Wherever John Delloro went, he not only made lasting impressions, he made lasting relationships. And because of who he was, countless people are struggling to come to grips with John's sudden passing at the age of 38. I am among them.

As a creator and a builder, John helped create social justice organizations where none previously existed. He helped build and strengthen the unions and organizations where he worked as well as the bonds between unions and community groups. Known widely throughout the Southern California labor movement, John was one of the co-founders of the Pilipino Workers Center of Southern California and he served as Executive Director of the Dolores Huerta Labor Institute. In 2009, he was elected national president of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA).

I knew John and had the honor of working closely with him on a major organizing campaign to help private sector hospital workers in Los Angeles to unite in SEIU. John's passion for helping working people to improve their lives was evident as the Director of SEIU's Member Organizer program for the campaign, one of many roles he played during his several years with SEIU. John was always among the first to greet and embrace members. He worked hard, put in long hours and took many members and staff under his wing. People occasionally came to him filled with self-doubt, but left "fired up and ready to go" by John's encouragement, counsel, and confidence in them. He educated and inspired, and he had a singular gift for developing new leaders, including the members he supported and developed to take over leadership of the program.

I have a vivid memory of John's commitment and leadership during an action not long after the birth of his daughter Mina. Whenever I think of John, I see him leading an action with a bullhorn in one hand, Mina in the other.

When he began working on the Los Angeles hospital organizing campaign, fewer than 15 percent of hospital workers had the benefits of union membership. Today, thanks to that campaign, more than 50 percent of LA hospital workers united in a union. John's leadership in the Member Organizing Program, and his leadership building bonds between our union and community groups was key to that success.

John got his start in the labor movement organizing hotel workers in Las Vegas with the Culinary Workers Union, Local 226. He went on to organize clerical workers with AFSCME. He worked for SEIU Local 399 for about six years, including during the time that he and I worked together. He later worked for SEIU Local 1000, the California State Employees Association (CSEA), as the Southwest Area Manager.

The labor and progressive movements will sorely miss John Delloro. I already do.

John's work on books, blogs, articles, and reports earned him acclaim. His legacy will live on through the hundreds of people he mentored, educated, and inspired to become the leaders of today and well into the future. John is survived by his wife Dr. Susan Suh, a sociologist and community activist, and their two young children.

JOHN DELLORO MEMORIAL FUND
Contributions to John's family can be made to:

LACCD Foundation
c/o Rix Bradford Associates
512 N. Larchmont Blvd
Los Angeles, 90004