Posted: Jan 17, 2011 3:10 PM
Updated: Jan 17, 2011 5:30 PM
TUCSON - Gabe Zimmerman was laid to rest on Sunday in front of family and close friends, but Monday he was honored and remembered again, this time by the entire social work community.
The 30 year old was the director of community outreach, for Congresswoman Giffords. He helped organize many public events, where voters could meet Giffords and talk to her about issues.
Zimmerman was very well known in the social work community, not just as a co-worker, but as a leader.
Craig LeCroy helped organize the event in Zimmerman's honor. He said, "We just wanted to bring the social work community together to mourn his loss. He was a big part of this community and he did a lot for the social work profession."
Pima County Supervisor Ray Carroll worked with Gabe on a number of occasions down in Green Valley. He said, "He had a very prestigious job. He leaves a very lasting legacy of honesty and integrity and an ability to see things from both sides."
But despite the major loss the memorial wasn't to make people sad. Just like Gabe's life, it was to make people feel better.
LeCroy said, "Creating good out of bad, that's what social work is all about and what we want to do here today, to bring as much goodness from this tragedy as we can."
And the hope is that the goodness trumps any fear we might have and that Gabe's life serves an inspiration to us all.
Diane Umstead was one of Gabe's co-workers. She said, "I'm just hoping people see this as an opportunity to change the world like Gabe exhibited for all of us."
A message, a community ripped apart by tragedy, desperately needs to hear.
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