In Rememberance

Over this weekend, I learned that a former colleague and friend had passed.  It had been an honor to work alongside Lydia in her position as the Director for the CNMI Center for Living Independently. This center was initially created as a 5 year pilot program under the former Hawaii Centers for Independent Living during the administration of Mr. Mark Obatake.  As the Outreach Director and only Chamorro on staff, I supervised Lydia and worked with her as we introduced the IL Philosophy to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.  Prior to Mr. Obatake’s retirement, Lydia was successful in applying for the federal IL grant to separate the CNMI Center from under Hawaii’s management into its own sole entity and renaming it to what it is now; Center for Living Independently in the CNMI.  Lydia has done so much for the CNMI through her advocacy and provision of the IL services. She will be missed by so many and remembered for her legacy of bringing the much needed Independent Living services for people with disabilities to the Northern Mariana Islands.  I share a few memories of our time when she was under the former HCIL (photo with 3 people and the evening night group photo) as well as a more current photo of my visit to her center in 2016 (group photo inside the center).  It is with a heavy heart that I say “until we meet again my friend”. May you Rest In Eternal Peace Lydia Igitol.