Inez Gutierrez

GUTIERREZ STRENGTHENS APU'S CONNECTION WITH AZUSA
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Inez Gutierrez has lived in Azusa her entire life and lives in the same home off Alemeda Ave. where she grew up.She leaves a legacy of community involvement with her work for the Azusa School Board, APU advisory boards and in her church.To the Director of Office of Community Relations Ginny Dadaian, she's "Mrs.Azusa," and to Azusa, she's a great asset.

Gutierrez says her drive for community involvement came from her parents.When she was growing up, Azusa was segregated.
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"From my Dad I got the drive to be involved," Gutierrez said."From my Mom I got the ‘be a lady but also be assertive.'"

Gutierrez was president of the Azusa School Board for five years out of the 30 years she served.She helped with the Head Start Program, contributed to APU's School of Nursing and Ethics and Values Committee via advisory boards, and still found time to be heavily involved in her church.Currently, Gutierrez serves on the President's Community Relations Committee working to strengthen the relationship between APU and the City of Azusa.

"I'm so pleased with the APU relationship," Gutierrez said."I think we work well together."

Gutierrez has been blessed with a spirit that strives to serve others in her community and, in turn, her children have followed her lead.All three of them graduated from Azusa High School and her son, Peter, and her daughter, Rose, live across the street from Gutierrez.Gutierrez's husband, Peter Sr., is very proud of what his wife has accomplished and feels she is a very honest and trustworthy woman.

"She's like an arrow, she's very straight," Peter Sr. said."She believes what's good is good and what's bad is bad, regardless of who it is, she holds her punches."

Dadaian has known Gutierrez for 15 years and likes to refer to her as the "Matriarch of Azusa" or "Mrs.Azusa".
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For the inauguration of APU President Richard E. Felix in 1990, Gutierrez, as a member of the Azusa community, was invited to take part in the event.
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In addition to working for both APU and the City of Azusa, Gutierrez is significantly engaged in religious education at Saint Frances of Rome church.She leads communion as a Eucharistic Minister, reads scripture during Mass as a Lector and coordinates vigil services as a Bereavement Minister.
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"My husband fell in love with [the house]," Gutierrez said."There's a lot of memories here."

Gutierrez is a woman who is always on the go, so when she decided to have knee replacement surgery on both knees, she was determined to have a quick recovery.She had her right knee reconstructed and then had her left knee done six months later.

"If I feel good, I don't like to be in bed," Gutierrez said."I just have to be active."

Talking with Gutierrez, her professional and personal demeanor reveal a woman who is passionate about working to better the community.

"We've hit the jackpot," said Inez Gutierrez, a board member for the church.Gutierrez said that two of the most appealing qualities Father Gustavo possessed were his charisma and his chemistry with the people of the church.
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Gutierrez said that it was their most sincere hope that they would be able to keep Father Gustavo with them.

Board president Inez Gutierrez will not seek re-election after serving 30 years on the board.

They include: Inez Gutierrez, long-time member of the Azusa Unified School District Board of Education, now retired; current council members Marlen Garcia of Baldwin Park and Meline Hall of Covina and Gayle Pacheco, former Mt. SAC trustee and wife of Assemblyman Bob Pacheco, termed out in November.

The third seat is left open by board President Inez Gutierrez , who is retiring after serving 30 years on the board.

Following is what the candidates had to say :.