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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING THE LIFE OF LOUIS P. ESCOBAR
______
HON. MARCY KAPTUR
of ohio
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, September 16, 2020
Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life and
passing of a gentle caring soul. As August turned to September, Louis
Escobar entered eternal life.
Louis was a role model to many young people and a mentor to many in
the LGBTQ community. The first Latino elected to Toledo City Council,
he served three years as Council President.
Louis' servant's heart led him to involvement in a wide array of
Toledo Area community organizations including Northwest State Community
College, the AIDS Resource Center, The Fair Housing Center, Toledo
Sister Cities, Toledo/Lucas County Homelessness Board, the Latino Arts
Council, the Latino/Hispanic Alliance of Greater Toledo, Stonewall
Democrats, St. Paul's Community Center, the Area Office on Aging and
many others. Always, his life was helping others to rise.
Louis was born to Nancy and Peter Escobar. He graduated from Central
Catholic High School in Toledo, then went on to earn his bachelor's
degree from St. Mary's College, a Master of Divinity from SS Cyril and
Methodius Seminary, and a Master of Arts degree from the University of
Detroit. A loving and deeply spiritual seminarian, he was ordained to
the priesthood in 1976 and served St. Joseph Tiffin, St. Agnes Toledo,
and St. Joseph Maumee parishes. He taught at Central Catholic and
Tiffin Calvert high schools. Later, Louis worked as a counselor and
probation officer, for the HIV/AIDS Task Force, in community mental
health through the Zepf Center, Latino empowerment with Adelante,
serving the most vulnerable while at La Posada, and at Owens Corning
and the University of Toledo.
We offer his companion, his mother and brothers, nieces and nephews
and many dear friends our compassion and sympathy. As they mourn Louis'
loss, may they find comfort and strength in his memories and his
teachings.
Louis Escobar was a kind, gentle, intelligent, brave and pioneering
soul who endured deep illness for a very long time with such dignity
and bearing. His struggles as a gay man in the Catholic Church where he
desired to become a priest, and as a rising Latino leader were
prophetic and huge. He never yielded as a standard bearer for truth and
social justice. His election and steady, honorable service on City
Council rising as its president became part of America's transformative
social and political change toward human rights and liberty and
equality for all. Louis Escobar lived the change he knew in his heart
was essential for humankind to advance the reality of the human
condition. His lifelong partner Kelly cared for him throughout his long
illness and set the standard for love and fealty to family. Our
community mourns his loss and expresses its deep gratitude for his
courage, love, service, and sacrifice.
A U.S. flag is being flown over the U.S. Capitol in honor of his
life.
____________________
