Funeral arrangements for former state representative Ben Miranda

Highly respected attorney, community activist, and former state legislator Ben Miranda passed away suddenly last week.  His funeral services will be held tomorrow, Monday, November 25, 2013.

Picture courtesy Arizona Capitol Times

Details, courtesy his wife, Rep. Catherine Miranda -

Date: Monday, Nov. 25

Services -

Place: Saint Agnes Catholic Church, 1954 N. 24 St, Phoenix, AZ 85008

Time: 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. followed by mass. 

Burial -

Place: National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, 23029 N. Cave Creek Road, Phoenix, AZ 85024 

Time: 2 p.m. 

Reception/Memorial -

Place: American Legion Post 41, 715 S. Second Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85003 

Time: Following the burial

Miranda was elected to the governing board of the Maricopa County Community College District in 2012.  From his bio page there:

Ben Miranda was born in Texas into a migrant farm worker family. In his younger years, the family traveled across the United States harvesting throughout the year. They finally settled in Gila Bend, Arizona, prior to moving to the inner-city projects of Phoenix. On this journey, he attended one room rural schools and resided in labor camps with up to 5,000 immigrant farm workers. He proudly served 13 months in the Vietnam conflict where he was awarded the country’s Bronze Star. After attending Phoenix College and undergraduate studies at Arizona State University (B.S. Political Science), he graduated with the Deans Award from ASU Law School (Juris Doctorate-Law), where he led a recruitment effort that increased minority law student enrollment by 50 percent.

In 1994, he received the City of Phoenix’s First Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Living the Dream” Award. He oversaw over $100,000 in donations from the firm and contributed hundreds of hours in support of Cesar Chavez of the United Farm workers. He served on the Roosevelt School Board where he has been recognized for the hundreds of volunteer hours that he contributes to children. He was elected to the State Legislature in 2002, he served with his brother senator, the first brothers elected to serve together as state level office holders. He has twice been selected by his peers to serve as Chair of the Arizona Latino Caucus of the State Legislature.

He has also served on the boards of the Arizona Trial Lawyers Association, American Red Cross, and Valle del Sol. He has represented the city of Avondale, Pacific Gas and Electric, and Local 383 Union. His passion for helping the underserved has led him to establish Proyecto Manzana which is focused on increasing access to a higher education for all youth in need.

He has acquired a well-deserved reputation for devoting countless hours of free legal advice to people in our community who could not otherwise obtain legal services.

Finally, and most important to him, he is married to Catherine, Arizona House of Representatives District 16 Member, and is a devoted father to his daughters Maritza and Elisa, son-in-law Aaron and grandfather to Mariella, Abraham, Erin Marie and Naomi.

 Deepest condolences go out to his family and many friends.