MEMORIAL RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF CARMEN V. GASPAR
WHEREAS, Carmen V. Gaspar, beloved sister, wife, mother, grandmother and active Little Village community member, passed away at the age of 79 on December 20, 2022; and
WHEREAS, Born in 1943 in Durango, Mexico, Carmen immigrated to Little Village, where she would raise four children with her husband, Eladio Gaspar; and
WHEREAS, Carmen quickly became a beloved member of the community through roles such as a paraprofessional, culture worker and a creative community member; and
WHEREAS, Most notably, Carmen spent several decades at Joseph E. Gary Elementary School where she taught hundreds of young children and adolescents, working with diverse learners and supporting teachers in the classroom to deliver a rich, culturally relevant curriculum; and
WHEREAS, Carmen also pursued many creative endeavors, including creating original programs for broadcast radio at WCYC 90.5 FM; as a radio disc jockey, Carmen produced several Spanish-language programs, ranging from poetry shows to local news, that spoke to the lives and hearts of Latinx communities across the city; and
WHEREAS, As someone who loved and supported arts and culture, Carmen pursued an additional creative outlet through live performances as a clown; many of the youth and families she served while being an educator at a local CPS school would invite her to perform at their family celebrations or other community events; and
WHEREAS, Her enthusiastic and unique approach to the arts was filled with much love and laughter from all walks of life; generations of community members knew and cared for Carmen throughout the years, and she took great pride in knowing that all the care and love she poured into her community was reciprocated; and
WHEREAS, Carmen dedicated her entire life to the pursuit of a good education, not only as a mother, but also by serving as a resource to many families, especially in migrant communities who were learning to navigate a new city, going above and beyond to connect them to education programs outside of school, food pantries or by simply donating clothes and other essential items to families in need; and
WHEREAS, Carmen was loved and cherished by many people, including her parents, Octaviano Vargas and Micaela Vargas; her sibling, Along; her husband, Eladio Gaspar; her four children, Eladio, Jr. (Blanca), Carmen Elena Beltran (Jose), Teresa Maria Diaz (Alexander) and Maria Elena Gaspar Eisenschmidt (Alexander); seven grandchildren, Victoria (Jack), Amanda (Nicholas), Thais, Joshua, Alexander, Maya and Mateo; and many siblings, nieces, nephews and the hundreds who honored Carmen's life and commitment to her community, ensuring her legacy will live on; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this 31st day of May 2023, would like to recognize and celebrate the life of Carmen V. Gaspar; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to the family of Carmen V. Gaspar as a sign of our honor and respect.
MICHAEL D. RODRIGUEZ Alderman. 22nd Ward