The Greatest Women That I've Known In Almost 69 Years Of Life

Sarah Elizabeth Walters: She was my grandmother and lived to be somewhere between 101 and 103 years of age. She raised ten children, often as a single mother. When the Great Depression hit, she held the family together during the worst possible time. She was strong, resolute and loyal. She could also be charming and caring. She was so wonderful to me as a grandmother.

Ovita Culp Hobby: She was my father’s employer at the Houston Post Company. When my father was putting in overtime on a Saturday morning with me nearby, she would come down and talk to him and me. She was there at my dad’s funeral in January of 1976. Mrs. Hobby was a pioneer in bringing women to equality in society. She graduated from law school. She went on to be the first head of The Women’s Army Corps. She was the first secretary of The US Department of Health Education and Welfare.

U.S. District Judge Vanessa D. Gilmore: I appeared in her court long ago. She impressed me as a woman of incredible intellect, competence, and compassion. She rose to a high position in a profession dominated by males and with little African-American representation. Here is Judge Gilmore’s biography:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanessa_Gilmore

Rebecca Snyders-Darr: When I found myself in a homeless shelter in 1996, Rebecca was my case manager. I was always amazed at her competence and compassion for people. I often thought that she was wasting her time helping the poor when she could have had a great career in business, government, etc. When Rebecca left Northern California, she moved to the Chicago area. She became the leader of the Wings non-profit that helps battered and disadvantaged women. She has done an incredible job. Her non-profit gets the absolute best ratings from Charity Watch for transparency, use of funds, good management, etc.

Elena E. Torello: She’s my wife and has earned my profound respect and admiration in our 17 years together. Elena began life in a very lower-middle class neighborhood in Buenos Aires. In 1976 the military took power in Argentina. What happened next was “The Dirty War” where over 30,000 people vanished. In those dark days, your worst nightmare was the appearance of a green Ford Falcon in front of your house late at night. Elena’s family got such a visit. The family was in stark terror. When her father answered the door, some secret policeman asked for a woman who lived next door to them. They ran through her house and grabbed a pregnant woman. They hauled her away. She was never seen or heard from again. Elena went on to finish high school one year early. She was accepted to the University of Buenos Aires Medical School. She graduated with an Honors Diploma. She became a cancer specialist. She gave papers at international cancer meetings. She moved from Argentina to San Jose, California. She had to start her professional career over again. English was her second language. She found herself having to take very difficult tests in English that all medical school graduates must take. I was so proud when Elena scored in the top 5% of medical school graduates. At age 42 she started a medical residency. The normal student was around 27 years of age. Elena survived this ordeal. She was hired as a doctor by The Permanente Medical Group. She went on to be board-certified in internal medicine. Sometimes when Elena and I are out shopping or walking around, her patients will come up to her. They are all glad to see her. She often gets a hug.

Barbara Arietta: Adjectives like “political genius” or “female Lyndon Johnson” apply to Barbara. I have been politically active since 1966. Barbara has the most phenomenal knowledge of politics, politicians, and the political process that I have seen in my life. I worked with Barbara in a political club for many years. She earned my profound respect and admiration.

Artemis Westenberg: The aerospace industry still is “a mostly male club.” Artemis decided to be the exception. She went into the non-profit part of the industry. She was associated with the Mars Society for many years. She went on to co-found Explore Mars, Inc. I have been honored to work closely with Artemis over the years. She’s tough. She’s brilliant. You always know exactly where you stand with her. She’s an original thinker. She’s brilliant at selling. She has warmth and compassion.

Kalimah Salahuddin: This lady has earned my profound respect and admiration. She is African-American. She is a single mother who has raised some great children. Like me, Kalimah had to suffer the indignity of homelessness. Like me, she never gave up. She got a decent job and started to devote her life to political activism. She is a member of the Pacifica School District Board. She is active in groups like Saving Pacifica. I have been honored to have worked with her over the years. Despite the hard life that she suffered, she has never shown bitterness or felt sorry for herself. She has incredible energy and integrity.