Ralph Abascal
I was saddened to hear of the passing of Ralph Abascal (March 20). A year ago, we were both honored by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. He was recognized for his civil rights achievements and I for my affirmative action work as a member of the UC Board of Regents.
I later shared with my children that more than my MALDEF recognition was the opportunity to share the evening with a civil rights giant, a person who saw hope for the hopeless and struggled in a legal world to make real their rights. Abascal was the kind of man who lived his life in service to our most vulnerable.
The Good Book instructs us to live a life worthy of the call we have received. In the last 30 years, we Californians were rejuvenated with a sense of faith and hope that a man named Ralph Abascal found his calling in representing the civil rights of our poorest people.
RALPH C. CARMONA
Sacramento
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