Emalie Monarrez Ortega:
CLASS OF 1956
Salinas High SchoolClass of 1956
Salinas, CA
University of CaliforniaClass of 1968
Berkeley, CA
University of California - RhetoricClass of 1968
Berkeley, CA
Emalie Monarrez's Story
College
Struggling w/3 kids: single mom, divorced. 1964 Went back to San Jose State and got my B.A. and Teaching Credential. Thanks to Professor Brandt, my mentor -I was offered Teaching Assistant job at UC Cal Berkeley. Got my Master's in Rhetoric. Taught English Lit and Tutorial T-100 at Chabot Jr. College in Hayward. Very involved in Chicano Rights and Women's Rights Movement--- 1973: Went off to Stanford Law School. Got my J.D. and worked as a Public Defender. Later, Paralegal Director at SCU Law School in Santa Clara. Now semi-retired Attorney. In Private Practice,San Jose and Fremont. IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL LIFE. {;>)
Workplace
After graduation 1956, I worked in exchange for my room and board with Attorney Vic and JoEllen Beauzay in San Jose and took care of their kids while attending SJSC. Alas, dropped out in Jr. yr and married. By 1964 I was a divorced single mom raising THREE daughters. Eventually, got off welfare & AFDC and returned to SJSU for my BA. and credential for high school. INSTEAD: got a teaching fellowship and went off to get my MasterS in Rhetoric from Cal Berkeley(1966-68). Taught English ( Chabot College). Remarried. Became Ortega. Middle of Vietnam war and Chicano Movement,decided on Law School [Whee! at age 40 grad from Stanford Law,1976!] 2nd marriage ended. Joined Public Defender in SJ. Then paralegal director at SCU Law School for 15 yrs. Now semi-retired. Fought of...Expand for more
f Bell's Palsy, Breast Cancer.Gall Bladder Operation, , cataracts.. Now struggle to fight off insolvency, diabetes, retinopathy. BUT LOVE TO TRAVEL. Paris.Japan,Italy, Russia, Stockholm, Mazatlan and European Capital Cruises. My SJSU Humanities Prof Epaminondas Panagoupoulos taught me this: " Take that trip! Let them re-possess the car: But they can never repossess the memories!!" High School days were some of my happiest. Loved you all. EMO
UPDATE: AUGUST 30, 2013 TODAY I TURN 76. The GOOD times outnumbered the NON.>> ( fading memory helps!) Retired from S,J, Public Defender, and from SCU Paralegal Director. NOW i SPEND WINTERS IN MAZATLAN. - a little "casita" ( condo ) seven blocks from ocean and Historic Centro. Write occasional articles for the tourist magazine. Volunteer with "Mazatlan Tourist Aides" --we are friendly ( expatriate) "blue shirts" who meet tourists and help with advice, info and directions. Wonderful Victor Martinez,my contractor, and his wife Veronica Fausto have become my "familia" and they watch over me. and my house. I fly home --( to a rented room ! ) June to Dec. I think our SUHS teachers laid the ground work for our success. I hope your lives have been happy.
Emalie Ortega. Calif State Bar # 74872 (License still active.) But in 2014 I hope to reside full time in Mazatlan. Join me for shrimp and margaritas.! MI CASA ES SU CASA. Adios.
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