CORDOVA MAY, Esther – 2023 SEP

Esther Viola Cordova, daughter of Ruben Cordova and Eursina C de Baca y De La 0 was born in the little town of Cuba on September 14, 1936. Esther’s life took several turns when her family left Cuba to go to Bernalillo and then back to Cuba during the Second World war years and later attend boarding school, first to Allison-James in Santa Fe and later to Menaul in Albuquerque.

During a visit to family in California, Esther met Jack, the proverbial boy next door. She moved to Richmond, California where she and Lace May (Jack) were wed in 1957. Her son Vincent was born in 1958 and Aaron in 1960. When the boys entered school she returned to her education as well, enrolling at Contra Costa Community College. Esther’s time at CCCC served to ignite her passion for equality and pride in her history. Upon graduation from CCCC, Esther continued on to Mills College in Oakland, California, graduating in 1973 as class valedictorian with her Bachelor’s in History. She then returned to Cuba to spend a summer conducting and recording interviews with the local people, particularly of her grandparent’s generation. These interviews as well as research conducted in Mexico and Spain would become the basis for Esther’s work at the University of California, Berkeley for which she would receive her Master’s in Folklore in 1975.

In 1976 Esther and Jack divorced. She returned to the campus of Contra Costa Community College, this time as an educator. She was instrumental in the formation of the Chicano Studies Department and an on campus advocate for women and people of colon. ‘There she met a fellow teacher named Donald Moore; Esther and Don began a life together, eventually returning to Cuba as teachers, evolving into ranchers and treasured members of the community.

Esther’s impact as an educator cannot be overstated. She served as inspiration to many local students to strive for the type of intellectual curiosity and success that she had so enjoyed in her life. She truly loved her community and felt honored by her responsibility as teacher, role model and mentor. Esther also took great pride in her role as a community historian, sharing fact and folklore in her fascinating monthly articles in the Cuba News about life in and around Cuba prior to World War II. These articles became the core of her book, Antes: Stories From the Past (2011) and a second book, Platicas: Conversations About and Among Friends and Neighbors (2018).

Esther is survived by sons Vincent and Aaron, daughter-in-law Susan and grandsons Henry and James. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Don Moore.

A Celebration of Life for Esther will be held on Saturday October 21st at 1:00 pm in the Parrish Hall, 6440 US Hyw 550 in Cuba, NM 87103.

Published by Albuquerque Journal on Oct. 1, 2023.