When Santa Cruz Sentinel reporter Jessica A. York told Mary Gaukel Forster that she would be the newspaper’s first winner of the Santa Cruz County Hero award, she quickly teared up.
“It’s not for me. It’s for them,” the retired local educator and administrator said as she choked back sobs after hearing of the award. “It’s for the little CASA kids and for my sweet people, for everybody that struggles and fights for mental health. It’s because my parents had hearts of servants.”
While Gaukel Forster says she’s still grateful for the honor and she selected a nominee for the second go-around of the Santa Cruz County Heroes series, York died last month after a four-year battle with neuroendocrine cancer. To honor York and her work for the Sentinel and in the community, the Santa Cruz County Heroes series will be renamed the Jessica A. York Hero Award.
York, who joined the Sentinel staff in 2014, was praised by those who knew her as a hard-working, conscientious reporter who was dedicated to her craft and the community that she called home for 11 years.
“Jess was a top-notch journalist, but she was a better friend and a better person,” said former Assistant Editor Don Fukui.
On behalf of everyone at the Sentinel, I’d like to thank the community for the outpouring of support following her death. It would take too long to thank everyone, but I would like to mention the team at the Central Fire Protection District of Santa Cruz County. Like the Sentinel, the folks at Central Fire were also dealing with a loss to their family. Fire Capt. Steven Ramirez, 54, died Jan. 12 while on duty at his station in Santa Cruz County. Ramirez served his community for 24 years, starting the with Central Fire District in 1999. Thank you for your service, Capt. Ramirez. Like Jess, you will not be forgotten.
Nominations for the Jessica A. York Hero Award are due Saturday, Feb. 22 at noon.
From there, our panel of judges will pick five finalists, who we’ll honor in a weekly series of stories before announcing our overall hero. The winner will receive a $500 cash prize.
The everyday heroics of people doing great things behind the scenes have always been a big part of what makes Santa Cruz County such a special place to live. York embodied that ethos, working to lift up the community with her words and her spirit. We’re looking forward to receiving your nominations and sharing their stories. On behalf of everyone at the Sentinel: We miss you, Jess.
Tom Wright is the managing editor of the Santa Cruz Sentinel.