and mentor
It began as an import shop, opened with
her baby sister after the family’s liquor store ILEAN MARTINEZ
was lost due to the construction of St. Francis clean drinking water in Chimayó
Drive. “We had very pretty things,” Hernan-
dez remembered. “One time I ordered a few DR. MURRAY RYAN
religious items and they sold. I began to think, physician, raised awareness about heroin
‘This is what people need. This is what they’re overdoses in Rio Arriba County
hungry for.’ I turned it into that.” SUSAN ROJAS
Running the shop “has been wonderful. Kuane Elementary volunteer,
Everyone that walks through that door is retired teacher
special,” she said. “I’ve had customers tell me
stories. They need prayers for someone who is
sick. I get little papers and after Mass I write
their names in the book. That book is placed 2002
on the altar during Mass and they pray for their DIANE ALBERT
intentions — that’s a lot of prayers.”
Inside the store are rosaries, scapulars, hand-
CONSUELO HERNANDEZ LANL science-education specialist,
Los Alamos County Council
made santos, crucifixes and so much more. It’s
a treasure-trove of religious art and artifacts.
Reaching Santa Feans one customer at a time BILL & GEORGIA CARSON
A visitor can leave money at the Padre Pio Salazar Elementary School volunteers
shrine and ring the bell, and know that when By Inez Russell • Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno • The New Mexican
AARON GRIEGO
the money builds up, Hernandez will send it to youth recreation programs in Dixon
Italy to help pay for maintenance at one of the
bells at the saint’s shrine. tadora,” Hernandez said. “No wonder we love the procession in all but a very few years. “Three GUY MONROE
Such dedication to her faith is as natural as her so much.” out of 85 is not bad,” she said of her absences. El Dorado Fire and Rescue
breathing. Born the third of seven children Her mother, Miguelita Sena Hernandez, It’s important, Hernandez said, to be care-
(two boys and five girls), to José Hernandez was sacristana for La Conquistadora, a devo- ful with the pattern that devotees of La Con- DAVE NEAL
and Miguelita Sena Hernandez, she grew up tion for which Hernandez was chosen after quistadora use to make her outfits. “If you Pojoaque schools capital committee
attending the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis she reached adulthood. Her mother sewed make the outfit too long, you don’t show the J. PATRICK LANNAN
of Assisi on Sundays and going to school at the cape for La Conquistadora that brought angels,” Hernandez said. “She speaks to a lot Lannan Foundation
Loretto Academy. That early training led her to together the many treasures of Santa Fesinos of people. If you pray to her and you listen,
a lifelong commitment to the history and tradi- — wedding rings, brooches, engagement you get your answer.” GENE VALDES
tions of Santa Fe, and she, along with such fig- rings and other precious items that towns- For Hernandez, answers are rooted amid United Way, St. Elizabeth volunteer work
ures as Fray Angélico Chávez and Pedro Ribera people brought to be sewn into the cape. family (a niece runs the shop next door, also in
Ortega, helped preserve much of old Santa Fe Hernandez continued with the important job the former family house) and her faith. Since MARIA CRISTINA LOPEZ
through these modern times. of caring for La Conquistadora’s wardrobe her cataract surgery, she has missed Mass more & OTHER FOUNDERS OF
Her family had a special devotion to La SOMOS UN PUEBLO UNIDO
and preparing her for the annual processions than she likes — “I’m used to going and coming.
Conquistadora, Our Lady of Peace, Santa Fe’s during the Novena Masses for La Fiesta de I miss it,” she said, “but God gives us strength.” KATHY SANCHEZ
patron saint. Santa Fe. She recently went to get her license renewed Tewa Women United
“One of my ancestors, 250 years ago, was the In her 85 years, she’s walked the miles and will be back driving soon. “There’s always so
mayordomo of the Confradia de la Conquis- between the cathedral and Rosario Chapel for much to do,” she said. “I need to get caught up.” DANIEL LEHMAN
St. Michael’s student/El Castillo volunteer
D-4 THE NEW MEXICAN Thursday, November 25, 2010

state Capitol as the burning went on in the dis-


tance.
“He was tiny from where I was, but I knew
who made a di≠erence then that I would never miss another Zozobra,”
Valdez said. “I became one of those kids who
just loved everything about Zozobra. I built little
Zozobras in my backyard. I was just fascinated.”
That love bordered at times on an obsession,
like when a 16-year-old Valdez was fired from
his job at McDonald’s when he went to the
burning of Zozobra over the objections of an
assistant manager (he got the job back a couple
PAST RECIPIENTS of weeks later).
And by age 25, Valdez got his first chance to
2001 volunteer in the construction of Zozobra in 1990.
He joined Kiwanis in 1992, was a co-producer
DALE BALL of Zozobra in 1994 and has been the event’s
conservation and public trails lone producer since 1995.
“I know that seems like mumbo-jumbo,
GLENN BURTRAM
metaphysical junk,” Valdez said. “But I’m from
Montezuma Lodge
Santa Fe and I’m OK with that. Zozobra is real.
MARYANA EAMES I believe he comes alive every year. I believe he
cancer survivors work burns and gloom is wiped away on that night
every year. Then, as the year goes on and stuff
DANI FRYE & NEVA VAN PESKI starts piling up on all of us again, I honestly
League of Women Voters
RAY VALDEZ
believe he starts to come back alive.”
But for Valdez, Zozobra became even more
BETTY KERSTING than a bogeyman who visits each fall.
Habitat for Humanity Mr. Zozobra “It was in the early 1990s, a couple years after
JOSE C. MARTINEZ I started helping build every year,” Valdez said.
youth sports “I was helping build bunk beds at Esperanza
By Geoff Grammer • Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno • The New Mexican (shelter) with funds raised through Zozobra.
TESSIE NARANJO That’s when I had my moment — all of a sud-
native language preservation den I realized that my love of pyrotechnics and
ailed manuscripts. Divorce papers. Pain. The annual tradition also happens to be the fire and Zozobra could be transformed into
SYLVIA ORNELAS Ray Valdez is your guy. No. 1 fundraiser for the Santa Fe Downtown something positive in the community. That
La Familia, teen parent Pink slips. Eviction notices. Kiwanis Foundation since Zozobra’s creator, moment really brought a love of Zozobra to a
and pregnancy issues Credit-card bills. Will Shuster, signed over all responsibility for the
whole other level for me and I’d never trade
Valdez is your guy. event to the philanthropic volunteer organization.that feeling for anything.”
BRUCE RICHARDSON Bad habits. Bad memories. Bad mojo. The proceeds from Zozobra largely go
Chimayo Crime Prevention While the excitement of that wide-eyed
Valdez is your guy. toward one of four areas targeted by Kiwanis: 6-year-old still emerges any time Valdez gets
MARY WILLIAMS Among the facets of Valdez, the 45-year-old college scholarships, sponsorship of Key Club talking a mile a minute about all the benefits
foster parent in charge of the production of Zozobra for the organizations at Santa Fe High School and of Zozobra, it seems that the charitable part of
past 16 years, is that of being in charge of taking Santa Fe Indian School, a Kiwanis Foundation his painstaking labor of love has still somehow
items that symbolize pain and misery to people endowment fund and toward a grant program gone largely unnoticed through the years.
2000 and stuffing the 49-foot-tall marionette before that helps numerous area nonprofits that ben- “He’s very passionate about it, and he has
DOUG MCDONALD
setting Old Man Gloom on fire. efit children. really strong feelings for Zozobra on lots of
& LOS ALAMOS FIREFIGHTERS Call Valdez the middleman of misery. And since 1995, the driving force behind it alllevels,” Clavio said. “But he really understands
“You’d be surprised at some of the things has been Valdez, a construction contractor and it from a deep level that it provides not only a
ROGER MONTOYA people hold on to that is a symbol of pain or part-time actor. community ritual, but one that helps so many
Velarde painter, dancer, choreographer anguish,” said Valdez, who has produced the “There is a group of us — a lot of real com- people in so many different ways.”
annual burning of Zozobra since 1995. “When mitted guys that volunteer every year to get High-school graduates are having their higher
FRED NATHAN they want to move on, they ask me to put their Zozobra going,” said fellow Kiwanis member education partially funded by Zozobra: Ashley
Think New Mexico, gloom inside Zozobra to burn it away. To a lot Dan Clavio. “But without a doubt, Ray is the Jaramillo. Daniel Aguilar. Natalie Torres.
for all-day kindergarten campaign of people, it really does help turn the page on guy who is leading it all and taking control of Valdez is your guy.
TOM MILLS & BOB SKYLER
something bad in their life.” everything, while still being gracious about it Around 30 nonprofits every year receive
Santa Fe Public Schools But long after tens of thousands of people go all. It’s no small thing and Ray pulls it off every
Zozobra-funded grants.
management auditor hoarse each September chanting “Burn him! year, and a lot of kids and the whole commu- Esperanza Shelter. Big Brothers, Big Sisters.
Burn him!” and long after the charred remains nity really benefit from his efforts.” Warehouse 21.
JULIA HUDSON of Santa Fe’s gloom cool to a pile of ashes atop Which is why Clavio nominated Valdez as one Valdez is your guy.
missionary teacher at the concrete stage at Fort Marcy Park, some- of The New Mexican’s 10 Who Made a Difference. And for the 30,000 people who come together
John Hyson School in Chimayó thing else happens. “None of this happens without all of them,” each September to share a tradition — Ray Val-
From those smoldering ashes of gloom rises Valdez said of the droves of volunteers who dez is your guy.
NICHOE LICHEN, ANN LACY some hope. help him with all aspects of the event each year.
& CAROLYN COOK Zozobra is more than an annual pyromaniac’s Valdez has loved Zozobra since he was 6, Contact Geoff Grammer at 986-3076
for preserving county open space or ggrammer@sfnewmexican.com.
dream in the heart of downtown Santa Fe. watching from a tree in his backyard near the
JOHN AQUINO OF OHKAY OWINGEH
health care and nutrition work with tribes

KYRA KERR
St. Bede’s-Ortiz Middle School Partnership

FREDDY MARTINEZ healthy physical-fitness habits. The 10 weeks


Little League baseball, World War II hero ends with the girls running a 5K race, for which
CHRISTIANA TORRICELL
they collect food for The Salvation Army. This
Food Depot and Cerro Grande Fire relief year, they will run the Santa Fe Striders’ Fowl
Day Run. She said the girls brought in more
than 1,000 pounds of food last year.
1999 Temple said the Santa Fe Striders, a running
club she belongs to, has been a huge supporter
COOKIE JORDAN of her work.
theater residency project
“They’ve just been really supportive finan-
TONY SUAZO cially,” Temple explained. “They’re our biggest
Española Santa Claus donor.”
Temple, originally from Massachusetts, has
FABIAN GARCIA lived in New Mexico for 13 years. She got her
El Rito deacon nursing degree from Santa Fe Community Col-
lege and has found fulfillment in nursing.
NANCY ZECKENDORF “There’s so much flexibility in it,” Temple
Lensic restoration
said. She loves the lifelong learning aspect of
MICHAEL SIEGLE nursing. “You should never be bored unless you
Crisis Response volunteer want to be bored. There is always something to
learn. And, of course, it’s recession-proof.”
CERVANTES “BUDDY” ROYBAL Because she is such an active person, Temple
Santa Fe community service said nursing is a perfect fit for her because she’s
always moving.
JOHN & EMILY DRABANSKI
“I don’t sit down very well because it’s my
Pecos teachers and
Big Brother, Big Sister program personality. I have to be moving,” she explained.
“(Nursing) is not a career where you sit and
DON & NANCY DAYTON watch your watch and ask, ‘Is my day over yet?’ ”
Santa Fe Search and Rescue, Temple, who got involved with Girls on the
Eldorado community involvement Run in 2006, shortly after it was incorporated
as an official chapter in Santa Fe, said the pro-
DR. TREVOR HAWKINS gram is her community outreach to promote

ALICE TEMPLE
HIV/AIDS treatment health and wellness.
“Through running, these girls see themselves
ERNIE LOPEZ
in a different way,” Temple said. “I feel like as a
Taos teacher
Girls on the run runner, you know the beauty of running and if
you can introduce that to someone it will pro-
1998 By Ana Maria Trujillo • Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno • The New Mexican mote health and wellness and movement, not
CHUCK MONTANO going home and watching TV.”
Citizens for LANL Rights “Alice has changed the lives of hundreds of
girls in this after-school program and she has
KEVIN BELLINGER he members of Girls on the Run know to keep up and don’t give up.” had a profound impact on volunteer coaches,”
founder, Harambe youth center that as soon as they get out of their Temple has toyed with the idea of spending writes Karen Factor, who nominated Temple
classes at Sweeney Elementary School, less time coaching, but the girls keep her com- for the honor.
GEORGIA SALAZAR MARTINEZ they’re in for a good time. ing back. “It’s a cool program and she just makes it
artist, community They know that when they come Temple, an emergency-room nurse at Chris- so fun,” said first-year volunteer coach Andell
development Mendenales to the gym, Alice Temple will have their pink tus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, was Trujillo. “She encourages the girls.”
water bottles and healthy snacks ready. On a selected as one of The New Mexican’s 10 Who During her years with Girls on the Run,
BRUCE & ELLEN KAIPER Tuesday in November, the girls ran eagerly into Made a Difference for her dedication to Girls
Española teachers Temple has secured new shoes for some of the
the gym to take a peek into Temple’s canvas on the Run. girls. She said she alternates between schools
ZANE FISCHER bag, happy to discover that the day’s snack was A longtime runner and 10-time marathoner and this year, the girls from Sweeney will
co-founder, Plan B grapes and yogurt. (she ran the Boston Marathon “bandit” style get brand-new New Balance running shoes
Then they gather in a circle and talk about — without registering — as her first marathon), through a grant from the national organization.
DR. LARRY SCHREIBER the day’s plan and goals. If the girls have Temple saw the organization as a good fit for Temple is training for the Phoenix Rock ’N’
Child-Rite reached a milestone, they can share it and the her, so she became a volunteer coach. But the Roll Marathon in January and is raising money
others might give them “snaps.” If it’s a big program has “evolved to being a lot more than for Girls on the Run.
CRISELDA DOMINGUEZ milestone, they might get “superstar snaps.” a coach,” Temple said. She has served as a “It’s an honor,” Temple said about being
Abiquiú resident Maybe, if it’s a huge accomplishment, the girls board member, treasurer and now is the coun- named one of the 10 Who Made a Difference.
will give each other enthusiastic “silent cheers.” cil director and coach. She coaches about 13 “Obviously it’s based around Girls on the
ALFONSO “TROMPO” TRUJILLO
Makayla Baca, 9, a Girls on the Run student, girls after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Run, but I’m not Girls on the Run. The success
La Union Protectiva
said it was hard to start running when she Sweeney. of Girls on the Run has been a really big col-
MARY VENABLE began last year, but “it got easier,” she said. She In fact, her passion for Girls on the Run, a laboration effort, but it’s nice to be acknowl-
White Rock Senior Center likes Temple because “She’s nice, and she’s fun.” national program, and her modesty made it edged.”
“This is my first time running a lot,” said hard for her to talk about herself.
CATHERINE OPPENHEIMER Aylin Carrera, 10, a student in Girls on the Run, The 10-week curriculum for girls is designed Contact Ana Trujillo at
executive director, but “Ms. Alice helps me and my friends tell me to help them learn how to eat well and adopt atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com
New Mexico National Dance Institute
Thursday, November 25, 2010 THE NEW MEXICAN D-5

who made a di≠erence

PAST RECIPIENTS

1997
CHARLES MAXWELL
scholarship fund
BARBARA GONZALES
San Ildefonso Pueblo potter
CHRIS ABEYTA
community educator
AL PADILLA
Boys & Girls Clubs
DR. IRVING BUNKIN
Friends of the Library
PHIL BOVE
Acequia Madre preservation
ISIDORA RAEL
nursing home volunteer
SARAH ATENCIO
Embudo-Dixon area recycling
ANTONIO MARTINEZ
Upper Rociado church restoration
ANTHONY TRUJILLO
Our Lady of Guadalupe deacon
and Youth Group leader

1996
JUDITH SCARVIE
Food Depot
ROSS MARTINEZ
Española literacy volunteer
PAUL MARGETSON
part-owner Hotel Santa Fe,
youth soccer, United Way
BEATRICE NEVARES
Bienvenidos Outreach Program
ALFREDO ORTIZ
Boys State volunteer
ERNESTO RAMOS
New Mexico Senior Olympics
HERB KINCEY
St John’s College Search and Rescue
LINDA CRAIG

TALITHA ARNOLD Pojoaque Valley Soccer League


FELIX TRUJILLO
Human rights Taos Feeds Taos
PALEMON MARTINEZ
By Anne Constable • Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno • The New Mexican Rio Arriba Cooperative Extension agent

he Mystery in the Manure” was the renovated nine condominiums and built four as “battle fatigue” — “as if a good nap would 1995
intriguing theme of the 1995 Christ- houses — without any paid staff. Although no help,” she said.
mas Eve sermon by Talitha Arnold, longer on the board, she continues to advocate In the last two years, Arnold said she’s con- DONALD CHRISTY
the senior minister at United Church for volunteers and financial support. ducted three funerals for people who have Santa Fe police sergeant,
of Santa Fe. She is a founding member of the Santa Fe taken their own lives. school resource o∞cer
Robert Glick recalls that his daughter came Children and Youth Commission and was Arnold doesn’t buy into the adage that God JODY ELLIS
home from her preschool (at the church) involved in the creation of St. Elizabeth Shelter. gives us trials to make us stronger. Rather, she founder Santa Fe Community Orchestra
with an invitation to the service. Though Teams from her church still provide monthly says, “We can’t change things that have hap-
Glick was raised in the Orthodox Jewish tra- meals for residents. United also supplies volun- pened to us — but by the grace of God, we can ALBERT GALLEGOS
dition (and his wife in a Protestant church) teers to the new Interfaith Community Shelter use these experiences to help make the world a Our Lady of Guadalupe parish
they decided to go. on Cerrillos Road, and has sent members on better place.”
ROBERT GUIDICE
In her comments, Arnold compared the adult mission trips to the Sonoran Desert to An activist by nature, Arnold takes a stand
volunteer Hope House, AIDS housing
sanitary holiday nativity scenes to real man- learn about immigration and poverty. And for when she observes intolerance in the commu-
gers — with their manure and flies. The years volunteers from United, and the commu- nity. After the 2005 beating of two gay men, she ERNEST GONZALES
sermon was about both finding God in the nity, have been visiting Salazar and Agua Fría got local clergy to sign a petition. Even if people Kuane Elementary School mariachis
messiness of our lives and also knowing that elementary schools to listen to children read, don’t agree about whether homosexuality is a
God knows what it’s like to live a human life, provide moral support for teachers and help sin, beating someone up certainly is, and “at least ANNABELLE MONTOYA
complete with flies and fertilizer. with registration and health screenings. we can come together around violence,” she said. People of Color AIDS Foundation
Glick, now director of the St. Vincent Arnold said she sees herself as a “cheer- She called a news conference for faith lead- NELLWYN TRUJILLO
Hospital Foundation, was impressed. “This leader” for these causes, perhaps, she joked, ers to respond to anti-Muslim rhetoric, rea- Literacy Volunteers of America
woman has something to say I want to listen to fulfill a childhood fantasy, “although I never soning, “If I, as a faith leader, don’t speak out
to,” he thought. had the body size for it.” and organize, then the only voices are going to KOIE McCAULEY
In the years since then, his respect has She continues to emphasize outreach at be those of intolerance.” Salvation Army, United Way,
grown. “There is so much about her that United. “There is a huge focus on doing good Arnold often makes her points in well- St. Elizabeth volunteer
I admire,” said Glick. “Her ability to deal works and helping others within our commu- crafted opinion pieces. “Words help frame our
with everybody in an open, rational, non- nity and beyond,” Sewing said. perspectives and give us vision. Faith leaders KAREN WALKER
Realtor, city home-rule movement
threatening way, to hear what they’re saying. After Hurricane Katrina, Arnold provided have a moral obligation to do that,” she said.
It’s never confrontational. It’s always a give a moving van, loaded it with supplies such as And they have an obligation to point out when CAROL VIGIL
and take, the true meaning of dialogue.” diapers and water, and commissioned the asso- the solutions being advertised are too simplis- domestic violence commissioner,
For more than 20 years, those skills have ciate pastor to drive it to a shelter in Texas. The tic. Saying “no” to drugs is not enough, she District Court
not only helped Arnold build an active con- church raised more than $10,000 in cash dona- once wrote; Santa Fe needs to say “yes” to its
gregation of about 500 members, but to be tions for victims of the earthquake in Haiti and kids.
an effective leader in the wider community, put together more than 300 hygiene kits for Arnold said she learned effective public
whether the issue is religious intolerance, those who lost their homes. More recently, vol- speaking as a member of the Happy Home- 1994
bullying, homelessness, the lack of affordable unteers assembled 100 sets of school supplies makers 4H Club in Tempe, Ariz. But the secret JUAN VIGIL
housing — or helping the victims of an earth- for Haitian children. to good preaching, she said, “comes out of pay- owner Stables art space on Canyon Road
quake in Haiti. Arnold testifies regularly at the Legislature ing attention to what is going on in the commu-
Vickie Sewing, another fan, said, “One of the on behalf of human rights for GLBT persons. nity, the world and people’s lives.” NANCY PORTER
things I really admire is how she is willing to Recently she spoke out in an opinion article on Arnold and her three siblings were raised Santa Fe Food Brigade
take on the hard issues and provide leadership the dangers of bullying of gay teens. Since 2005, by her mother, a biology teacher, in Arizona.
around the conversations that help us all figure she’s been a member of the bioethics commit- Those children — two lawyers, one veteri- PETER CHAPIN
president, Santa Fe Habitat for Humanity
where we are and the right things to do, muster tee at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical nary surgeon and a minister — were able
strength to take on those issues and lead the Center, dealing with life and death issues. to attend college thanks, in part, to grants REBEKAH BLOOM WOLF
charge.” Over the past two years, Arnold has part- available under the War Orphans Act. Arnold middle school student
Sewing, former principal at Salazar Elemen- nered with the Santa Fe Symphony (she sang started out as a biology major at Pomona and La Residencia volunteer
tary School, cited Arnold’s leadership of the with the chorus for 15 years) and guest con- College in Claremont, Calif., where she came
church’s lengthy discussion about becoming ductor Tom Hall to offer joint presentations under the influence of Fred Krinsky, a rabbi FLORIAN ARTIE GARCIA
an “open and affirming” congregation that wel- on music and theology that have raised more who was head of the political science depart- president, Santa Fe CARES
comes all people and her Roundhouse lobbying than $1,000 for local charities. ment, and switched to government and reli- JEWEL CABEZA DE VACA
to pass human-rights legislation. This year she was invited to join the execu- gion. She graduated from Pomona in 1975 and Mana del Norte,
Sharon Ireland, Arnold’s nominator for the tive committee of the National Action Alli- Yale University Divinity School in 1980. In Hispanic women’s organization
10 Who Made a Difference Award, wrote, “I ance for Suicide Prevention, an initiative of 2006, she celebrated the 25th anniversary of
believe that Santa Fe is a better, and yes, safer the Departments of Defense and Health and her ordination. She is mother to Hey Zeus, a MARY KARSHIS
place for youth, the poor, the homeless and those Human Services. She went to her first meeting shelter kitty, and Bella, a stray dog. nurse and patients’ advocate,
of various political and religious persuasions in August in Washington, D.C. As Larry Rasmussen, a retired professor of St. Vincent Hospital
because of the volunteer efforts of Rev. Arnold.” The subject is close to her heart. Arnold’s Christian ethics, put it, “She takes good care
JOSE VILLEGAS
During her early years at the church, Arnold’s father, a scientist and military vet, was hospital- of the concerns of the congregation, but she’s La Cienega neighborhood organizer
primary outside activity was working with ized at the time of her birth and died by suicide always supporting them in their own work in
Habitat for Humanity. Within months of her when she was 2. She didn’t learn about the the community.” ENDELECIA PRINCE
arrival in Santa Fe, she joined Habitat’s family circumstances until she was 16. He apparently Española ballet teacher
selection committee. She served as president suffered from what is now called post-trau- Contact Anne Constable at 986-3022
of the organization during a period in which it matic stress disorder but was then referred to or aconstable@sfnewmexican.com JOHN CAMMARATA
academic counselor Santa Fe Indian School
D-6 THE NEW MEXICAN Thursday, November 25, 2010

who made a di≠erence

PAST RECIPIENTS
1993
JOSE RAMON LOPEZ
award-winning Spanish Colonial santero
ANA GALLEGOS Y REINHARDT
founder, Santa Fe Teen Center,
and Warehouse 21
JOHN STEPHENSON
founder, Santa Fe Community Garden
ART SANCHEZ
city councilor, water system advocate
DIANE REYNA
Taos Pueblo,
videographer, “Surviving Columbus”
AL WADLE
gallery owner and volunteer fund-raiser
for the Santa Fe Community Foundation
CAROL MILLER
public health advocate and administrator
DOTTIE MONTOYA
Española High School nurse
RICHARD LUCERO
Española mayor for downtown Plaza
STEPHEN CHAMBERS & MARCY GRACE
founders, Hope House (AIDS residence)

1992
LORRAINE GOLDMAN
executive director, Partners in Education
KATHERINE KAGEL
owner, Pasqual’s Café, Food Depot organizer
SKIP HELMS
stock broker, United Way fundraiser
MIKE BACHICHA
tennis professional and fund-raiser
KENNETH SICILIANO
AIDS activist
JACOB VIARRIAL
Pojoaque Pueblo governor
STUART STEIN
La Cienega land-use/water rights attorney
JAMES RUTHERFORD
director of the Governor’s Gallery
GERALD CHACON
Rio Arriba agricultural extension agent,
ranchers’ rights
FRANCELLA PEREA
teacher, teen parent center

1991
CAROL DECKER
Spanish teacher,
Vincenes neighborhood program

DAN PADILLA
St. John the Baptist Soup Kitchen

LENNY ROYBAL
basketball coach

SUZANNE H. GARCIA
HERBERT LOTZ
Maternal Child and Health Clinic Finding peace through diversity
LINDA ESPINOSA
Santa Fe High security guard By Paul Weideman • Photo by Luis Sánchez Saturno • The New Mexican
MICHAEL HICE
AIDS & Comfort board, erb Lotz served with the U.S. Army give up ... when a gay person comes out, you Sounds like rough work, dealing with big,
community foundation in the Vietnam War, and ever since give up a lot of personal power. You can’t be angry broncs and bulls.
has endured a life under siege. a real player in a society and a business world “You have to be careful, but they’re well-
SAM HITT
Though often haunted — sometimes that diminishes that. You’re not going to run a trained and they’re puppies,” Lotz said. “They
forest preservation
disabled — by horrifying memories, big company. It’s not going to happen.” look ferocious and violent when they come
GERALDINE SALAZAR he has earned a luminous reputation in Santa In the early days of the HIV/AIDS epidemic into the arena, but that’s not who they are.
Santa Fe Rape Crisis Center Fe because of his community service on several in the 1980s, Lotz did volunteer work for New “I was doing barrels and stuff for years, but my
fronts. Mexico AIDS Services. In the late 1990s, he horse, Homer, is 19 and he’s too stiff now. He has
ROBERT B. GAYLOR & LINDA KLOSKY The photographer, defender of gay/lesbian designed photo storyboards for the Human a lot of miles on his front end because he’s an
founders, Center for Contemporary Arts rights, rodeo enthusiast and volunteer work- Rights Alliance to help combat discrimination old roping and ranch horse from Clayton.”
ing for a state veterans’ museum is one of this against gays. Homer is stabled out on West Alameda. Lotz
PAULA DEVITT & ALICE SISNEROS year’s 10 Who Made a Difference. “The primary one I worked with was rides him three times a week, preferably getting
nurses, designed “Heartsaver” CPR program An aficionado of the camera since he was a POCAF, the People of Color AIDS Foundation, out to some wide, open spaces — as far as pos-
teenager, Lotz was three years into his studies raising money to help people in the Hispanic sible from anything reminiscent of jungle.
at the Art Institute of Chicago when he was community who were dealing with AIDS. “I’m much more comfortable, emotionally,
1990 drafted. After his training at Fort Huachuca in You know, because I’m a hard-core Latino,” he when I can see a couple miles in every direc-
THE REV. SHIRLEY GREENE Arizona, he served as a teletype operator in laughed. “Actually, when I came here, I identi- tion,” he said. “Sadly, that stuff never goes away.”
United Church of Christ, Vietnam. fied more with my mother’s family, the Italians, Other kinds of open spaces are available to
Habitat for Humanity “I was detached with the 25th Infantry, and and this felt like her community. I see it as sort him when he’s on his BMW R80 Dakar motor-
I passed secret information back to the head- of archaic European, and it felt safe.” cycle. On it, he fulfilled a goal he set himself of
JULIE PADILLA quarters,” he said. “The photography I did over His photography, in recent years, has been riding every paved highway in New Mexico.
Santa Fe Animal Shelter there was not for the military. I was doing it to specialized toward books and art catalogs. Lotz was nominated for the 10 Who Made a
sort of hide out in my mind and avoid the place However, when Eastman Kodak suspended his Difference honor by gay/lesbian rights activists
LESLIE NORDBY where I was.” favorite film, he was left “virtually out of busi- Liz Stefanics, a Santa Fe County commissioner,
Acequia Madre principal
The place he has been since 1980 is a lovely, ness in photography.” and Linda Siegle.
STATE REP. ROMAN MAES, D-SANTA FE modest home on East Alameda Street. He recently donated his negatives and prints “Between the rodeo and gay rights and the
for landfill legislation “I live with PTSD, which at the time I didn’t to the Palace of the Governors. And he plans to art world here in Santa Fe, he has made major
understand, so one of the first things I did survey those artifacts of a creative life with an contributions,” Stefanics said. “In terms of the
SILVER ORTEGA when I moved here is to build this 8-foot wall eye to publishing a few books. rodeo, here’s a person who is gay but he has
City Recreation Dept., involved in local sports around it,” he said during a recent visit. “It was “In Vietnam, I didn’t do combat photogra- many straight friends and cowboy friends and
CHRIS WELLS
like, ‘I’m in my bunker, and I’m safe.’ I finally phy,” he said. “I shot behind all that, and that war friends, all kinds of friends just because of
environmental education, All Species Project went through treatment down at the VA in the work is one of the books I’d like to do.” who he is and all his past experiences.”
late 1990s, and it was a lifesaver.” Lotz is on a board of directors that is plan- “I love living a spiritual life,” Lotz said
EDWARD ORTIZ Lotz came out as a teenager, in the early ’60s. ning to build a New Mexico Veterans’ Museum recently. “It’s not a religious life; it’s just about
Santa Fe Public Schools superintendent His minister, when informed that Lotz was gay, in Las Cruces. He has also served on the boards acknowledging the other dimensions of life. I
“basically said, ‘Well, you’re going to hell,’ ” of the Wheelwright Museum of the American find great peace in that.
CONNIE TRUJILLO Lotz recalled. Indian and the Santa Fe Rodeo. “Gay, single men have a lot to offer. Men and
founder and director Esperanza Shelter “My mother was one of those people who He likes to work the chutes at the rodeo. He women who have families with children have
for Battered Families
always told me to tell the truth, and by and got into it when Robert Himmerich y Valencia their hands full. I think it’s an obligation we
MICHAEL HAMILTON large that’s what I did,” Lotz said. “I’ve always was retiring and asked Lotz if he would be will- single people have — to pick up the slack.”
El Parian gallery owner lived my life as openly as I can safely live it, but ing to join the rodeo association and work the
not denying who I am. chutes — managing the livestock, getting them Contact Paul Weideman at
THOMAS REED “It is a hard road in our culture. You sort of in and out during the shows. pweideman@sfnewmexican.com
founder Vivigen genetic-testing laboratory
Thursday, November 25, 2010 THE NEW MEXICAN D-7

ost mornings of the week,


Elizabeth Guss can be found in
Howard Shapiro’s busy math
classroom at Capshaw Middle
School. While Shapiro is in his
who made a di≠erence
morning meeting, she gets started by writing
the daily tasks for his classes on the overhead
projector.
At the beginning of class, Shapiro prompts
his students to say good morning to all the vol-
unteers.
“Good morning, Dr. Guss,” the students said
in cheerful unison as they greeted the faithful PAST RECIPIENTS
volunteer.
She chats and jokes with a student as Shapiro 1989
divides up the students in groups to take their
practice assessment. MOLLY WHITTED
“C’mon down,” she said encouragingly to former director of Santa Fe Beautiful
the students who were assigned to her group,
as though she was calling down contestants on GLORIA SAWTELL
The Price is Right. Once they sat down in their Santa Fe Community Foundation
places, she proceeded.
“You know how to do one of these,” she HILBERT SABIN
asked the students. “Do you know how to make Inter-faith Council, Peace Alliance
a decimal into a fraction?”
She proceeded to explain the mathematical
process to the two students at her station.
Elizabeth Guss ARTURO GONZALES
La Familia Medical Center, director
It is for her tireless dedication to the students Learning through teaching
of Capshaw Middle School that Guss, 48, was MICHAEL RICCARDS
selected as one of The New Mexican’s 10 Who St John’s College president
By Ana Maria Trujillo • Photo by Natalie Guillén • The New Mexican
Made a Difference.
“To have someone of Elizabeth’s caliber, with PAQUITA HERNANDEZ
her immense background in education, in the founder of Celebrate Youth!
classroom is a real privilege,” Shapiro said as a good idea, so she started going a couple of Legal Services and Indian Legal Services Corp.
his students took a test after their tutoring ses- hours a week to volunteer. The pay was low, but “it was good work in that LARRY BANDFIELD
sions. “My couple hours a week turned into a cou- it served a major community need,” Guss wrote founder, Santa Fe Desert Chorale
Guss started volunteering at Capshaw ple hours a day,” Guss said with a smile. “I’m in an e-mail.
Middle School in 2007, when her own son was here a lot.” It was while in Durango that she “caught ALBERT ORTEGA
a seventh-grader in Shapiro’s math class. Now, Guss said she has been more readily avail- the teaching bug,” and in 1991 began teaching Alvord Elementary School principal
he’s a sophomore at the Academy for Technol- able to volunteer since taking medical retire- a political science class at Fort Lewis College.
ogy and the Classics and she’s still volunteer- ment from her position as the division head for She soon moved to Santa Fe to become a fac- ELLEN BIDERMAN, ELLYN FELDMAN,
ing. business and professional studies at Santa Fe ulty member at Santa Fe Community College. SUSAN McINTOSH
“My son matured, and I didn’t,” Guss joked. Community College after being diagnosed with Guss has been taking college classes since & LONDI CARBAJAL
“The need was here, so I stayed when my son multiple sclerosis in 1999. 1980, missing only one semester because of Santa Fe Children’s Museum co-founders
moved on.” “That was my life before I was retired,” Guss her illness. She maintains that one of the best
The kids keep her coming back, she said. She explained. “Now I’m here during the school things about volunteering is that she continues ANITA SHIELDS
day and I try to be here as much as my health to learn new things from the Capshaw Middle & TINA LOPEZ-SNIDERMAN
loves to help them learn and watch them move
SFCC Women in Transitions program
up in math levels. will allow.” School math students.
“On the day-to-day, I really enjoy watching Guss’ path to teaching was a long one. “It’s really fun for me,” Guss said. “There are
them learning and succeeding in what they’re Her undergraduate years were mostly spent still things about elementary math that can still
doing,” Guss said. “They’re always amazed at Hope College in Holland, Mich.; but she took be discovered.” 1988
that they can learn that much. I’m not amazed several credits at both BirZeit University in Guss has always been involved with kids in
Ramallah on Israel’s West Bank; and the Uni- one way or another. She’s served as a Big Sister SAM ARQUERO
but I’m always really proud of them. They put
Chochiti Pueblo
in the really hard work, and we’re just here to versitat Evrit on Mount Scopus in West Jeru- for Big Brothers Big Sisters while at law school
help them. It’s really fun to see them make that salem as part of a pilot study-abroad program in Boulder, CO; she was a junior varsity vol-
ANN DASBURG
growth and have that sense of accomplish- her college had launched. That was stressful for leyball coach for Holland High School; and has
community and international
ment.” her, she said. served as a camp counselor.
justice activist
Guss said that while she got strong scores on “I was there during the war on Lebanon, and Guss said, about being selected for 10 Who
the math sections of the SAT and ACT exams, I think it was very hard on my parents to have Made a Difference, “I’m really surprised, and
ALFONSO GARCIA
she learned in college that her skills weren’t as me out of the country and in a war zone,” Guss I’m proud. I owe Jane (Brickner) a huge hug teacher and principal
special as she thought. said. and a dinner,” she said about the woman who
“There were lots of holes in my math skills When she got back, she attended the Fleming nominated her. “I’m really proud because I LYNN KELLY
and when I hit college physics, I found them School of Law at the University of Colorado think there are a lot of people in Santa Fe who New Vistas
really quickly,” Guss said. “When I dropped — which she’d hope would be close to combin- give a lot of themselves to this community ... I
physics, I enrolled in a remedial math class and ing her interests in political theory, philosophy, would labor in obscurity, whether recognized ANDREW SHEA
found out what they were.” sociology and history. or not, but it’s really nice to be recognized.” founder, New Mexico Repertory Theater
Around the time she saw her son was experi- In the 1980s, she moved to Durango, Colo., to
encing difficulties in math, Shapiro asked her to take a job as a lawyer for both a private practice Contact Ana Trujillo at WEST SIDE RESIDENTS
volunteer. Both she and her son thought it was and as a contract lawyer for Colorado Rural atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com United Farrocarril Neighborhood

DOUGLAS SCHWARTZ
president, School of American Research

GILBERTO ROMERO
mental health advocate
LYDIA PENDLEY JOE C’de BACA
Social justice District Attorney’s O∞ce

DON SCHMIDT
By Sandra Baltazar Martínez AIDS services
Photo by Jane Phillips
The New Mexican
1987
SISTER SHIRLEY LA BLANC
very Sunday morning, Lydia Pendley
Catholic Sisters of Charity
stands behind a brown folding table
she sets up in a corner of the church
MARY LOU COOK
hall. Her quiet demeanor and friendly founder of Santa Fe Living Treasures
smile greet people as they stop by to
look at the spice jars, calendars, jewelry, books RENA PARADIS
or whatever she has up for sale at her “Juárez Literacy Volunteers
Store.”
Besides taking donations from the com- JOE SCHEPPS
munity at large, she also leads a team of vol- developer and philanthropist
unteers to help with an annual garage sale and
a fundraising dinner she’s planned for Dec. 4. ARTURO GONZALES
She needs a minimum of $6,500 to buy wood, La Familia Medical Center
concrete, windows and other building mate-
rial needed to construct a three-room house in JACQUIE STEVENS
Rancho Anapra, a colonia near Ciudad Juárez. potter
In January, Pendley will have helped build 18
homes since 2000, when The Juárez Build ELAINE JUARROS
started. teacher
“For a group of us, this is what we’re called
to do,” said Pendley, a retired state chief of the SARAH GRACE
Office of Health Promotion and Community New Mexico AIDS Services
Health Improvement and devoted volunteer at
St. Bede’s Episcopal Church in Santa Fe. ORLANDO HERNANDEZ
Since she took the Christian educator posi- animal shelter
tion with St. Bede’s 10 years ago, building
homes for the homeless in Rancho Anapra has DOROTHY WADE
become part of her passion. volunteer
“The people of Juárez and the people of Pendley on the Juárez Build projects, said Pend- Peacock said they encounter families who
Anapra have become our community too,” said ley took the building idea “and ran with it.” live in cardboard homes or who use mattress
Pendley, who added that volunteers are aware of The idea came from Peacock 10 years ago, springs as walls for their makeshift houses. 1986
the border violence, but are still willing to work when her late mother, who lived in El Paso, One trip in particular stands out, Peacock said:
on the edifice that will provide families a home asked her and her three siblings to build a home A home they worked on was for a family of FR. GEORGE SALAZAR
of their own. Not going there would “feel as if we for a Juárez family as a gift for her 75th birthday. seven after their house burned down; husband & DAN PADILLA
were abandoning our family,” Pendley said. “I think she just always wanted us to have a and wife and their five children were forced to St. John the Baptist Church
“These trips are about love, about service heart for others. She lived on the border and live in an abandoned bus for an entire year.
and about giving of ourselves,” said Pendley, saw how the innocent people suffered,” Pea- “We don’t understand the concept of ‘ JANE & E.B. HALL
who is a co-group leader for Results in Santa P’OAE PI Gallery
cock said of her mother, Dorothy Ann Caldwell, nothing’ in the U.S., but they had nothing,” Pea-
Fe. Results is a national organization that works who died a year and a half ago. cock said.
on policies with Congress to end poverty at HOYT MUTZ
Through her mother, Peacock met Dan It’s for families like that one, that all volun-
high school coach and counselor
home and abroad. In her “free” time, Pendley, Klooster, a pastor and leader of Gateway Mis- teers keep working to raise money and offer
67, also serves as president of Health Action sions in El Paso, the group in charge of the people a place of their own.
DAVID GURULE
New Mexico, a statewide nonprofit that aims builds in Juárez and throughout other border As far as Pendley’s retirement goes, she said Santa Fe Group Homes
to give health care access to those who can’t towns. Klooster works with faith groups in she will continue to help the needy “as long as
afford it. Juárez, who are also in charge of looking for am able and God gives me the strength.” DARBY McQUADE
Pendley’s drive to help the poor almost families in dire need of a new home. “It’s part of my faith: Feed the hungry, clothe owner, Jackalope Pottery
makes her indispensable, said Tammy Mait- Peacock then brought the idea to Santa Fe. the naked. We’re called to look at the world
land, 32, who volunteered to build six homes in Now people from the Buddhist, Jewish, Catho- around us,” Pendley said. “We’re called to RAIN PARRISH
Anapra and will be going in January as well. lic and nondenominational communities have change and improve people’s lives.” Wheelwright Museum
“She really does a lot to keep it going every teamed up to help construct the houses, which
year,” Maitland said. take about three days to build from the ground Contact Sandra Baltazar Martínez at 986-3062 RAMONA CHAVEZ & MARIE ROARK
Jane Peacock, a volunteer who works with up. or smartinez@sfnewmexican.com Los Amigos del Valle
D-8 THE NEW MEXICAN Thursday, November 25, 2010

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