Elizabeth
(Rector) Raffaelli came to
Watsonville
High School in 1972. While her first two years were
difficult, academics improved with involvement in WHS's Model United
Nations. Under the guidance of a
wonderful mentor and advisor, Ron Jones, she caught the spark of learning and a
genuine love of debate. Elizabeth attributes her
ambition to attend college and law school to Mr. Jones and the experience of
Model U. N. Her grades
improved dramatically with straight A's and she started to get more involved in
school activities. Elizabeth was the first
female Explorer Scout, obtaining her private pilot's license during her
sophomore year, thus flying a plane before she obtained her driver's
license. Her history teacher, Bill
Peck, was her favorite in that he made the subject come alive and instilled a
love of learning that remains to this
day.
After graduating from WHS in 1976, Liz attended Brigham Young University and majored in political
science. She then married and
returned to California where she worked and attended
junior college. After returning to
BYU, she volunteered for a suicide prevention program and a troubled teen
program. Her son, Joshua was born
and a year later son Gabriel was born.
The following year they returned to California to be close to family. Elizabeth
volunteered at the Victim Witness Assistance Center at the Santa Cruz County District
Attorney's Office and started to think of being a prosecutor. Ms. Raffaelli enrolled at UCSC and
graduated in 1986 in Social Psychology with Highest Honors and Phi Betta
Kappa.
She was accepted at Stanford Law
School in 1989 and that
summer worked as a law clerk for the California State Attorney General's Office
in their Health, Education, and Welfare section. After she separated from her husband,
Elizabeth became
a single mom, which made her final two years at Stanford challenging and
difficult, but also very rewarding.
In the fall semester of her third year, she did an "externship" at
the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office and became a voice for victims
of domestic violence. In 1989, she
graduated with a law degree, passed the state bar exam (on the first try!), and
was hired by the San Mateo County District Attorney. One of her proudest moments was helping
to design the protocol for the county's first domestic violence unit as well as
a report format and follow-up procedures for police investigations. In 1996, Elizabeth received an award from the office of
California Senator Spear for her work in domestic violence and a certificate of
recognition from the Center for Domestic Violence Prevention. Elizabeth states, "The
best part of the work isn't the gratification you get with a favorable verdict,
it's bigger that that. It's having the opportunity to make a difference in
people's lives. Helping to see that justice is done for victims of crimes and
their families is a profoundly satisfying experience. It has been a great honor to serve as a
Deputy District Attorney."
Ms. Raffaelli has taught classes at the police academy on the
investigation of domestic violence and sexual assault, and has also been a guest
lecturer at several local colleges, high schools, and community
organizations. She was recently
hired to teach a seminar on Victimology/Crises Intervention at a local college
and is certified by the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards and
Training as an instructor, teaching classes on crimes against children, sexual
assault, domestic violence and crimes against the justice
system.
Twelve years ago, Liz married Kevin Raffaelli, a highly respected
police captain for the San Mateo Police Department. Kevin brought into her life
two step-sons, Casey and Anthony. Son Joshua graduated from Harvard, works with
a venture capital firm, and has recently entered Stanford Business School. Gabriel graduated last year with a major
in psychology and a minor in theater arts. He has been cast in a number of stage
productions in the Bay area.
Anthony received his certification as a diesel mechanic and is in his
apprenticeship. Casey is a freshman at Sacramento State where he rows crew and studies
criminal justice, hoping to follow in his father's
footsteps.
