Sarah Gomez Erlach

1922 - 2015

Sarah Gomez Erlach

Sarah was born on May 26, 1922 in San Bernardino. She passed on April 11, 2015 in Redlands.
Sarah was preceded in passing by her Husband 2nd Lt. Gregory Erlach of the US Army, parents Demetrio and Catalina Gomez, Brothers Manuel, Rodolfo, Salvador and Robert. She is survived by Brothers Henry of San Francisco, Albert of Rialto, Sisters Amelia Cowan of Chino, and Anita Gomez-Bennett of Virginia, and numerous nephews and nieces.
Sarah attended Ramona Elementary and Alessandro Jr. High Schools. A graduate of San Bernardino High School, she has her RN, AA from San Bernardino Valley College of Nursing in 1945, her B.S. from Berkeley in 1949, and M.P.H. from the University of Minnesota in 1962.
Her nursing experience was in both civilian Alameda Co. [33 yrs.] and Military Nursing. In the military she served 34 years- all levels and all ranks from 'cadet nurse' to full Colonel and was chief nurse of two reserve hospitals and nurse consultant (nine hospitals), 2nd Hospital Center, Army Reserve, Hamilton, AFB.
Sarah's work experience in Civilian Public Health was extensive at the staff, administration, and health services management level: especially in the promotion, development, and implementation of public health services for over 75 clinics serving Migrant Farm Workers in California, a program now known as the Primary and Rural Health Care Systems Branch, Primary Care and Family Health Division, serving Hispanic, Indian, Asian, Rural and Urban health underserved immigrant populations; Department of Health Services, State of California. She retired from the Army Nurse Corps in June 1982, and from Public Health in June 1988.
She was an active member of a number of Professional Nursing Associations dealing primarily with Migrant Health and Hispanic Women's Health. After her retirement she continued to be active in those organizations.
Sarah received various military commendations and meritorious medals and civilian awards, especially in Primary Healthcare/Migrant Farm Worker Health:
1972 Awarded the Key to the City by Mayor Bob Holcomb 1976 Promoted to Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves
1993 Honoree 'WAVE' Women of Achievement, Vision, Excellence [Alumni Resources, UCSF]
1993 Honoree 'Hispanic Heritage Award of Excellence' [KGC TV[7] San Francisco, CA.
1995 Award of Excellence 'Pioneer in Primary Health Care for Underserved Groups' in California [UCSF Alumni Board]
1995 Recognized as an Outstanding graduate of Ramona/Alessandro Schools [Ramona Alessandro Alumni Assn.
Services will be at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church located at 1430 W. 5th St. on Sat. April 18th; Rosary at 9:00a.m., mass at 10:00 a.m. followed by interment at Mt. View Cemetery.