Wednesday, February 19, 2014

FAMILY CONFIRMS: FORMER B'VILLE MAYOR BLANCA VELA DIED

By Juan Montoya
News have reached us that former Brownsville mayor Blanca Vela, matriarch of the Vela family, and mother of U.S. Rep Fielmon Vela Jr. died early today.
Mrs. Vela was the wife of the late federal judge Filemon Vela Sr., one of the two federal judges for whom the federal courthouse in Brownsville was named after. The other was the late Reynaldo Garza.
Details have not been released by the family.
That's Ms. Vela campaigning yesterday with her sister Irma. She was the sister-in-law of Democratic Party candidate for Cameron County Judge Ruben Peña.
Blanca Vela served as Brownsville’s first female mayor from 1999 to 2003.
Judge Vela passed away at the age of 68 on April 13, 2004. A federal judge since 1980, Vela was named a Distinguished Alumnus for Texas Southmost College in 1998.
In August 2013, she established an endowed scholarship of $50,000 to honor her late husband, a lifelong supporter of education. The endowment was established in July to benefit students pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts at the University of Texas at Brownsville.
Our condolences to the Vela family.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

The title of your article could be a little more tactful. She has family, at least express your condolences to the family. My condolences to the family. I am sorry for your loss.

Anonymous said...

Not sure what the first "Anonymous" comment expects Juan. You expressed condolences and the headline was merely a headline for the consumption of the readers. Not sure what "tactful" means to that writer. I will bet that the writer is a lady (woman, at least) and used to be a teacher...probably taught English.

Anonymous said...

Weekend At Bernie's?

My condolences to the Vela family.

Anonymous said...

It appears that the first "Anonymous" comment reader can read.

Anonymous said...

My condolences to the Vela Family. May God Bless each and everyone of you. Know that your Beautiful Mother is now an Angel in Heaven with Your wonderful Dad.

First any said...

The article has been modified

First any said...

No, I am not a teacher. The article has been modified. Bad English bothers me especially when written by jounalists. I wonder if Juan really
wrote the first version because it was
awkward and showed no empathy or
sympathy for the family of Blanca
Vela. Yes, I am a woman, what does that have to do with anything? Again, my condolences to the friends and family of the late but great former and first
female mayor of Brownsville, Blanca Vela. May she rest in peace.
and yes I am a woman, so what if I am or not?

Anonymous said...

Rest in Peace Ms. Blanca Vela.

Anonymous said...

Erin is beautiful. I hate when people post comments otherwise. I just don't get it. Are they blind?

Anonymous said...

My condolences to the Vela family. No disrespect to them, but how the hell could Deborah Portillo claim mayor Vela was a great influence in her life when she never even voted until her own election?!

rita