San Diego Democratic Club (SDDC) executive vice president Maria Plasencia was found dead at her home in Encinitas by police on Feb. 1. It was estimated that Plasencia died on Jan. 26. According to SDDC president Steve Whitburn, Plasencia took insulin for diabetes, went into insulin shock and drifted into diabetic coma. She was 46.

Plasencia was scheduled to be at a national board meeting for NOW [National Organization for Women] on Jan. 27 and was not expected at the SDDC membership meeting that evening, where she was unanimously re-elected executive vice president.

“I think the greatest tribute to Maria would be for the GLBT community to further strengthen its solidarity with the feminist movement. She was proud that NOW so strongly supported marriage equality, and she wanted the GLBT community to be just as visibly committed to women’s equality,” said Whitburn. “She certainly advanced that coalition, and I think it’s up to our community now to cement it.”

Plasencia played a major role in women’s rights issues locally and on a national level. In 2004, she was a key organizer of the San Diego delegation to the March for Women’s Lives in Washington D.C. Over 500 San Diegans attended, many of whom Plasencia mentored and encouraged.

In 2004 Plasencia was elected to the national board of NOW, representing the southwest region. She also served as a chapter representative on the California NOW state board and the California Political Action Committee (PAC), supporting electoral politics.

California NOW Chapter President Megan Seely had worked with Placensia for almost six years. Seely became president almost four years ago and prior to that was on the NOW board working with the executive committee and Plasencia.

“Certainly it’s a tremendous loss for our organization. It’s also a tremendous loss for the feminist and social justice movement,” said Seely. “She was a great and dedicated activist and we will all miss her tremendously.”

Plasencia was an early volunteer on Christine Kehoe’s 1998 U.S. congressional campaign and joined the SDDC that same year. In 1999, she became the women’s caucus chair and was then elected to her executive vice president position in 2001.

Whitburn remembered Plasencia as a tenacious activist for equality who advocated passionately for women, the GLBT community and ethnic diversity. Plasencia’s activism also led her to be elected as an alternate board member of National Stonewall Democrats in 2003, where she compiled a meeting attendance record that surpassed that of many regular board members.

Gloria Johnson, a friend and long time San Diego activist recalled meeting Plasencia for the first time on Kehoe’s 1998 campaign.

“She was an outstanding volunteer and we became very, very close friends. We always, usually most of the time, agreed on political philosophy.”

Maureen Steiner, another close friend and past board chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party, recalled when Plasencia first got involved in San Diego politics.

“In fact, I remember taking her on her first precinct walk, which she did not really want to go on but she did it. She was trooper,” said Steiner. “She did a lot of things the first time around that she really didn’t want to do. She recognized that there was a need and so she did it.”

Plasencia became a self-made activist after growing up in a working-class, Catholic family in Crown Point, Ind. Her father came to the U.S. from Mexico and worked in the Indiana steel mills. After attending Catholic schools through her high school years, Plasencia insisted on attending college. She was the first in her family to pursue college and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She was employed professionally as an auditor.

“The attention Maria’s death has received, both here and elsewhere, speaks to how widely she was loved and respected,” said Whitburn. “She’ll always be a part of so many people as an activist and as a friend. She’s someone who’ll be making a difference still, a long time from now.”

Funeral services for Plasencia were held in Indiana on Feb. 7. A San Diego remembrance is being planned on Sunday Feb. 20 at 3:00 p.m. at The Center. A memorial fund will be created in her honor.

Condolences may be sent to her family in care of her brother, Jesse Plasencia, Jr., at 529 Kathleen Dr., Schererville, IN 46375.