Helen Bouligny Rucker

9/3/1932 - 11/19/2025

Helen Bouligny Rucker, a beloved civil rights activist, educator, pillar of the City of Seaside, and anchor of the Black community, passed away peacefully at the age of 93. Born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Helen dedicated her remarkable life to fighting for justice, equality, and civic engagement, leaving an indelible mark on the Monterey Peninsula and beyond.

Early Life and Education

Helen was born on September 3, 1932 to Alphonse E. Bouligny and Bertha Lejuene in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Growing up in segregated Louisiana, Helen experienced racial injustice firsthand, including being denied access to the public library as a child. Rather than being deterred, she developed a profound love of learning and books.

Helen attended St. Mary's Academy in New Orleans, a Catholic boarding school, starting in kindergarten; graduated from McKinley High School at age 15; and then graduated from Southern University with a Bachelor's Degree at the age of 18.

She later earned a Masters Degree in Library Science from Louisiana State University, being the first African American to integrate the Library School.

During her time in Louisiana, Helen began her lifelong commitment to civil rights activism. She participated in voter registration drives, engaged in peaceful civil disobedience, and served as a facilitator during bus boycotts that preceded the historic Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955. It is also where she began her career in education, as a teacher.

A Life in California

In the 1960s, Helen moved west to Oakland, California, where she met James Rucker, a career enlisted man in the Army. They married and moved to Seaside in 1964 when James was stationed at Fort Ord.

They spent his last tour in the Army in Germany, where he continued to train troops going into combat in Korea and Vietnam. She and James returned to Seaside in 1969, at which point James immediately entered Monterey Peninsula College, where he received an AA degree, and then went to San Jose State University, where he earned his BS Degree in Psychology and his MS Degree in Counseling Education. In 1969, they adopted their greatest joy, James III at 4 months of age.

Helen served as a teacher and librarian in the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District for 24 years, retiring from Manzanita Elementary School in 1988. She and her husband called Seaside home for the rest of their lives, raising their son, James, and serving their community with unwavering dedication.

Helen and her husband were a resource for anyone who needed it in Seaside, especially those struggling or left behind. They regularly opened their home to residents: providing counseling, connecting people to resources, directly providing them when necessary, and fought for changes in city and county policy when systemic change was needed. They operated a nighttime library in the largest public housing complex where local students could find free tutoring and a quiet place to study. They co-founded and ran a jobs program, focused on providing job opportunities for kids trapped in the criminal justice system, directly advocating for youth and creating opportunities for them and support for their families. When it came to addressing issues facing people in the community, there was no problem too big or too small.

Community Leadership and Activism

After retiring from teaching, Helen's service to her community only deepened. She was elected to the Seaside City Council in 1992, where she served as mayor pro tem and tackled critical issues including water management, transportation, and the Fort Ord Military Base closure and reuse. In 2005, she was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, continuing her advocacy for education.

In 2008, Helen founded the Seaside Voter Education Center, an organization dedicated to inspiring young people, especially people of color, to vote and engage in democracy. For more than a decade, she ensured her community had access to educational materials and forums to discuss important issues. She served as President of the Monterey County NAACP and was a member of the Leon Panetta Lecture Series taskforce for over 20 years.

Recognition and Honors

Helen's lifetime of service earned her numerous honors and recognitions, including:

• 2015: Named Woman of the Year for the 29th Assembly District by Assemblymember Mark Stone

• 2017: Awarded the NAACP Monterey County Branch Medgar Evers Freedom Legacy Award

• 2019: Received the Community Woman of Distinction award from the Women's Leadership Council at CSU Monterey Bay

• 2021: HEM Plaza (formerly Del Monte Manor) community center renamed the Rucker Coleman Community Center

• 2022: Received the Key to the City of Seaside

• 2022: Crowned Mrs. Juneteenth Monterey County

• 2022: Awarded an honorary doctorate degree (Doctor of Humane Letters) from California State University, Monterey Bay

• 2022: CSU Monterey Bay's Center for Black Student Success renamed the Helen Rucker Center for Black Excellence in her honor

• 2023: Honored with a star on the Seaside Walk of Fame

The Seaside High School MakerSpace was also named the Helen B. Rucker Learning Center, and she endowed the Platoon Sergeant James Rucker and Helen B. Rucker Scholarship, which has supported students at CSU Monterey Bay since 1998.

Legacy

Helen's legacy is one of tireless advocacy, boundless compassion, and unwavering belief in the power of education and civic engagement. She inspired countless students, registered thousands of voters, and worked to ensure that every voice in her community was heard. Her proudest accomplishment was her family, particularly her son, who carried forward her values of service and justice.

Survivors

Helen was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Platoon Sergeant James Rucker. She is survived by her son and his family, as well as countless students, mentees, and community members whose lives she touched.

Services

Dec 1st

Viewing: 3pm-7pm – Bayside Community Mortuary – 1610 Noche Buena St, Seaside, CA

Dec 2nd

Funeral Mass: 11am – Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church – 1475 La Salle Ave, Seaside, CA

Repast: (Immediately following burial ~1:45pm) - Oldemeyer Center – 986 Hilby Ave, Seaside, CA

Arrangements under the direction of Bayside Community Mortuary, Seaside, CA.

In Lieu of Flowers

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Helen Rucker Center for Black Excellence at CSU Monterey Bay or the Platoon Sergeant James Rucker and Helen B. Rucker Scholarship Fund.

"Community is so important, and I hope to set an example for the kids... especially the kids."

“You don't have the right not to vote, my people died so that you could vote!"

- Helen Rucker