Zaida Raquel Cordero-MacIntyre

1947 - 2021

BORN

1947

DIED

2021

About

Loma Linda University

FUNERAL HOME

Emmerson Bartlett Memorial Chapel - Redlands

703 Brookside Avenue

Redlands, California

Zaida Cordero-MacIntyre Obituary

Zaida R. Cordero - MacIntyre, a Redlands resident and a renowned professional in the area of Health and Nutrition, passed away on January 24, 2021. She was 74 years old. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband Robert T. MacIntyre. Born in Oruro-Bolivia, South America to Luis Cordero Maldonado and Raquel L. de Cordero, she received a degree in Biochemistry and Pharmacy from the University of San Andres in La Paz, Bolivia, and moved to the United States on 1971 at the age of 24 years old. She also received a master's degree in Public Health and Nutrition Science from the Loma Linda University School of Public Health (LLUSPH), in which she was involved professionally for many years. In 1991 she earned a doctorate in Nutrition and Health from the University of Tucson, Arizona. She was a Registered Environmental Health Specialist in the State of California. For many years she worked as an Associate Professor in the Nutrition Department at LLUSPH, and Loma Linda University School of Medicine Center for Health Disparities and Molecular Medicine. She was also a professor at Whittier College. Zaida, a Hispanic immigrant herself made an impact on students, immigrants and the local community, mentoring and guiding them, and earning the affection and respect from students, colleagues, and friends. She loved to travel, especially abroad. She visited many countries for fun and also for work, usually in company of her husband. Her favorite place to visit was France. Anything French called her attention, pastries and dark chocolates especially. Her wish was to live in France. She loved music, art and history. One of her favorite pastimes was reading and watching detective movies. She was very proud of her Hispanic upbringing and her native language, Spanish, yet she loved this country immensely, where she was able to live a blessed life and serve her community through her profession. She is the author of many journals and publications on health and nutrition. She is survived by sisters, Elena Cordero de Rojas, Beatriz Cordero Szwabowski, Graciela Cordero Aldunate, Martha Cordero Darnell and brother Luis Cordero Loayza; brothers in law, Samuel Rojas and Edward Szwabowski; two stepdaughters, Lori Galarza and Kelly Bly; their daughters Daniela Galarza, Sofia and Emily Bly; nephews, Albert, Daniel, Alex, Raul, Frank, Ephraim, Manasseh, and many cousins. A memorial will be held at a later date. In Lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Loma Linda University School of Public Health for Hispanic Students in honor of Zaida. This will assist with carrying on her passion for supporting worthy students through their educational career. Donations can be made at: www.giving.lluh.org/zaida

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Published by San Bernardino County Sun on Mar. 14, 2021.

Memories and Condolences
for Zaida Cordero-MacIntyre

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9 Entries

R & R Aguilar

April 28, 2023

R & R Aguilar

April 28, 2023

R & R Aguilar

April 28, 2023

R & R Aguilar

April 28, 2023

R & R Aguilar

April 28, 2023

R & R Aguilar

April 28, 2023

Lester Thompson

March 19, 2021

“Please follow me to my office at once,” were the sharp and stern words I heard from Dr. Zaida Cordero, the Chief Clinical Dietician at Loma Linda University one morning in my third year of medical school in 1986.
I had struggled financially as a medical student, taking out loans for everything, including accepting food stamps from a local food bank. The particular morning in question, I been awake and working for more than 36 hours and was super-hungry. It was near the end of the month, and I knew there was not really enough money for me to buy food. Realizing it was wrong but doing it anyway, I had crept into the room of a patient who had been made NPO (nothing per orum-mouth) the night before in preparation for surgery – but since the order had gone in so late, the food service had still delivered the food. It was my chance to get something to eat without having to buy it. Well, I was not stupid enough to eat the food in the patient’s room, but instead stuffed the various packages into my white coat pockets, and then opened the door and walked out – right into Zaida. While diminutive in stature, she was formidable in spirit and could sear through to your soul with her gaze.
I meekly followed her down the halls, down the main elevators, and through the labyrinth of corridors before finally making it to her small office just off the cafeteria space. My heart was racing and thousands of thoughts ran through my head about what I would say, what I would do, and how I would try to talk my way out of it.
“Sit down” she commanded and I obeyed, noticing that one of the pilfered bread rolls fell out of my pocket, and rolled onto the floor seeming to taunt her. She picked it up, and held it in front of me.
“This is exactly why I have called you to my office. You have stolen food from a patient’s tray, which cannot be tolerated in an Adventist institution. Well, any institution! I am so disappointed to see that you have had to stoop to this level in order to eat. This cannot ever happen again.”
At this point, I saw my career in medicine evaporate, replaced by prison bars as I realized I had been caught red-handed with the evidence in ample view--and without any legitimate excuse. I prepared to die.
What happened next is the reason I am writing about this today.
“I am going to give you my personal cafeteria meal card that has an unlimited balance. You can swipe it at the registers in the cafeteria anytime you need something to eat until your medical school is complete. I never want to see a student without food. You must have been so desperate to have scrapped the bottom like this. I am so sorry that you are hungry. Never mention this to anyone and I will never talk about it again. Don’t ever compromise patient care by eating their food – but never be afraid to ask for help when you need it. We are all one team, working to make man whole! This is not just the motto of the school, but something we put into action every day.”
The death of my dear and close friend Zaida today has so reminded me of who she was, what she stood for and how she influenced so many hundreds of students during her career at Loma Linda University. But, I take incredible comfort in the fact that I knew her, got to know her as a friend, traveled with her and Bob, and developed a friendship of a lifetime that has endured through so many ups and downs. She was an indominable spirit who lives on in so many – but was such an amazingly positive influence in my life at a time when I needed it most. She will be in my heart forever.

Susan Smith

March 17, 2021

I am so sorry to hear of Zaida’s passing. I was secretary to her husband for years and knew her well. Always friendly, fun loving, dancing at parties. Elegantly dressed, highly intelligent, a real lady and loved her husband, Bob MacIntyre. God love you Zaida.

Marc and Carol Dyke

March 14, 2021

We have many fond memories of times together with you, Bob and friends at your lovely home in Redlands. You and Bob were always the gracious host and hostess.

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