Elsa Vasquez Martin passed away April 29, 2024 in Pasadena, CA. Born on November 27, 1950, in Santiago, Chile to Elsa Lobos Vasquez and Efrain Vasquez, Elsa lived a rich and full life. She attended the University of Chile where she studied theater- much to her loving parents’ chagrin. Her life took an abrupt and terrifying turn in September of 1973 when the Chilean military overthrew the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende, rounding up and “disappearing” thousands of his supporters. Elsa was able to escape, flanked on the tarmac at the airport by her American husband and his boss. She was only 22. She and her husband traveled to Spain where her first child, Pablo, was born. A few years later, they moved to Los Angeles, where her second child, Moira, was born and where she lived for the rest of her life. Los Angeles reminded Elsa of Santiago- with the mountains on one side, and the ocean on the other – and she enjoyed her life there to the fullest.
Elsa had a deep and abiding commitment to justice. She recognized that life isn’t always fair but she believed deeply in the words of Dr. King that the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice – and she worked in ways big and small toward bending that arc. She volunteered hundreds of hours with Amnesty International. She was a core member of MEMCH-LA (Movement for the Emancipation of the Chilean Woman-Los Angeles.) She also quietly advocated for friends and neighbors personally and directly - helping them find resources for themselves or their children. She was active in the schools and extracurricular activities of both of her children – always advocating for underserved students as well as her own kids.
She loved and excelled at her job as a Spanish interpreter for the Federal Court where she was universally respected and admired. Elsa was social, active, and busy her whole life. At age 60 she started a whole new chapter when she met, fell in love with, and married her beloved Chris. They were absolutely smitten with and completely devoted to one another until her last breath. When she retired from the Federal courts she worried she might be bored or restless. She wasn’t. She was as busy and social as ever – gardening, reading, participating in multiple book clubs, playing Bunco, and helping to mount an exhibition of Chilean arpilleras at the Museum of Latin American Art. Elsa and Chris traveled the world together – going to Europe, Australia, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Iceland to see the Northern Lights. Her favorite part of retirement was being able to spend time with (and spoil) her granddaughters.
Elsa is survived by her husband, Chris, her son, Pablo and his wife, Jenny, her daughter, Moira and her husband, Shawn, her granddaughters, Miette and Eleanor, her dog Peggy Sue, and many, many dear friends.
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Elsa Vásquez Martin falleció el 29 de abril de 2024, en Pasadena, California.  Había nacido el 27 de noviembre de 1950, en Santiago de Chile, hija de Elsa Lobos Vásquez y de Efraín Vásquez.  Elsa disfrutó de un vida rica y plena.  Asistió a la Universidad de Chile, donde, para disgusto de sus queridos padres, estudió teatro.  Su vida dio un giro horrible y súbito en septiembre de 1973 cuando el ejército chileno derrocó al gobierno democrático de Salvador Allende, acorralando y "desapareciendo" a miles de sus seguidores.  Elsa logró escapar, flanqueada en la pista del aeropuerto por su esposo estadounidense y el jefe de él.  Tenía solo 22 años.  Con su esposo viajó a España, donde nació su hijo, Pablo.  Unos años después se mudaron a Los Ángeles, donde nació su hija, Moira, y donde vivió el resto de su vida.  A Elsa, Los Ángeles le recordaba a Santiago—con las montañas a un lado y el mar al otro.  Allí disfrutó al máximo su vida. 
 
Elsa sentía un profundo y verdadero compromiso con la justicia.  Reconocía que la vida no siempre era justa, pero creía firmemente en las palabras del Dr. Martin Luther King de que "el arco del universo moral es largo pero se dobla hacia la justicia", y se afanó de grandes y pequeñas maneras para doblar ese arco.  Dedicó cientos de horas de trabajo voluntario con Amnistía Internacional.  Fue miembro activo de MEMCH-LA (Movimiento por la Emancipación de la Mujer Chilena –Los Ángeles).  También abogó discretamente por amigos y vecinos, personalmente y directamente, ayudándolos a encontrar recursos para ellos mismos o para sus hijos.  Participó activamente en las actividades escolares y extracurriculares de su hijo y de su hija—abogando siempre por los estudiantes menos privilegiados, así como por sus propios hijos. 
 
Amaba su trabajo como intérprete de español para los tribunales federales de EE UU, donde se destacó y fue universalmente respetada y admirada.  Elsa llevó una vida social movida y activa durante toda su vida.  A los sesenta años comenzó un nuevo capítulo cuando conoció, se enamoró y se casó con su amado Chris.  Vivieron embelesados y completamente dedicados el uno al otro, hasta su último aliento.  Al jubilarse de los tribunales federales, Elsa temía aburrirse o impacientarse.  No fue así. Se mantuvo tan ocupada y tan social como siempre—cultivando su jardín, leyendo, participando en múltiples clubes de lectura, jugando al Bunco y ayudando a montar una exposición de arpilleras chilenas en el Museo de Arte Latinoamericano.  Elsa y Chris recorrieron juntos el mundo, visitando Europa, Australia, México, Costa Rica, e Islandia para ver la aurora boreal.  Para ella, lo mejor de la jubilación era poder pasar tiempo con sus nietas, y mimarlas. 
 
La sobreviven su esposo, Chris; su hijo, Pablo, y su esposa Jenny; su hija, Moira, y su esposo, Shawn; sus nietas, Miette y Eleanor; su perra Peggy Sue; y muchos, muchos queridos amigos.

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Elsa Martin Obituary | Mountain View Mortuary & Cemetery