LWVAV honors Patricia Shaw at celebration

PALMDALE – Patricia Shaw was noticeably absent from Tuesday’s centennial celebration of women’s right to vote in California. Still, as the driving force behind the event and president of the League of Women Voters Antelope Valley, Shaw was on the minds of all who attended the ceremony.

“Take a moment to reflect on our friend Patricia Shaw who worked tirelessly to organize The League of Women Voters AV,” Ingrid Chapman told the audience. “She would most certainly have been here with us this morning, but she’s with us in spirit as she recovers from her recent stroke.”

Shaw was admitted to Palmdale Regional Medical Center on Friday, September 16^th after suffering from a stroke. Shaw’s right side was impaired, and she was unable to speak, according to her husband Michael Shaw.

“She has a really formidable medical challenge but we all know that she’s quite a fighter and I’m sure that hasn’t diminished at all,” said Palmdale Councilmember Tom Lackey at Tuesday’s event. “Patricia Shaw embodies what the League of Women Voters attempts to promote, and that would be community and civic engagement.”

As the driving force behind numerous community organizations, including the League of Women Voters AV, the City Planning Commission, Palmdale Sheriff’s Boosters, Palmdale Woman’s Club, Kiwanis Club, and the AV Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, news of Shaw’s recovery sparked an outpouring of well-wishes from several in the community.

“We miss her,” said Sandy Corrales-Eneix Tuesday. “Just the work that she does for the League of Women Voters, not even counting the other organizations that she is involved in; it has taken several of us to fill her shoes.”

Corrales-Eneix said Shaw, who was moved to a rehabilitation center a week after her stroke, has made tremendous progress in just three short weeks.

“She is now at a point where she is walking a hundred feet with the assistance of a cane,” said Corrales-Eneix. “She actually had an outing to a shopping mall where she shopped for shoes, so she is starting to get back in the groove.”

“Her biggest complaint now is that she is not home in her beloved Palmdale,” continued Corrales-Eneix.

Tuesday’s “Votes for Women” celebration at Poncitlan Square also served to honor and celebrate the work that Patricia Shaw has accomplished for the Antelope Valley community. Several at the celebration signed a card at the event offering well wishes to Shaw for a speedy recovery.