Emilie Cacho, a longtime resident of Glendale, California, died peacefully on January 10, 2022.
Emilie was born on June 28, 1934, in Pala, California to Herminia and Antonio Cacho, immigrants from Michoacán, Mexico, and itinerant agricultural laborers who would eventually create a successful family farm business in Southern California.
She was one of seven children, and through her childhood worked hard to help her parents in the fields and at home. Her father was committed to sending all five of his daughters to college, and Emilie was one of the first Latinas to attend the University of California at Los Angeles. She graduated in 1957 with a degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies.
That same year, she married Manuel Rodriguez and together they had three sons. After raising her children, Emilie went on to complete a master’s degree in marriage and family counseling at Azusa Pacific College.
She committed her life to providing therapy and counseling to immigrants, children of immigrants and other people in need. Much of her work focused on helping abused children and their families, adolescents on probation, and victims of domestic violence.
She worked as a therapist and clinical supervisor at a wide range of mental health centers and public schools, and also established a successful private practice. Emilie was often the only Spanish-speaking mental health provider on-site and the first therapist many of her clients had ever received support from. Her therapeutic approach to serving Latino and other bi-cultural clients, was featured in Ms. Magazine and La Opinion.
Emilie enjoyed yoga and embraced alternative approaches to healing and spirituality. She was an avid painter, cook and hostess. She was smart, beautiful and had a bold sense of humor. She had wonderful personal style and decorating expertise. Her own home, with each room painted a different vibrant color, reflected her love and appreciation of Mexican culture, art and music.
Emilie is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Tony. She is survived by her sons Phillip, Eugene and Gregory Rodriguez, and her grandson Emiliano Rodriguez. She is also survived by daughters-in-law Norma Manzanares, Marie-Astrid Do-Rodriguez and Annette Kleiser; and her siblings, Rosa Frommer, Luis Cacho, Irene Goodell, Petra Cacho and Delia Talmantez; many cousins; nieces; nephews; and dear, devoted friends.
Emilie, through her love of life and commitment to helping others, made the world a better and brighter place. She is greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to fund a scholarship in honor of her and her dedication to improve the emotional health and well-being of so many.
The Emilie Cacho Memorial Scholarship will be awarded to Latina students who aspire to a career in mental health, school counseling, psychology or social work.
To donate online, please visit:
cfverdugos.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list, or make a check out to “CVF” with “Emilie Cacho” on the memo line and mail to: Community Foundation of the Verdugos, 111 East Broadway #200, Glendale, CA, 91205.
The Emilie Cacho Memorial Scholarship is an endowed component fundmanaged by the CFV, a 501(c)(3) public charitable foundation.
