We had a great Board of Directors at 4 C's under your direction as Chairperson. We also had some fun together on our Board retreats and at the meetings working for children and families in Santa Clara Country. 

I'm living in Chile, and I've just learned about Sophia's passing. I'm, one of those Chilean refugees that Gil Villagran mentions in his tribute. Sophia Mendoza, her husband "el Carnal", Gil Villagran, Father Moriarty, Fred Hirsch, Paul Johnston, Millie Blendermann, are names that are forever engraved in our hearts, filled with gratitude for their contributions and efforts in helping us start a new life in the USA.

Since our arrival to San Jose, Sophia was there, waiting for us, always with her big smile, helping our wives, daughters, companeras who had been imprisoned and tortured by the military in Chile, and needed counseling, medical attention, or, more important, a big hug, a sincere smile, a friendly face, a motherly advice, a worm heart, an honest advice, Sophia, with other community leaders, gave us all of that and much more: jobs, education, true friendship, unconditional love and new hopes to start a new life in this country.

My prayers are for Sophia, her family, and on behalf of all Chilean refugees of San Jose and the Bay Area, I salute a great woman, a great Community leader, and above all, a true friend who will live forever in our hearts.

Thanks, Mama Sophy. May your beautiful soul rest in peace.

Con amor,
Omar Salazar
Vina del Mar, Chile, Enero 2016

Dear friends,

I met Sofia as a new social worker, just hired at the SC County Department of Social Services, when she and Jim McEntee came to a meeting of El Comite (The Committee on Services to theSpanish Speaking) about in 1971, when she and Jim presented their style of Community Organizing. 

I have continued to learn from her since then, organizing with her and others on the Mayor's Gang Task Force, a Latino Youth Peace (anti-gang) Conference. We also planned, along with Lorna Dee and Steve Cervantes one of the Annual Chicano Moratorium memorials at CET. Later I joined with Sofia and other in organizing countless other events, celebrations, most often--critical demonstrations and actions against police brutality--including the murder of Danny Trevino.

It was specially gratifying to work with Sofia on a weekly basis driving to SF airport to pick up families of brutalized victims of the Pinochet-Nxon-Kissinger 1973 CIA sponsored coup de 'etat. We created the Chilean Refugee Support Committee, along with Companero Fred Hirsch and Father Cuchulain Moriarty, where we developed a comprehensive program of services for the more than 115 refugees and their families. 
A Swedish sociologist heard about our work with the Chilenos, and came to San Jose to study our work, so that it could be replicated in the Nordic countries where thousands of Chilean refugees had settled.

Sofia and I have been neighbors for 40 years, shopping at the same Mi Pueblo Mercado on Julian St., where we often ran into each other on Sunday afternoons, and we would have sweet platicas about the issues del Pueblo de San Jose, which for us is a pueblo unlike anywhere in the world, a beautiful city to raise our families, live our lives, except for the injustices where the few (now called the 1%) make life miserable for the many.

I will mourn the loss of our beautiful, gracious Sofie--who never gave up La Lucha, following Joe Hill's plea, "Don't Mourn, Organize!"

Let us all, who learned from and loved Sofie Mendoza, memorialize in celebration of a life well lived in service to her community--La Gente de Paz del Pueblo de San Jose.

Sinceramente, Gil Villagrán
Lecturer, School of Social Work
San Jose State University

thank you so much for inspiring to finish my education,I almost completed to get my degree but the program I went through denied me.you told me never give up!!! I have a few more years!!!

I learned to be a courageous Bilingual Educator as a young teacher in San Jose from Sofia. In appreciation for her wisdom, leadership and her generosity. I still make her turkey stuffing recipe every year!. Gracias Sofia por todo y que descanse en paz.

Thank you Sofia for your generous contributions to my documentary and your support to all folklorico dancers!

Watching Sofia Mendoza was a lesson in awareness and effectiveness. Thanks for the contributions to the State Superintendent's Honig's Hispanic Affairs Committee.  .

Love you Tia. Sophia. You were an inspiration to many. Manuel. Arturo. Magdaleno