Beverly Monique Bradley began life’s journey in Dreux, Paris on February 25, 1956. “Monique,” as her family and friends called her, was the only  child born to the union of Hezekiah and Gertrude Bradley. Monique spent several summers with her beloved grandmother, Ceale in Philadelphia later moving to Pittsburg, California where she graduated from Pacifica High School. Monique became employed by Contra Costa Health where she worked in Behavioral Health Administration until she retired in 2022.

On May 18, 1994, Monique became the proud mother of a baby boy. Her life revolved around her only child, Darius E’mil Jones. She worked tirelessly to give Darius the best life possible, supporting his dreams of playing pro basketball. Darius proudly attended De LaSalle High School and played in many basketball tournaments. Tragedy stuck when Darius suffered cardiac arrest while playing in a basketball tournament at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill. He was just 15 years old.

Darius’ passing became the catalyst for Monique’s mission to develop the DARIUS JONES FOUNDATION, INC., a nonprofit organization that builds awareness and education among players, coaches, referees, parents and others about Sudden Cardiac Arrest, and the importance of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), and the availability of Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s) at facilities where athletic practices, games, sporting and other events are held. The foundation conducts heart screenings, CPR training and is well known for placing and maintaining AED’s at churches, schools and gymnasiums throughout the community.

Monique was quoted as saying, “I want to make sure that no parent ever feels as helpless as I did that dreadful day.” In addition, she developed a community basketball team in Darius’ honor.

Monique loved to travel and visited Hawaii, Mexico, the Bahamas, Dominican Republic, New York and enjoyed cruise vacations. She had a magnetic personality and attracted new friends wherever she went. Monique loved spoiling and spending time with her loyal and constant companions, D.J, and Daniella, her two poodles.

On January 30, 2025, Monique passed away at home after a long battle with congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. 

In Memoriam of Laura Elena Salcedo

The Contra Costa Health family mourns the recent loss of Laura Elena Salcedo, a dedicated Health Plan Business Service Manager Below are some final Service Excellence awards to honor Laura's time with us. 

Laura Salcedo, a woman of many noble qualities, was born on April 6, 1977, and sadly passed away on December 3, 2024. A beacon of love, warmth, and selflessness, Laura's life was a testament to her intelligence, independence, and unending care for those around her. She was nothing short of amazing, and her kind, beautiful, and nurturing spirit touched all who knew her.

Survived by her devoted husband, Ignacio Salcedo, and their three remarkable children, Isaac, Diego, and Briana Salcedo, Laura's legacy of love and kindness will continue to live on in them. Each one of them is a testament to Laura's inherent capacity to nurture and love unconditionally. They will remember her not just as a mother and wife, but a pillar of support, strength, and inspiration.

Laura's accomplishments were diverse and impactful, reflecting her incredible character. She served as a director with Contra Costa Health, where her intellectual prowess and caring demeanor had a profound impact. However, she considered raising her family alongside her loving husband as one of her greatest achievements. Her children stand as a monument to her dedication, love, and unending care, and they continue to mirror her values and spirit in their own lives.

Life lessons from Laura are deeply embedded within those who knew her. She inspired many to care for the less fortunate, epitomizing the principle of giving and compassion. Laura's philosophy was to always continue to laugh and grow, a testament to her resilience and positive outlook. She believed that stumbling points are only steppingstones for growth, encouraging everyone to always pick themselves up, even in the face of adversity. For Laura, every setback was a setup for a comeback, instilling the power of resilience in her loved ones.

As we bid farewell to our beloved Laura, her legacy of kindness and love will forever be etched in our hearts. Her light will continue to guide us, and her love will always embrace us. Laura Salcedo's spirit will live on, reminding each of us to love, care, and flourish in every walk of life. She may no longer be with us in life, but she will forever be a part of us, inspiring us to become the very best versions of ourselves.

The Contra Costa Health family mourns the recent loss of Michael Fischer, a dedicated manager in our Health, Housing and Homeless Services (H3) division. Below are some final Service Excellence awards to honor Michael's time with us. 

For going the extra mile on every project he worked on!

Michael was a native Contra Costan and vital member of Health Services’ Health, Housing, and Homeless (H3) program for the past 14 years. During his time with H3, Michael worked in every part of our county’s homeless service delivery system, touching countless lives in the process. Michael was best known for the CORE homeless outreach program, which launched under his leadership in 2017. CORE would not be what it is today without Michael. His personal mission was to ensure no one had to face the cruel reality of living outside, and he leaves a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him. Michael's infectious smile, passion for life and gentle spirit endeared him to many. His legacy is the way in which he led – always with love, and he leaves a lasting impact on all who had the privilege of knowing him.  

• For the work he did popping up five Project Roomkey (PRK) hotel sites during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to safely transition all congregate shelter residents in our community to hotels to reduce the spread of COVID-19. For working tirelessly to procure hotel/motel sites across the county that could safely accommodate hundreds of people, procure meal delivery services for meals to be delivered on site to residents, amend existing contracts while creating new ones to bring on onsite management to each hotel site, and coordinate the transportation of all shelter residents to the various PRK hotels in a safe and efficient manner. For recognizing the need for supportive services and quickly hiring a Project Roomkey Coordinator and ten case managers to ensure everyone had access to a case manager to work on a housing plan to successfully exit residents from shelter to housing whenever possible. For never wavering in his support and encouragement of me and our entire team at Health, Housing and Homeless Services (H3). For picking up every phone call phone with a smile and “how are you?” and ending every call and every email with, “Go Team!” For exemplifying every single day his dedication and commitment to Contra Costa Health and more importantly to the individuals and families experiencing homelessness that we serve. For all that he did for Contra Costa Health, may he always be remembered and honored.
  -Nominated by Shelby Ferguson

• For the wonderful work he did for Health, Housing and Homeless Services for over 10 years giving clients the confidence to do things they thought they could not and believing in them when they or no one else did. For all those who approached me to tell me how he touched their lives and what a beautiful person he was, embracing the homeless community and understanding their needs and wanting to reach every corner of Contra Costa County.
  -Nominated by Michael's sister

• For the great work he has done for the City of Pittsburg assisting the City with its shared CORE Team that later transitioned into a dedicated CORE Team for Pittsburg and our community. For consistently providing the City with monthly statistics that showed the number of Pittsburg’s unhoused using Delta Landing’s services and diligently addressing any concerns that staff received from Pittsburg residents. For being a dedicated partner to the City and community, we thank him for his service.
  -Nominated by Maria Aliotti, Assistant City Manager, City of Pittsburg