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January 30, 2015
Archdiocese of San Francisco director of public policy and social concerns George Wesolek was honored posthumously with the St. Gianna Molla Award at the Jan. 24 pro-life rally at Civic Center in San Francisco.
His wife Geri, daughter Brienne, and grandchildren Georgia and Xavier accepted the award presented by archdiocesan respect life coordinator Vicki Evans. Coincidentally, Wesolek died of cancer April 28, the same date that St. Gianna died in 1962.
“When he came to this position over 20 years ago, the landscape in San Francisco was very different from what it is today with respect to pro-life issues. Roe v. Wade was settled law in the Bay Area,” Evans told the crowd.
“I would venture to say that the Walk for Life would not exist in its present form had George not stood with its organizers from day one, convincing the powers that be that it was all right to be involved in such a radical march,” Evans said, referring to the institutional skepticism toward grass-roots organizers of the walk. “George participated in this vision and wanted to take a chance on it. His instincts were correct. And today, we thank him.”
Each year the walk honors someone it considers a pro-life hero with the award. St. Gianna prayed that if the choice was between her and her child, that she be taken, and the Italian wife, mother and physician died at age 39. She was canonized in 2004.