Services set for Mario Obledo, former state secretary of health and welfare

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A public memorial service will be held in Sacramento this week for Mario Obledo, former California secretary of health and welfare in Jerry Brown’s administration, who died of a heart attack Wednesday at 78.

Sometimes called the “Godfather of the Latino Movement,’ Obledo served in the Brown cabinet from 1975 to 1982. He co-founded the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Educational Fund and later directed the League of United Latin American Citizens as national president. In 1998 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton.

A Mass will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday, followed by a rosary at 7 p.m. and a public viewing through midnight. A funeral mass will be held Friday at 9 a.m.

All services will be held at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, 1017 11th St., Sacramento.

--Elaine Woo

Caption: Mario Obledo in 1975. Credit: Associated Press