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SUSANA HINOJOSA Obituary

SUSANA HINOJOSA

Jan 24, 1949 June 21, 2023

Susana Hinojosa, a longtime Oakland resident, passed away on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at the age of 74. She was born on January 24, 1949, in the Hinojosa family home on 113 Grant Street in the border town of Calexico, California. The daughter of David Hinojosa, a businessman, and Esther Figueroa Hinojosa, a homemaker, Susana was the eldest child of five. For many years, the names of the children, Susana, Carlos, Titi (Ricardo), Tinki (Alfonso), and Bebe (Evelina) were etched into the sidewalk outside the family home. Three palm trees planted by Esther in the 1950s in memory of her children still stand outside that house.

From the beginning, Susana, or Chuchi as she was called by her family, was an excellent student and role model to her younger siblings. In high school, Susana worked at the old JCPenny's on 2nd Street in downtown Calexico, and, like many Mexican Americans of her generation, in the evenings she often went cruising with friends along Avenida Reforma across the border in Mexicali. Later, Susana would become the first in her family to go to college, inspiring her siblings to do the same. As an undergraduate at UC Santa Barbara, Susana majored in Spanish and worked part time in the university library as a clerk to pay her tuition.

In 1971, Susana began studying for her Master of Library Science degree at UC Berkeley. During her graduate studies, she worked as an assistant in general reference services. Upon the completion of her degree, Susana was recruited by UC Berkeley, where she worked in the university's Moffitt Undergraduate Library and Reference Department before moving to Government Documents. Susana retired in 2009 after working at Cal for 38 years.

During her long career, Susana was a mother, library activist, organizational leader, mentor, and university instructor. In 1980, she and her husband, Chris Caul, welcomed their first child, Joel, into the world. In 1982, their second child, Rafael, followed. Her children always had a sense of their mother's professional impact on academia and the field of library sciences.

From 2001-2002, Susana served as President of REFORMA: The National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish Speaking. She was also actively involved in the American Library Association (ALA), serving on the Intellectual Freedom Committee and the Racial and Ethnic Diversity Committee in the Association of College and Research Libraries Division of ALA. A member of the California Library Association (CLA), Susana also served on CLA's Minority Concerns Committee. She was also a longtime member of the National Association of Chicana and Chicano Studies (NACCS). In addition to her work in the library, Susana served as president of union AFT Local 1795, Berkeley Librarians, from 1986-1992, and was an active member of the Librarians Association of the University of California. She was a strong supporter of unions focused on library workers rights and equity in libraries. She was also a lecturer at UC Berkeley's School of Library and Information Sciences and taught numerous classes, including "Navigating Cal from a Chicano/Latino Perspective" for incoming Latino students. Susana inspired generations of academics, including her niece Alana de Hinojosa, who holds a PhD in Chicana/o Studies from UCLA, as well as librarians in her multicultural studies and outreach librarian classes. In 2010, Susana received the Arnulfo D. Trejo Librarian of the Year Award from REFORMA. In 2020, she was recognized by the 150 Years of Women at Berkeley Project, which highlights the untold stories of women leaders at UC Berkeley.

Susana was known by her colleagues for describing herself as a proud Chicana from the U.S.-Mexico borderlands. She was strong willed, firm in her convictions, and always fearless in standing up for others in the face of injustice. She was also an avid lover of gardening, mystery novels, and the New York Times. In her retirement, she was most happy at home, reading her books and watching cooking shows with her beloved cat, Mia, by her side.

Susana is survived by her husband, Chris Caul; her two children, Joel and Rafael Hinojosa-Caul; siblings, Ricardo, Alfonso, and Evelina Hinojosa; daughters-in-law, Rina Uechi and Carol Hinojosa-Caul; three grandchildren, Alyssa, Leah, and Cora; and nieces and nephews, Alana de Hinojosa, Quinn Bunstock, Season, Everett, Destiny, and Lyric Hinojosa.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Imperial Valley Press Online on Jul. 9, 2023.

Memories and Condolences
for SUSANA HINOJOSA

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Sally Cahill Tannenbaum

July 4, 2025

Susan´s was my roommate at UC Santa Barbara for three years. I still remember attending a dance our first week of school where Susana met her future husband Chris. It was 1969. I have so many wonderful memories of clowning around with Susana and Chris. Susana was beautiful, smart, hard-working, with an engaging laugh. She will be missed.

Sally Caill Tannenbaum

September 5, 2023

I am so very sad to hear of Susana´s passing. Susana and I were college roommates for three years at UC Santa Bárbara. She was a bright, passionate and engaging friend who brightened all of our lives with her laughter and charming personality. She will be missed.

Anna Monninger

July 19, 2023

Evelyn and family: please receive condolences on behalf of the Class of 77 and me on the passing of your sister, Susana. May she rest in peace.

Salvador Güereña

July 15, 2023

Susana and my own career as a librarian share somethings in common! I always looked up to her and appreciated her very much as a fellow UC librarian and Reformista.

Deborah Doyle

July 12, 2023

Such a role model! Condolences to her family, many friends and admirers.

Diana Meza-Scott

July 10, 2023

Growing up in Calexico, Susanna and I were friends for decades. Wonderful memories of our Old Calexico days. Shortly before we parted to our college of choice, four of us took a short trip to Ensenada, Tecate, and Tijuana to celebrate our journey. The candle may go out, but the memory of its light remains. I will always remember and love Susanna until we meet again.

Art Ojeda

July 10, 2023

Ricardo, condolences on your sister's passing. Wish you and your family much love, my friend.

Anna Monninger

July 9, 2023

Evelina and Family: our deepest condolences on behalf of myself (Anna Triviso Monninger) and the Class of 1977. May your mother rest in peace.

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