Obituary of Ann R. Montano

Ann R. Montano

Ann, born in Tucson on July 19,1938, passed away peacefully on June 30th. She is survived by her sister Ana Louise Carrillo of San Jose, Calif. She was preceded in death by her mother Ruby Bartlett. Ann was known for their activism for community justice. In the 60’s and 70’s Ann was involved in the legal battle led by Alva Torres fighting the city’s urban-renewal project that destroyed two homes owned by Ann’s grandmother which became part of the Tucson Convention Center parking lot. Later Ann, who lived in South Tucson, joined other activist to put an end to the water contamination in south south Tucson that was resulting in a high number of cancer cases and other ailments.

Ann’s early involvement in the community started at age 12. She wrote a column for the Tucson Gazette newspaper for a number of years. During the 1950’s and later, she attended the University of Arizona, taking classes when she could. In the beginning of Pima County’s Adult Basic Education program during the 1960’s she volunteered her services publicizing the program and recruiting students. After many volunteer hours, she was hired as a teacher for the program. In 1971 she began employment at SER, where she worked until her retirement. SER, a federal program promoted by LULAC, was the first program by the US Department of Labor to provide job training and employment for immigrants and Mexican Americans. She also volunteered at the Lindsey Learning Center in South Tucson, was a member of Plaza de la Mesilla, a board member of El Rio Santa Cruz Neighborhood Health Center and a volunteer teacher for Cuban refugees at a halfway house sponsored by Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona.

Know for her generous nature and willingness to help others, Ann not only worked to connect people with needed available services but often gave or loaned funds to those in need.

Services will be held at Santa Cruz Church at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday July 19, 2023 followed by burial at Holy Hope Cemetery.