Jeff Mendez, 1972 - 2006

Brother, I fear we would've never had enough time. I'd just begun to settle into the life that found us crossing paths with regularity, and barely got to glimpse into all I had to learn from you. Some other time, perhaps.

It is with profound sadness and grief that the US Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation learned yesterday of the passing of Jeff Mendez, a former Steering Committee member of the US Campaign. Jeff was instrumental in organizing the US Campaign’s 2nd and 3rd Annual National Organizers’ Conference in Washington, DC in 2003 and 2004. Jeff resigned his position on the Steering Committee after he was first diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia in 2004.

Mark Lance, Steering Committee Chair of the US Campaign stated: “Jeff Mendez was a comrade in both senses of the word. He was a colleague in struggle and a beloved friend. Jeff was brilliant, tireless, insightful, loving, and hilarious. Though we tended to meet up, as he once put it, ‘on the atrocity circuit,’ life was good when hanging with Jeff. I honestly can't remember ever failing to have fun. Being with Jeff reminded me of why we care, why we bother to struggle against injustice. Because however much evil humans are capable of, they retain as well the possibilities of creativity and beauty. Working with Jeff and people like him, one sees glimpses of another world waiting for us to create it.

Jeff was both one of the best, and at the same time one of the nicest people I had the honor to know in my life. I will carry his memory with me all my days.”

The US Campaign would like to extend its deepest sympathies to Jeff’s family and his wide circle of friends and colleagues. In Jeff’s honor, we plan to uphold his life’s work by continuing our advocacy for human rights, justice, and dignity for all human beings.

Below is an obituary and details of a public memorial service that will take place tomorrow, Tuesday, September 12 at the Palestine Center in Washington, DC.


Jeffrey Librado Méndez, 33, died on Sept. 10 after a sudden relapse of Leukemia. He was surrounded by his friends and family.

Méndez was born on Dec. 5, 1972 in Cuero, TX where he grew up and graduated high school. He received his Bachelors and Masters of Arts degrees from Baylor University in Waco, TX. A Rhodes Scholar, he was enrolled in a PhD program in Political Studies and Gender at the University of the Western Cape in South Africa. He also spent time in Germany as an exchange student.

Méndez was a dedicated seeker of social justice, and he was particularly committed to struggles for Immigrant, Gay and Palestinian rights. This commitment led him to work as a Program Manager at the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations and at the Jerusalem Fund for Education and Community Development/Palestine Center, where he served as acting Executive Director and Humanitarian and Development Director thereafter. Jerusalem Fund founder and noted Palestinian scholar-intellectual Dr. Hisham Sharabi considered him a son. Méndez had recently resigned from the Jerusalem Fund to be Development Director at the national office of the international Catholic peace organization Pax Christi.

Méndez founded the Africa Fund for Emergency Relief, an organization operating in Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland to serve the needs of HIV-positive orphans, and was active with the Latino Advocacy and Action Council, the National Minority Bone Marrow Foundation, the Leukemia Lymphoma Society of Washington, D.C., the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, the Edden Group for Social Justice, the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, the Coalition for Justice and Accountability, Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church, and was an advisor to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA).

Jeff was a source of love and strength for all who knew him. His always present smile and laughter will remain in our hearts forever. He will be brought home to Cuero where he will rest near the family home. Jeff is survived by his parents Librado and Cecilia; sisters Sandra and Nancy; brother Ron; nieces Crystal and Elena; and nephews Robert, Dustin, Kevin and Jacob.



Please remember me. Fondly.
I heard from someone you're still pretty.
And then, they went on to say that the Pearly Gates
Have some eloquent graffiti.
Like, "We'll meet again."
And, "Fuck the Man."
And, "Tell my mother not to worry."
And angels, with their great handshakes
Always done in such a hurry.
- Iron & Wine