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Mercury News – June 3, 2005
Her rights work earns lifetime award
By Edwin Garcia
Gertrude Welch and her husband were driving from San Diego to Fresno one day in 1950 when her life was transformed by the awful roadside sights throughout the San Joaquin Valley.
``There were all these migrant camps along the way -- families in tents, children out picking fruits,'' Welch said. ``When I saw what was going on I decided I would do something to help.''
As a result, Welch dedicated her life to social justice, the peace movement and human rights. She taught English to hundreds of farmworkers and promoted peace in the Middle East, Soviet Union and Central America. And -- to this day, at age 86 -- she raises a ``Honk For Peace'' banner at weekly anti-war protests in downtown San Jose.
On Thursday, Welch received the highest honor bestowed by the Santa Clara County Office of Human Relations -- the McEntee Lifetime Achievement Award.
``You have no idea what this means to me,'' Welch told an annual breakfast gathering of more than 400 strong at the Wyndham Hotel in San Jose. ``But I want to turn it around and dedicate it to those who have enriched the lives of thousands in Santa Clara County.''
That would have been most people in the room.
Merit awards were also given to five other human rights advocates:
Nancy Gutierrez, a teacher in the Alum Rock Union Elementary School District known for motivating students.
Sam Ho, director of the San Jose City College diversity office who promotes multiculturalism.
Wiggsy Sivertsen, director of counseling services at San Jose State University and outspoken champion for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Lucy Victoria Tansey, a 99-year-old tireless woman who has dedicated the past 42 years to helping American Indians overcome alcoholism.
Samina Faheem Sundas, executive director of the American Muslim Voice, which builds bridges with people of Asian, European, Latino and African heritage.
In addition, the county's board of supervisors also gave awards for humanitarian works to: St. Joseph's Family Center; Californians for Justice; Fariba Nejat, credited with empowering Iranian-Americans; Union Community Resources; and Emily Thurber, a longtime Democratic Party activist.
Human relations chief Richard Hobbs gave the Director's Award to the Arab-Jewish Dialogue Group, which seeks a peaceful settlement to the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
But it was Welch who stood out at the 33rd annual celebration. Her award is named in honor of a champion among human rights advocates. Jim McEntee headed the Office of Human Relations for 27 years until his retirement in 2003. He died in 2004.
Welch's dedication to helping less fortunate people goes back to the 200-acre farm in Walnut Grove, Minn., where she was raised. She remembers from a young age how, even during the Great Depression, her parents provided food and clothing to the needy, particularly workers from Mexico who planted and picked corn, oats and barley on nearby properties.
``It just gave me those values, and a concern to help other people,'' said Welch in the Cupertino home she shares with husband, George, a retired chemist.
The couple left Minnesota in 1950 for California. In Fresno, Welch embarked on a long journey centered around human rights and civil rights.
She assisted Central Valley farm workers, then transferred her activism upon moving to San Jose in 1953.
Over the following five decades she organized homeless shelters for the Santa Clara County Council of Churches, got involved with the Interfaith Committee for Social Justice, the Nuclear Weapons Freeze Committee, the local Pledge of Resistance, the Interfaith Peace Coalition, and the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, among many other groups.
``A life of service is important,'' she said. ``It's gratifying to see people's lives changed.''
At the awards ceremony, Welch was presented the plaque by Ann McEntee, widow of Jim McEntee.
She said: ``Gertrude's life has been and continues to be committed to building peace, justice and unity for all people.''
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