Editor’s Note:
I came to know Ellen Alires Trujillo many years ago and was impressed and moved by her character. An attorney by profession, Ellen and I shared conversations on many occasions and those conversations taught me that she was a woman of integrity, kindness and compassion. Her characteristics were easily matched by her legal knowledge, her love of community and for the love of her life, Lorenzo. I will never forget you, Ellen Alires-Trujillo. You made everyone you encountered a better person, for knowing you.
Ellen G. Alires-Trujillo passed away on June 17, 2023, in the warmth of her husband’s arms at home in bed. She lived a valiant life at every moment in time. Her passion for social justice led her to use her law degree as an attorney at Colorado Legal Services for over 30 years. She received her BA degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1979 and her J.D. from the University of Denver, Law School in 1988. Her work with Colorado Legal Services was given to working in the Housing Rights and Homelessness Prevention Unit, the Family and Children’s Unit and the Health/Elder Law Units. Ellen provided representation to the elderly and younger disabled populations with various Medicaid, Social Security and other Public benefit program issues. She provided leadership and was instrumental in the development of Colorado’s first Medical Legal Partnership where she represented families and children at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora.
She mentored students of all ages and law students and practicing attorneys. She was actively engaged in political causes and served on several boards and advisory committees in law, education, political and cultural organizations.
She believed that many of our children suffer from self-esteem and identity issues. The only history we were ever taught was negative. It is so important that our children are taught and know their history and the contributions made by those who came before them. Children must have a reason to dream, and the only way is to see that anything is possible. They need to know that despite what has been presented, there is more to the story. They need to know that we are not a drain on society but in fact have been contributors in this society in a variety of ways. They also need assurance they are as smart as anyone else and can achieve if willing to work for it.
Ellen suffered from ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease, a neurological disabling disease that left her without use of her hands and legs and with no voice. She suffered unforgiving pain without complaining in the care of her husband at home. She had a loving group of comadres who helped her every step of her sorrowful journey. Ellen continued to mentor in her circle and to participate in her various student scholarship groups even though she could barely whisper. She did not stop. Only death would stop her undaunting spirit of giving and caring for others. She is a champion who will be missed because of the deep footprints in the sand that she has left. She was a true corn mother warrior.
Please consider making a contribution in Ellen’s name to one of these charities:
Alires Trujillo Scholarship of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association https://chba.net/donate/donate-to-the-chba-foundation/. (Please note that this is for the Alires-Trujillo Scholarship of the CHBA) or Rocky Mountain ALS Association – ALS.org or Compasionate Care ALS https://ccals.org/donate/ or Colorado Legal Services https://www.legalaidfoundation.org/get-involved/make-a-donation-start/.
