It is with regret and deep sense of sorrow that I inform you of Jesse Tafalla passing.

Jesse was a friend of HOGAR and everyone who had the privileged of meeting him. Jesse was instrumental in organizing and preparing the majority of the tour for HOGAR de Dallas' 2009 conference. Without him, we would not have had a tour which contributed to the success of the Texas State Hispanic Genealogical and Historical Conference of 2009 - hosted by HOGAR de Dallas. His legacy will be all that he did for the Hispanic community and the Arts. May he rest in peace. Our condolences to the family. His Obituary and picture can be seen on Gonzales Funeral Home web site. The obituary follows below.

Dorina Alaniz de Thomas _ President of HOGAR de Dallas 1822 Gross Road Dallas, Texas 75228 (214) 324-3677 Obituary and BIOGRAPHY FOLLOW: Jesse Tafalla, Sr. was a civic leader and community activist who spent most of life working towards the equal rights of Latinos. He was also passionate about the arts in the community and played an integral role in making the Latino Cultural Center a reality. Although he had become ill in recent months, he remained active in the community, including being the President of the Dallas Mexican American Historical League, where he was also a founding member. Some of Mr. Tafalla's many accomplisments included the following: former Deputy Director of Elderly of LULAC District III, founding member and President of DMAHL (Dallas MexicanAmerican Historical League), former President and board member of Teatro Da llas, steering committee member of the capitol program of the Latino Cultural Center, former member of the City of Dallas' Office of Cultural Affairs, former Vice Chair of the City of

Dallas' Senior Affairs Committee, former member of the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Family of the Year award from the Dallas Concilio and City of Dallas proclamation for his years of involvement with Dallas' Hispanic arts community. He was also a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Council #5538. Jesse Tafalla, Sr. was born on December 21,1942 and passed away on June 30, 2012 of cancer. He was 69 years old. He was born in Dallas and grew up in a Hispanic community known as "El Pozo." He graduated from Crozier Tech High School in 1961. He married his high school sweetheart Nellie Tafalla, with whom he celebrated 50 years of marriage. He is survived by his wife Nellie and his children Jesse Tafalla, Jr, Louis Tafalla and spouse Shary Tafalla, Rosie Bersterman and spouse Joe Bersterman, Terry Tafalla and Jose Tafalla. He also has six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. VIEWING Monday July 2, 2012, 3:00pm - 8:00pm at Gonzalez Funeral Home Click for Map and Directions ROSARY Monday July 2, 2012, 7:00pm at Gonzalez Funeral Home Click for Map and Directions FUNERAL MASS Tuesday July 3, 2012, 12:00 noon at Calvary Hill Mausoleum Chapel Click for Map and Directions INTERMENT Tuesday July 3, 2012 at Calvary Hill Cemetery Click for Map and Directions Dorina Alaniz de Thomas www.home.earthlink.net/~hogardedallas

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