Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Elder Abuse Fields Lose Ardent Advocate

Luis Manuel Medina, 60, passed away at his home in Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo on July 27, 2011, after a long illness. Luis had a distinguished 25-year history as a social worker in the areas of Child Protection Services, Senior Citizen Care, Substance Abuse and Mental Health, Suicide Prevention. At the time of his death he worked as a Sexual Assault and Elder Abuse advocate at the Eight Northern Indian Pueblo's Peacekeepers Program, in Española, New Mexico.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Julia Medina Krepps of Ranchitos and Feliberto Martinez of Española; his grandparents, Juan Antonio and Adela G. Medina; and his brother Geronimo "Jerry" Medina all of Ranchitos. Luis is survived by his fiancée, Thurza Torrez; brother Benjamin E. Medina and wife Amelia of Ranchitos; sisters, Adelita M. Medina of Ranchitos and Mary Alice Ortiz and husband Nicholas of Las Vegas, NM; and the nephew he raised as a son, Miguel J. Medina of Ranchitos; 8 nieces and nephews and 22 great nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends. A rosary was recited by the Tewa Women's Choir on July 28 in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Friday, July 29 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ohkay Owingeh. Geraldine Mascareñas, a friend and colleague, sang the mass. Burial was at the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo Cemeterywith Luis' nephews Miguel, Manuel and David Medina and Joseph, Martin and Jesus Ortiz, serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers included Angelo Maestas, Tony "Sport" Martinez, Jose Medina, Roberto "Noy" Medina, Jimmy Powers, and his high school football teammates (Española Hornets). Luis received a Vocational Degree in Carpentry in 1977 From El Rito Technical Vocational School, and earned a Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Social Work from New Mexico Highlands University in 1982 and 1983, respectively.

Download Eulogy