Although it seems like yesterday, it has been just more than a month since my wife, Cathy Acevedo, passed away.

While I have a moment and before time slips away, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone from the UIUC campus, the Champaign-Urbana community and beyond who have been so wonderful and have done so much for my son, Cristián, and me.

To all the various units of the University of Illinois, especially the Office of the Dean of Students, The Native American House, La Casa Cultural Latina, Latino/Latina Studies and the campus Division of Public Safety, thank you for the warm and heartfelt acknowledgements of Cathy’s work and her service to the University.

To everyone who participated in and attended Cathy’s memorial, your words and presence touched not only Cristián and me but Cathy’s extended family in California as well.

To the numerous individuals – literally too many to list here – who have given us their love and support and have cared for us during this difficult month, how can we ever repay you?

Cathy was fortunate to have so many close friends and even more fortunate to know this during her life.

That they have continued to be such good friends beyond her life is Cathy’s legacy to us.

Philip Garnier

Department of Human and Community Development