Harry Pachon, educator and Latino advocate

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today announced the death of USC professor of public policy Harry Pachon, founding board member and past executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund. The mayor's statement:

We mourn the loss of Dr. Harry Pachon, a brilliant scholar and trailblazer.

As a founder of the National Association of Latino Elected Officials, Harry worked unceasingly for the civic engagement and the political empowerment of Latinos in the United States. And as President of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute and professor, he contributed immensely to the research on Latinos and the policy issues of greatest impact to this community.

Although we will miss him dearly, he leaves a legacy of outstanding scholarship and of advancing the participation of Latinos in the democratic process.

My thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time.

I don't have an age for Pachon as yet.