Ronnie Lopez, a pillar of Democratic politics in the Phoenix area, has died at the age of 73.
Raised in the mining town of Miami, Arizona, Lopez moved to Phoenix at a young age to work for the Arizona Civil Rights Commission.
From serving under former Democratic Gov. Bruce Babbitt to running Chicanos Por La Causa, Lopez’s career and influence would span decades.
Congressman Greg Stanton, who became close with the Lopez family through Ronnie’s late son, Paul, said Lopez never forgot where he came from, or who his friends were.
"You’ll never find a more loyal friend than Ronnie Lopez. And you know, sometimes in politics, you know, loyalty can be a difficult thing," Stanton said. "And he was always there for the people that he loved and believed in."
Lopez is survived by his wife, Angie, and son Marcos.
