SENATE MEMORIAL 50

56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2023

INTRODUCED BY

Peter Wirth and Nancy Rodriguez

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

HONORING SIXTY-SIX YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND DECLARING FEBRUARY 17, 2023 "SARAH GRACE DURAN DAY" IN THE SENATE.

 

     WHEREAS, Sarah Grace Duran was a lifelong resident of Santa Fe and was known and loved by many; and

     WHEREAS, Sarah was born on July 11, 1928 to Augustine "Tinnie" and Margaret "Maggie" Grace and was the eldest sister to Dolores, Julian, Pita, Herman, Gus, Veronica and Patrick; and

     WHEREAS, Sarah and her beloved husband, Ambrose F. Duran, were married for sixty-eight years and had a loving family; and

     WHEREAS, Sarah and Ambrose had six children: Linda and her husband, Larry; Jerry; Dolores; Mark and his wife, Linda; Adela; and Patricia; and

     WHEREAS, they had seven grandchildren: Larry, Jr. and his wife, Linda; Brian and his wife, Johanna; Kellie and her husband, Rob; Jerome; Joseph and his wife, Jacqueline; Jared Ambrose; and Ana-Adela; and they had six great-grandchildren: Jacob, Gregory, Sophia, Robbie Jerome, Amila Mae and Ayanna Lynnae; and

     WHEREAS, Sarah was a people person who enjoyed sixty-six years as a public servant, beginning her career as the Santa Fe county deputy county clerk from 1951 to 1954; and

     WHEREAS, Sarah then worked as a service representative with the social security administration, where she handled every claim with deep and personal interest and was so widely respected for her dedication that she was honored in the Congressional Record when she retired after thirty-two years of service; and

     WHEREAS, Sarah then began another career in the New Mexico state capitol with the legislative building services information and tours office as an information specialist, where she quickly became a cherished mainstay, interacting with governors, legislators, maintenance staff, residents and tourists alike, all known to Sarah as "hita" or "hito", regardless of their age or status; and

     WHEREAS, Sarah finally retired on December 31, 2017, after twenty-four years with the legislative building services at the spirited age of eighty-nine; and

     WHEREAS, a plaque will be placed in the capitol information and tours office in honor of Sarah; and

     WHEREAS, Sarah was also active in her community, serving as the first Hispanic appointed in 1978 to the Santa Fe public library board of trustees and also serving on the first board of the Santa Fe community housing trust and contributing to numerous charities throughout her life; and

     WHEREAS, Sarah passed away on March 24, 2020, leaving a legacy of an extraordinary sixty-six-year career as a public servant and as an exceptionally loving and caring wife, daughter, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, colleague and friend;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that it extend its appreciation to Sarah Grace Duran for her sixty-six years of public service in Santa Fe; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that February 17, 2023 be declared "Sarah Grace Duran Day" in the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the family of Sarah Grace Duran and the governor.

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