Way off topic and personal - sorry

[Mark Padgett]

I know this has nothing whatsoever to do with this board, but I had to express my sadness at the passing on of someone who had a profound effect on my life.

Here in Portland, Judge Mercedes Diaz passed away yesterday. She was 87 and had been an active judge until age 75. Many years ago, when I was divorcing my first wife, Judge Diaz presided at the custody hearing for my then 4 year old daughter, Jennifer. She awarded me full custody. It was exceptionally unusual and almost unheard of to award custody to the father, especially when the child was a girl.

A few years later, when I remarried, I had Judge Diaz perform the ceremony. She remembered Jennifer and me and told me how happy she was that everything had turned out for the better.

Judge Diaz was only the second African-American woman to be admitted to the Oregon Bar and she donated all fees for performing marriages to charity.

Our town is less than it was without her.