Escalante's 'genius' celebrated at East LA funeral

[April 20, 2010]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The funeral for "Stand and Deliver" math teacher Jaime Escalante has drawn some 600 family and friends, including California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and actor Edward James Olmos.

Olmos led the Saturday service at East Los Angeles College. He helped make Escalante famous when he played him in the 1988 film "Stand and Deliver."

Olmos said Escalante was "a genius in teaching, but he was a saint when it came to empowering students."

The funeral began with a procession from East LA's Garfield High School, where Escalante inspired struggling students to excel at advanced math and science.

Escalante's wife, two sons and family members from his native Bolivia were also at the service.

Escalante died March 30 of cancer at age 79.

[Associated Press]

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