With a heavy heart, we share the news that Theresa Breakfield, a longtime SEIU 1021 union member, community leader, and political activist passed away on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 due to complications of COVID-19.

Theresa Breakfield was a committed member of our union who served first as a member of the SEIU 1021 Executive Board Budget and Finance Committee, representing Region E (Amador, Calaveras and San Joaquin Counties). She later served as the San Joaquin County Area Representative on the SEIU 1021 Executive Board until she retired in April of 2017.

Theresa worked for Head Start of San Joaquin before transitioning into a role as Children Service Coordinator for the Valley Mountain Region Center (VMRC), where she worked for over 10 years before her retirement. While at the VMRC, she served as a Shop Steward, member of the Bargaining Team, as Chapter Secretary/Treasurer, and also as Delegate to the SEIU Developmental Disabilities Industry Council. She was active in the Contract Actions and Campaigns of the San Joaquin County Chapter.

Theresa was an active Member of the San Joaquin County Region COPE Committee. After she retired, she joined the SEIU 1021 Retiree Council and remained active in the San Joaquin County Regional COPE Committee as the Retiree Delegate. Theresa was also a delegate to the North Valley Labor Federation and became a Delegate to the San Joaquin County Central Labor Council. Theresa was active in the San Joaquin County Democratic Committee and was elected as a Delegate to the California State Democratic Committee.

Theresa Breakfield is survived by her son Jimmy Breakfield and his wife Marsalee, her son Joe Klein and his wife Sylvia, her granddaughters Eleanor and Madalyn Breakfield, her grandsons Joey and Dexter Klein, her siblings Virginia Veltri, Mike Breakfield, Chris Breakfield, Sheila Breakfield, Martin Breakfield, Margaret Breakfield and Mary Wagner and a large extended family.

Theresa Breakfield was a fixture in San Joaquin County labor, politics, and youth programs. She will be sorely missed by her loved ones, her community, and her entire labor and union family.