photo courtesy of Salpointe Catholic High School

Salpointe unites community in prayer to remember the anniversary of the Tucson shootings (press release)

Tucson, Ariz. – Salpointe Catholic High School will host a prayer service to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Tucson Tragedy.The service will take place at Salpointe Catholic High School, 1545 E. Copper Street, Monday, January 9 promptly at 8:20 a.m.

Students, faculty, staff and community will gather hand-in-hand around the school’s track to pray for those lost, the families left behind, and our Tucson community as it continues to heal. The public is welcome to attend.

“That day, January 8, 2011, was surreal. Something of that magnitude happens in other cities, bigger cities, but not in Tucson. I think this tragedy is still very fresh in so many minds. It is a harsh reminder that our world is not fixed. This remembrance is a reminder that despite uncertainty and loss, we are strong when we come together,” said Gail Urbanski, director of campus ministry at Salpointe.

The service will include prayer, a poem reading, and a reflection.
“This tragedy had a deep impact on our community. Several alumni and current students’ families were involved, and was it a very tragic and personal loss,” said Kay Sullivan, Salpointe president. “The prayer service provides a dedicated place and time for our community to continue healing together.”

Federal Judge John Roll, a Lancer alumnus from the class of 1965, was among those fatally wounded. He is survived by his wife, Maureen O’Connor Roll ‘67, and their children Patrick ‘92, Robert ‘88, and Christopher.

Other members of the Salpointe community were injured during the gunman’s rage: Mary Reed, the mother of Emma McMahon ’11, shot three times as she shielded her children from the flying bullets; Pam Simon, mother of Fritz ’93 and Summer ’96; Col. Bill Badger, father of Christian ’07; and Ron Barber, husband of Nancy Richardson Barber ’64, brother of Ethel ‘Marie’ Barber Fox ’77, brother-in-law of Judy Richardson Tully ’66, Peggy Richardson Sterner ’69, Alice Richardson Morkert ’77, uncle of Sara Tully Lev ’90, Laura Tully Zwickl ’93, Karen Tully ’95, Megan Sterner ’99, Lindsey Morkert ’03, Grace Morkert ’06 and Steven Morkert ’09.

Nancy Bowman, R.N., and David Bowman, M.D., parents of Troy ’08 and Brenna ’09 were shopping at Safeway and were first responders to those injured in the rampage.
Dr. Martin Weinand, neurosurgeon and father of Michael ’07, Lauren ’08 and Megan ’08, was on-call at University Medical Center on the day of the tragedy; he was on the team that performing brain surgery and saved the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

Contacts:

Kay Sullivan
President
Salpointe Catholic High School
520-547-5878
development@salpointe.org
www.salpointe.org

Gail Urbanski
Director of Campus Ministry
Salpointe Catholic High School
520-547-4448
gurbanski@salpointe.org

About Salpointe Catholic High School:
Since opening its doors in 1950, Salpointe Catholic has enjoyed a distinguished reputation for its strong curriculum, competitive athletics, highly-acclaimed fine arts, faith-strengthening religious program and spirited co-curricular activities. Salpointe is a Catholic, Carmelite college-preparatory high school enrolling 1,130 students. The school is certified by the Western Catholic Educational Association and accredited as a college-preparatory school by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

As most of you know by now, it’s been a year since that shooting rampage at the NW Safeway (Ina/Oracle). Chief U.S. District Judge John Roll died that day from the gunshot wounds. A very moving Special Court Session in memory of Judge Roll was held on Friday, January 6 at the TCC Music Hall. Particularly eloquent were the closing remarks by Honorable District Court Judge Raner Collins who knew Judge Roll for over 35 years and he spoke highly of Salpointe Catholic High’s influence on John Roll, who read the Bible daily and who “tried to walk humbly with his God.” Two other District Court judges (Robert Broomfield and Jennifer Zipps) and his last law clerk Michael Waits spoke of how humble and exemplary Judge Roll was, and his “unswerving sense of justice”.

Both Congresswoman Gifford’s aides Ron Barber (District Director) and Pam Simon (Community outreach coordinator) were shot twice that day. Congresswoman Giffords (shot once in the head) and Barber are still recovering from their gunshot wounds. Mary Reed was shot 3 times and has recovered, along with Pam Simon.

Dr. Bowman and his nurse wife Nancy are featured in the “Together We Heal” PBS documentary broadcasting tonight on KUAT Channel 6, at 6 p.m. Click here for blog. Ret. Army Col. Bill Badger was one of the two men who tackled shooter Jared Loughner down at that Safeway, and is one of 12 Americans featured in the December 2010/January 2011 issue of AARP magazine.

Our prayers for full recovery to those injured on January 8, 2011, and condolences again to Judge Roll’s family.

Photo courtesy of Charlie Spillar

To read more about Charlie go online to www.tucsonweekly.com (article is written by one of our former editors/artist Ryn Gargulinski, now a writer for the Weekly). Or pick up your issue today or tomorrow all over town, page 18.

Another local hero in that Weekly article is Patricia Maisch, who wrestled that gun clip away from Jared Loughner on January 8, 2011. She is now a spokesperson for Mayors Against Illegal Guns, to tighten background checks of people who purchase guns. The article about Patricia is on page 15 of the Weekly. She is also honored as one of AARP Magazine’s “The Daring Dozen” in their December 2011/January 2012 issue (page 51). These 12 American individuals are recognized as people who use “their energy, creativity and passion to make the world a better place.”

Arizona shooting heroes Ret. Army Col. Bill Badger and Roger Salzgeber are honored along Patricia for their acts of physically bringing armed Loughner down to the ground at the NW Safeway. I recently met both Patricia and Roger at the Tucson hearing by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, through mutual contact Daniel Hernandez, Jr.

A tribute to one of these “daring dozen” was given to my former boss Hawaiian U.S. Senator Dan Inouye (page 48), now President Pro Tempore, who is committed to “common courtesy” as a “Chief Compromiser”. The Senator has served in the U.S. Senate since Hawaii’s statehood in 1959. He just sent me a President Pro Tempore medallion as a keepsake.

Read this AARP article about “Inspire Awards Honorees” online (click here).

Congratulations Charlie and to these other 9 Tucson local heroes, and to the AARP “Daring Dozen”, which also included famous people such as Jane Goodall and the late Steve Jobs.

Gabe Zimmerman

I knew Gabe Zimmerman (Director of community outreach) and I wept over reading about his senseless killing yesterday at the Safeway on Oracle/Ina, when his employer CD 8 Congresswoman Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords was also shot in the head allegedly by Jared Lee Loughner (who is in custody). 19 people were injured in the shooting, 6 have died.

Apparently former Tucson Citizen Associate Editor Mark Kimble (who now works for Gabby as a speech writer) was there as well, helping with constituents, but he was not injured.

Also shot and injured were Gifford’s District Director Ron Barber and part-time outreach coordinator Pam Simon. I just met Pam at an Arizona Women’s Political Caucus holiday event in December, when she spoke on Gabby’s behalf (click here). Both are recovering at University Medical Center here in Tucson.

More here at AZ Central about Gifford’s aides:

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/01/09/20110109gabe-zimmerman-gabrielle-giffords-arizona-shooting.html

Gabe was with Congresswoman Giffords from the beginning as a field organizer during her first campaign back in 2006. I remember how thrilled he was to then become part of her local Tucson staff, and I’ve communicated off and on with him since then. And the news article says he was engaged to be married. He was only 30 years old when he was killed yesterday. He was a great guy, very dedicated and passionate about helping constituents, in representing the Congresswoman.

A private memorial service has been scheduled for January 15. I also serve on the Casitas of Broadway board with his mother Emily Nottingham, retired City of Tucson community services administrator. Heartfelt condolences to the Ross Zimmerman family.

And pray for Gabby, who’s still in critical condition in the ICU (intensive care unit) following brain surgery at University Medical Center, on Campbell Avenue. She is married to NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, and has two step daughters Claudia and Claire Kelly.

List of the other deceased victims, most of whom were Giffords’ constituents apparently waiting in line to speak with her at her “Congress on Your Corner” event:
(There are a few discrepancies in the names of these victims, with the news coming in so quickly since yesterday’s shooting).

-John Roll, 63, a federal district court judge (Chief Judge in U.S. District Court for AZ)

- Dorwan Stoddard, 76, a volunteer at Mountain Ave. Church of Christ (his wife Mavanell was also shot & injured, but is expected to recover)

-Christina-Taylor Green, 9, a student at Mesa Verde Elementary

-Dorothy Morris, 76 (not Murray as originally reported)

-Phyllis Schneck, 79, a retiree from the East Coast

Condolences to all the families of these innocent victims.

1/13/11 Update: Gabe’s obituary in the Arizona Daily Star (linked through Tucsoncitizen.com):

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/tucson/obituary.aspx?n=gabriel-zimmerman-gabe&pid=147777756

1/14/11 update: names of the 13 additional persons injured at the shooting from Pima County Sheriff’s Dept, including Congresswoman Giffords:

Susan Hileman, 58 (neighbor of Christina-Taylor Green who took her to the event)
Mavanell Stoddard, 75 (wife of Dorwan)
Pamela Simon, 63 (aide to Giffords)
Ronald Barber, 65 (aide to Giffords)
Gabrielle Giffords, 40 (the Congresswoman)
James Tucker, 58
Kenneth Veeder, 75
George Morris, 76 (husband of Dorothy)
James Fuller, 63
Randy Gardner, 60
Mary Reed, 52
Kenneth Dorushka, 63
Bill Badger, 74