Dr. Sally T. Acosta (1921-2008)

Dr. Salud ''Sally'' Tuazon Acosta, formerly of Los Angeles, CA, died on Jan. 27, 2008, in Bellevue, WA, at age 86.

Dr. Acosta was born on Feb 5, 1921, and raised in Bacolor, Pampanga, Philippines. She was the daughter of Emiliano Tuazon and Fausta Gozun.  She graduated from Pampanga High School and attended the Philippine Women’s University in Manila. She earned an M.S. in Foods and Nutrition in 1955 at Florida State University.  She interned for two years at Bellevue Hospital in New York City.

Starting in 1957, she taught at the Philippine Women’s University for many years.  In 1969, she immigrated to the United States and was a social worker for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services. After retiring, she became a leading advocate for senior causes in Los Angeles and a supporter of the senior-citizen organizations that were using the Social Hall of the Filipino-American Community of Los Angeles (FACLA), which is the oldest Filipino organization in California. She was appointed to the California Commission on Aging (CCA) by Governor Gray Davis. She served the CCA from 2000 to 2006. In addition, she was a pillar as a chapter president (assemblywoman) for seven terms in the California Senior Assembly, a civic organization. She received many awards for dedicated service to the community of Los Angeles including the 1999 United Nations International Year of the Older Person Award. She was president of the Los Angeles Council on Aging. In 2003, Dr. Acosta was conferred Doctor of Humanities by Philippine Women’s University, her alma mater.

Dr. Acosta is survived by her daughters, Jennifer Acosta Bell (Colin) of Bellevue, WA, Jeanette Acosta of Los Angeles, and son, Rene Acosta (Connie) of Valencia, and six grandchildren, Kent Bell of Amsterdam, Alison Bell of Hawaii, Kathryne Acosta, Joseph Acosta of Valencia, Sky Bear Aguilar and Solange Aguilar of Los Angeles.  Her husband, Galileo Acosta, a retired captain in the Philippine Navy, died in 2004.

After a funeral mass held today, Feb. 2, 2008, at Christ the King Church, 627 N. Arden Blvd, Los Angeles at 9:30 a.m., the gravesite services followed at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, Southern California.

Friends of Mrs. Sally Acosta are invited to share her memories, learn more about her distinguished life, view her pictures and sign the family’s online guestbook at http://www.flintofts.com/