Ruth Mojica Hammer

Ruth "Rhea" Mojica Hammer, beloved mother of Linda Garcia Merchant, transitioned from her mortal self on Saturday evening, November 12, 2022, at Pasadena Acute Care in Pasadena, Texas.
The last week of her life, she watched me, as though she knew she would have to keep this memory of her most precious gift, challenged by an illness that would snatch away all the recent memories of her life. In this last week she still fought and fussed, with less strength but no less will. She held my hands a lot-every day, sometimes with so much strength I worried she might break my finger. I would complain-she would just hold on harder. Perhaps she was telegraphing what powers she had to me, the one she called her most precious gift. Maybe that was her last gift to me. The last night, as I held her hand, she would squeeze mine. We sat quietly, peacefully, until she let go of my hand, and then I knew she was gone. I knew that my last gift to her was holding her hand, walking with her so that she wouldn't be alone on her way to where she needed to go next.
Ruth lived a trailblazing life, fearlessly moving through the complex political environment of her hometown, Chicago, applying all she learned to the larger national arena of both the Chicano and second wave Women's movements of the 1960s and 1970s. Ruth's motto throughout her life was, "If I see a need, I try to fill it, not with the goal of getting credit, but getting it done."
In 1973, she was one of a handful of Latinas on television in the Chicago market, producing "Ayuda," the most popular program on WCIU-TV during the 7-8 pm Thursday time slot. "Ayuda" was a call-in program that served the social services needs of the Latino community in Chicago, which at that moment numbered over 250,000 people. She went on to assume the position of Executive Director of all Hispanic programming at the station, simultaneously appearing on CBS-TV, with Warner Saunders, co-hosting the community-affairs program, "We Are Chicago."
As a convening member of the National Latino Media Coalition in 1973, she worked for greater recognition for Latino/as as a market as well as a source of creative talent. Rhea served on the the boards of tIllinois Chapter of the ACLU; Gad's Hill Community Center; YWCA Metro Chicago Leadership Luncheon Committee; RASSA, a national lobbying organization for HIspanics in Washington DC; United Way of Metro Chicago; Service Evaluation Committee IV; Spanish Coalition for Jobs (now known as the National Latino Education Institute); and LULAC Council #313, and, with Blanca Vargas, was cofounder of Council #5028. She was on the original board of the National Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago.
She was a member of the Midwest Council of la Raza, the Raza Unida Party (RUP), and Mujeres Pro Raza Unida, attending the 1972 Raza Unida Party Convention in El Paso, Texas, as a delegate from Illinois. At that conference, she campaigned for Ramsey Muniz, the RUP gubernatorial candidate.
Rhea was the first Latina to run for Congress in the 7th Congressional District of Illinois as an Independent candidate, against the powerful Daley Machine. In the Democratic Primaries of 1972, she encouraged the participation of women and latinas in the political arena. She was the campaign manager of the first Latina elected to any public office in the state of Illinois, the honorable Irene C. Hernandez, member of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
As the candidate of the Raza Unida Party, Rhea was elected as one of three vice-chairpersons of the National Women's Political Caucus (NWPC), serving two terms from 1973-1977. She then became the chair of the Chicana Caucus of the NWPC from 1977-1979.
While NWPC vice-chairperson, she was on the committee led by Congressman Ronald Dellums (Rep. D-CA-7) to get legislation passed in 1977 to reduce the period during which a spouse could qualify for social security benefits from 20 to 10 years. She also represented the NWPC on the issue of choice at a White House press conference, soon after the Supreme Court decision on Roe v. Wade.
From 1973-1975 she edited and published El Clarin Chicano, a newsletter highlighting local and national political events, with a focus on Latinas' contributions.
In 1975 she was invited to join the Census Advisory Committee on the Spanish Origin Population for the 1980 U.S. Census, a watershed change that began the new process to redefine Latino identity in the U.S. to better reflect its many variations.
In 1976 she was appointed by President Jimmy Carter to serve on the Commission for the Observance of International Women's Year. This Commission convened the 56 state and territorial meetings to elect delegates and develop a core agenda for the first federally funded National Women's Conference in 1977. Along with fellow Commissioners Cecilia Preciado Burciaga and Carmen Votaw, Rhea led a delegation of Latinas to draft new language for the Minority amendment to the Plan of Action for Women, to reflect the specific needs of Latinas.
In 1977, she founded the Chicago chapter of Mexican American Business and Professional Women, the first professional women's organization for Latinas in the city and one that would mentor many of the significant Latina leadership now present in tChicago..
In 1979, after a return to her faith community, Rhea took the name of Ruth and joined the United Church of Christ (UCC), where she served on local, state, national and international boards, as well as on special committees such as the General Synod Committee on Structure, engaged in giving new structure to the UCC. As a member of the Corporate Board of World Ministries (BWM) a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), Ruth accompanied nine board members to the United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, in August of 1995. During her time on the BWM board, she traveled extensively through Latin America and the Caribbean. In 1996, she was awarded the American Dream Award by LULAC Council #313.
She retired in 1992 to care for her own father, Ponciano, and to attempt to finish an undergraduate degree in Psychology. She eventually went back to work part-time as the Executive Director for the El Paso Council of International Visitors program of the United States Department of State. She was active in El Paso politics, as a member of the Mayor's Advisory Board on Aging, and with the Senior Advisory Committee of the Texas State Legislature, worked with her local officials to get reforms passed to protect the elderly.
In 2009 she received the Sor Juana Women of Achievement award from the National Museum of Mexican Art for the depth and breadth of her influence within the Latino community of Chicago and the nation. During her acceptance speech, she read a letter I had sent to her for her 80th birthday that described how she had always been my hero and my inspiration.
Nothing gave her more joy than to watch me find my path to activism through the journey to document her life and the lives of other Chicanas of the movement in the Chicana por mi Raza Digital Memory Collective, with Maria Cotera-the daughter of her Comadre, Martha--a journey that would lead me to graduate school, and ultimately to the University of Houston, with her alongside, bursting with pride at her "precious gift."
Maria del Refugio de Mojica y Gallegos was the first child of Ponciano Mojica and Guadalupe Mojica y Gallegos, and the elder sister of 94-year old Roberto and 92-year-old Carlos, who survive her. She was Godmother, Aunt Cookie, and Ms. Ruth to many young men and women inspired by her career and her generosity in sharing her own stories, then hearing and encouraging theirs.
Ruth/Rhea is the last of an important generation of Midwest Mexican-Americans, proud of their heritage on both sides of the hyphen, with a foundation of the cultural histories of both Mexico and the U.S., taught to them by their parents. She was a "Rosie the Riveter" and her brothers, both veterans of the Occupation Forces, understood and upheld their duty to be active and productive citizens, examples of the character of that "greatest generation."
¡Presente! Ruth "Rhea" Mojica Hammer, who truly did live her life on her own terms until the very end.
Our family suggests that in lieu of flowers, you make a contribution to an organization that really needs your help, especially during this holiday season.
In January 2023, family and friends will host the following commemorative events to celebrate Ruth's life and legacy.
Chicago: January 7, 2023, 10:00 am to noon,
National Museum of Mexican Art, 1852 W 19th Street Chicago, IL 60608
El Paso: January 14, 2023, 10:00 am to noon,
San José Ballroom, Centro de Salud Familiar La Fe, 501 S. Virginia, El Paso, Texas 79901
Fresno: January 28, 2023, 10:00 am to noon,
First Congregational Church of Fresno, UCC, 2131 N. Van Ness Boulevard, Fresno, CA 93704
For more information, please contact the family via email: r.mojicahammer@gmail.com
All services are under the care of Morales Funeral Home. For any questions or concerns regarding the services for Ruth Mojica-Hammer, please contact Morales Funeral Home at (713) 223-1167