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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
HONORING CARMEN CASTELLANO
______
HON. ZOE LOFGREN
of california
in the house of representatives
Monday, July 27, 2020
Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the many
contributions of Carmen Castellano to educational, philanthropic, and
artistic pursuits in our San Jose community. Carmen has passed away at
the age of 81 and is survived by her husband, Al, and their three
children, Maria, Armando, and Carmela. This loss is deeply felt across
our community.
Carmen was born in Watsonville and graduated from Moreland Notre Dame
High School, later completing the Executive Secretary program at Heald
Business College. She worked as an Executive Secretary at Cabrillo
College. I first met her when she worked as an administrative secretary
and office manager at San Jose City College which she did for 33 years.
During her time at City College, she was president of the classified
employees' senate and co-founded the Latino Education Association. For
her support of San Jose City College, the school named its arts center
after her in 2012.
I've never been a big fan of the California lottery, but it was
wonderful and exciting when Carmen and Al won hundreds of millions in
the lottery. It couldn't have happened to a nicer couple. When I knew
Carmen and Al before the lottery win, I knew them as a team that was
constantly volunteering for the community. I have very fond memories of
the hours they dedicated to raising college scholarship money with the
American GI Forum. It wasn't a surprise to me, then, that they took the
lottery winnings and used them for good in our community.
Almost immediately after their win, Carmen and Al formed the
Castellano Family Foundation and started directing grants in support of
Santa Clara County causes. They focused their Foundation on the Arts
and Latino organizations, and it served to amplify artistic voices in
our community. Through the Foundation, they helped fund a black-box
theater at the MACLA gallery in downtown San Jose, the Castellano
Playhouse, and, among many others, provided support to Cinequest,
Teatro Vision, San Jose Jazz, and Los Lupenos de San Jose. The City of
San Jose honored Carmen and Al for their work with the creative
community with the Cornerstone of the Arts Award in 2015.
In addition to the Castellano Family Foundation, Carmen was active on
several Boards throughout the years, including the Board of the
National Association of Latino Arts and Culture and the Latina
Coalition of Silicon Valley, as well as the Santa Clara County Office
of Education's Artspiration initiative steering committee. Admirably,
Carmen pushed every organization that she worked with toward diversity
and inclusion--toward equity. For many, she has been a role model and a
beacon. Her legacy helps fuel the work that is still cut out for all of
us in San Jose.
Madam Speaker, it is a privilege to recognize and commend Carmen
Castellano for her unwavering commitment to the vibrancy of our
community. We miss her greatly.
____________________