Community Activist Passes Away
Active Sunset District community member Tess Manalo-Ventresca passed away July 11 at age 61 from complications after heart surgery.

Ventresca was known around the neighborhood for her work as a volunteer.

Michael Funk, director of the Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center, remembers Ventresca for her commitment to helping others.

"Tess was changing lives and making our world better with every day she had," Funk said.

Born in the Philippines, Ventresca earned degrees in agriculture, biology and secondary education. Ventresca has received recognition for her years of volunteerism both locally and statewide and she was recently recognized for her work on a national level. In April, Ventresca received the Met Life Older Volunteers Enrich America Award, an award given to only 26 people nationwide. Ventresca and her husband, Joel, went to Washington D.C. to receive the award. During her visit, she met Sen. Barbara Boxer, Congressman Tom Lantos and staff from Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Diane Feinstein's offices. Ventresca also received a "Woman of the Year" award from Assemblyman Leland Yee, a "2005 Asian Pacific American Local Hero" award by Kaiser Permanente and KQED, and the "older Volunteers Enrich America Award," sponsored by the MetLife Foundation and National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

A special tribute honoring Ventresca was held at the National Night Out event held at the Taraval Police Station Aug. 2. A memorial tent was set up so the 300 or so attendees could reflect upon her life of selfless devotion to others.

In Washington, on July 13, an exhibit honoring Experience Corps programs around the country was unveiled. A quote from Ventresca, who was a volunteer with the program in the Sunset District, is a part of the exhibit, which is displayed at the Senate's Russell Building.

"It is so fitting, that in her passing, Tess is still inspiring others," Funk said.

Ventresca is survived by her husband, Joel, three children and eight grandchildren.