Watts neighborhood advocate Ozie B. Gonzaque handed away on Thursday, July 17, on the age of 100, her household introduced. She celebrated her centennial birthday on June 8.
Mrs. Gonzaque was among the many distinguished African American girls devoting time and skills to public service in Los Angeles. Most notably, she served 18 years on the L.A. Housing Fee – together with 11 years as chair – in the course of the mayoral administration of Tom Bradley, Richard Riordan, and James Hahn.
Based on her daughter, Barbara Stanton, “My mom devoted her life to uplifting others, significantly in South Los Angeles, the place her title grew to become synonymous with service, compassion, dignity, energy, and perseverance.
“Her affect prolonged far past anyone group or initiative, her legacy is written within the lives she touched, the younger folks she impressed, and the leaders she helped form. Her life’s work was a residing instance of what it means to be ‘of service,’ not simply in phrase, however in steadfast motion,” added Stanton, government director of Entrepreneur Academic Middle, Inc., a nonprofit offering free schooling, enterprise coaching and profession growth for underserved communities in better L.A.
In a latest interview, Mrs. Gonzaque said that her dedication to public service was impressed by her mom’s remark. “My mom all the time stated, ‘Don’t complain until you’re keen to make a change.’ These phrases have stayed with me all my life,” she stated.
Throughout her tenure on the Housing Fee, Mrs. Gonzaque not solely supplied counsel to town’s elected officers and Housing Authority’s workers but additionally suggested residents of town’s 21 housing developments (one is known as after her in honor of her management) and prime executives of the U.S. Division of Housing and City Growth (HUD).
“Amongst her most famous accomplishments is the creation of the long-lasting police brand and phrase, ‘To Shield and Serve,’ which at present seems on police autos nationally, and founding the Southeast Easterettes, a assist group of the L.A. Police Division,” famous Stanton.
A local of Little Rock, Arkansas, Mrs. Gonzaque moved together with her household to Watts in 1944. She resided in her Watts dwelling till her passing.
Her public and neighborhood service included chairing the Housing Authority’s Safety Committee, a member of the Residents Advisory Committee for the Metropolis of Los Angeles Enterprise Zone, and for the LAPD Oral Board for 25 years, and listening to officer for the interview course of for the LAPD Board of Rights.
Mrs. Gonzaque acquired a number of honors and commendations together with recognition in Who’s Who of Black America, the “Gonzaque Tree Grove” in Will Rogers Park, Ladies of the 12 months Award from Congresswoman Maxine Waters and County Supervisor Yvonne Braithwaite-Burke, and Wattstar of the 12 months Award. As well as, she was introduced a number of proclamations and certificates from the County of Los Angeles, Metropolis of Los Angeles, and LAPD.
Her survivors encompass three daughters, two stepdaughters, two stepsons, 10 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and different household and mates.
Closing preparations and a celebration of life had been pending at press time. This story might be up to date as extra particulars change into out there.
