Pro Life Columnist, Advocate Tim Chavez Remembered

Pro-Life Columnist, Advocate Tim Chavez Remembered as 'Voice for the Voiceless'1958-2009
"Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice justice and freedom demand. Light one candle for the wisdom to know when the peacemakers' time is at hand. Don't let the light go out, it's lasted for so many years. Don't let the light go out, Let it shine through our love and our tears."Closing anthem sung by Gene Cotton at Chavez funeral on Monday.

Pro-life Tennesseans lost a hero Thursday evening when former Tennessean columnist Tim Chavez died at the age of 50. Chavez was the first recipient of the Truth in Media Award (T.I.M.), presented in 2004 by Tennessee Right to Life. The award was given in recognition of Chavez' unparalleled advocacy and public support for legislative passage of both Tennessee's Choose Life specialty license plate and SJR 127. "There has never been another voice in Tennessee's media which so passionately or eloquently spoke of the need to protect the weak and vulnerable," said Brian Harris, president of Tennessee Right to Life. "There's no question that Tim's consistent leadership and passionate advocacy put the matter of SJR 127 in front of the public and made it impossible for our opponents to conduct their pro-abortion efforts in secret," Harris said.

Following pressure from pro-abortion groups and his initial diagnosis and treatment for leukemia, The Tennessean eliminated Chavez' column and position.

Current Planned Parenthood board member and then-managing opinion editor for The Tennessean, Sandra Roberts was quoted in last week's paper saying "As a columnist, Tim was unpredictable. On some days, he was infuriating, on other days he was endearing," said Roberts. "But he was always fearless and he was always thought-provoking." Roberts served as a lector during Chavez' funeral mass Monday at St. Edward Catholic Church in Nashville, reading from Isaiah 53. The Tennessean's obituary also noted the following details: A resident of Williamson County, Mr. Chavez was an Oklahoma native and graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma. He came to Nashville after working as an opinion editor for the Observer-Dispatch in Utica, N.Y. Before that, he worked as a reporter and sports editor. In 1996, Mr. Chavez began writing an issues column for The Tennessean that addressed topics including English as a second language, health care and immigration. He wanted his column to be the voice of those he felt had no voice, often taking on authority figures. He received the leukemia diagnosis in December 2005.

Mr. Chavez was a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and won state and national awards, including the Will Rodgers Humanitarian Award from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.
Mr. Chavez is survived by his wife, Kathi Chavez; two brothers, Mike Chavez and Gerald Chavez, both of Del City, Okla.; a stepson, Japhet Thacker, Brentwood; a stepdaughter, Una Winterman, Bloomington, Indiana.; and two granddaughters.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Smithson Craighead Academy, Nashville's first charter school, 3307 Brick Church Pike, Nashville, TN 37207.