Remembering ‘mi guapa,’ Silvia Cano-Garcia

This is a guest column written by a close friend of Judge Silvia Cano-Garcia, who died this week after a long battle with cancer.

By Susana Chaparro

“Mi guapa” was my nickname for her. In Spanish it means elegant, beautiful. I’ve known mi querida amiga since junior high.

There are so many wonderful memories I have of my dear and beloved friend, Silvia Cano-Garcia. I would like to share a few with you. The first time I met her, I saw a skinny girl with long legs, two braids and a shy, hesitant smile. I smiled back. I think we knew instantly that we would forge a friendship, one that would last a lifetime.

I remember that Silvia, Joseph Cervantes and I were elected to various positions in student council at Las Cruces High School. Even back then, Silvia was a true leader. Once she got something into her head, she fought for it with all her might, much as she would later fight against her illness. Silvia was usually the first of the three to champion the underdog and work for justice, and she did it with grace, dignity and stubbornness.

There were many loves in Silva’s life. However, her love for her family always shone through. She fell in love with her husband, Reynaldo, at first sight. She shared with me on many occasions how on her first date with Rey, she cooked a fine meal for him, knowing she could “snag him with my cooking.” One could see her eyes twinkle when she spoke of him. Marisol, her young daughter, is the other love of her life, who she protected and was so proud of. Silvia also shared with me how much she loved her parents, her sister and her brother. We marveled at how different our backgrounds were, but how similar we had grown up. Our families are our treasures.

We spent many times talking about our futures. We both had a passion for the law; another of Silvia’s loves. We talked about wanting to be a part of something great, helping people and making a difference to our “gente,” our community.

When Silvia was appointed to the Doña Ana County Magistrate Court, I was overjoyed at the thought of having such a brilliant and compassionate woman working with me. She and I spent long hours reviewing cases and trying to create new ways of dealing with a difficult court. She was a superb judge.

We created the Cano-Garcia Chaparro Domestic Violence Court Model, the first of its kind in New Mexico and also the only of its kind in the nation. Silvia and I conducted this court in tandem: two judges sitting at the same bench, hearing the same case, at the same time. I sat by her side many, many times. Her compassion and her caring manner never failed to move me. She always showed respect for everyone who appeared before her.

Silvia was a fiercely loyal friend to me. When problems would arise at work, I would receive her call, “Susie, Ray and I are behind you 100 percent. We know you’re doing the right thing. Now go give them hell!” She stood by my side when things got tough, never afraid of speaking her mind and encouraging me. Silvia believed in me and the things I stand for.

Mi amiga and I celebrated our birthdays together last year. Silvia’s birthday is one day before mine. We were joined by several close friends. We thanked them for sharing their friendship and love with us. My husband, Ken, had a birthday cake for us with two candles on it; one for Silvia and one for me. As we blew out the candles, we held hands and our wish was that we would spend our next birthday together, in good health and surrounded by the people that we love. My thanks to those of you who were there for making our birthday party a happy, joyful and memorable one for Silvia and me.

The last time I saw my friend, we hugged each other and told each other, as always, “I love you amiga. Take care.” I carry Silvia in my heart as many of you who knew her do. We are blessed to have known such a wonderful, courageous, beautiful woman. She is a rare treasure.

Silvia, I love you. I will miss you, mi guapa, mi amiga, mi hermana.