DignityUSA and Dignity/San Antonio mourn the passing and celebrate the life of Nickie Valdez, who passed away December 25, 2020 at her home in San Antonio. Her spouse of 35 years, Deb Myers, was with her. Nickie co-founded Dignity/San Antonio in 1976 with her beloved friend Bruce Jarstfer. Even long before that, Nickie worked to make a home within the Catholic church for LGBTQI people. As far back as the mid-1960s, Nickie would sit on the steps of her local parish church, making herself available for gay and lesbian people who may have felt excluded by the church.
DignityUSA Executive Director, Marianne Duddy-Burke said: "She had an unshakeable vision of God’s love being all-embracing. Nickie was involved in so much justice work in San Antonio, nurtured so many Dignity leaders throughout the decades, and pushed the organization to embrace women, people of color, poor people, families, and all who needed us. I am honored to have called her a friend.” More information Nickie's legacy and funeral arrangements can be found here. |