July 29, 1938 – June 14, 2026
[Adapted from obituary]
Beatrice G. Cortez was born in Kenedy, Texas on July 29, 1938, to migrant farm workers, Miguel and Josefina Gonzales. Beatrice was the 6th of ten children who helped her parents in the fields to pick cotton and vegetables in Minnesota and other northern states along the way.
She married Andres C. Cortez in 1960 and together they had five (5) children and helped to raise three of her siblings due to the premature death of her mother and the failing health and eventual death of her father. Through these challenges, the family became stronger in their faith and active with their parish at St. Patrick Catholic Church. They volunteered as CCD teachers and joined the Altar Society, La Sociedad de Guadalupe, and Senior Ministries. Many of the neighborhood kids memorized her home number as she was often called for guidance.
She quit her government job to volunteer with Communities Organized for Public Service (COPS), today known as COPS/Metro Alliance, an affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation. Here, she saw the appalling living conditions around her neighborhood and surrounding communities, and she wanted to do something about it. She put her faith into action by speaking up about issues affecting her family, neighbors and community.
In 1980 she was elected as the 4th President of COPS. She argued and demanded that infrastructure projects be made to improve streets, sidewalks and proper drainage, promoted job training programs like Project Quest, advocated for the 'No Pass, No Play' law, demanded affordable housing be made a priority, fought for tax exemptions for seniors to be able to keep their homes and pushed for Palo Alto College to be built in the southside of San Antonio. She relentlessly pushed voter registration campaigns and encouraged everyone to exercise their right to vote. She often went to San Antonio City Council meetings and the Texas Capitol to demand accountability on budgeted items and ensure that low-income communities received proper representation. She would not back down from public officials or wealthy businessmen until she was heard. She selflessly created awareness and demanded improvement for families living in poverty. She was a true servant focused on living the word of God and working in partnership with COPS/Metro Alliance to ensure people were treated fairly and with dignity.
She was eventually recruited to work for the Archdiocese of San Antonio to help with parish development and to teach others to organize in the rural areas dealing with immigration, new clean water systems and the denial of the nuclear waste dump in south Texas.
She stayed active with COPS/Metro Alliance by taking part in the renaming ceremony of the Atanacio Garcia Natatorium held in August 2025 and took part in the 50th Anniversary Celebration of COPS/Metro Alliance held in October 2025. She would often say "If you want peace, work for justice." Beatrice will be remembered for her community engagement and commitment to fighting for what is right.