Jesse Salvador Rodriguez Age 16. Jesse entered this world fighting for his life and died March 20 in an environment which grossly failed to protect him from taking it. He is survived by those who worked hard to keep him safe, and by those who chose not to. May the latter awaken to a greater commitment to protect each child whose care they are entrusted with. Jesse had a precocious knowledge and passion for film and was interviewed by the SF Film Society as their youngest member. Donations in Jesse's name can be made to the group which mentored him in making his first film at age 12: S.F. Art & Film, 540 Alabama St., SF, CA 94110.
Published in San Francisco Chronicle on Apr. 2, 2006.