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OCCHA dinner celebrates Latin culture, honors Navarro
BOARDMAN — Mary Isa Garayua, executive director of Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana Inc., described the group’s annual dinner as “a social gathering to celebrate the Latin culture.”
About 350 people attended the 36th annual event, which also served as a fundraiser, Friday night at Mr. Anthony’s, 7440 South Ave.
A highlight of the evening was recognition of honorary chairman, Shorty Navarro, a board member of OCCHA and president of Stadium Auto Group, which includes Stadium Lincoln Mercury, Mazda, Stadium Chevy-Cadillac, Stadium Volks- wagen and Stadium Buick-Pontiac, GMA. He has been in the automotive industry for some 45 years.
“The honorary chairman is being recognized for his financial and general support of OCCHA,” said Garayua.
Navarro, who was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, came to the United States in March 1951 with his parents, Rafaela and Herminio Navarro. He was 14 years old and the oldest of 11 children. Navarro first worked as a gas station attendant on Wilson Avenue, which he bought at 16 years old with his father as co-signer. At the time, he was a student at East High School.
Navarro is a board member with Hospice of the Valley and the Red Cross. He is a member of Boardman Rotary and Santa Rosa de Lima Church in Campbell. He also participates in a prison ministry at the federal penitentiary in Elkton.
Navarro and his wife, Elba Lillian, have been married 43 years. She is a retired Spanish teacher from Youngstown city schools.
“I believe God protects those that do things right. ... I’ve built a good name for myself and my family ... and I’m very proud of that,” Navarro said.
The honoree said he was “surprised” by being singled out by the organization that he has been involved with for a decade. He built the OCCHA building and is involved in various committees with the organization. “I’m blessed to be around good people," he said.
He likes helping people, he said, because it’s the right thing to do and he “finds happiness in helping others.” “I like to share with other people,” he said, noting that it makes you feel good about yourself as well.
He encouraged people to do the same and noted that those who get help can turn around and help out someone else.
Navarro listed “hard work, discipline and respect for people” as the elements to his success. “Young people today don’t understand the value of hard work. They want to get rich in two days. It takes discipline.”
Navarro also credited his faith, principles of Christianity and values he learned growing up in a poor family. “There were 11 kids in my family. We learned respect and discipline. That’s what counts.”
Navarro said the Hispanic community in Youngstown represents a wide range of Latinos from many countries. He noted that the second generation is going to college and getting an education. “That education will be invaluable," he said.
He takes pride in living in America, he said.
“I’m an American first and then a Latino," he said. “I would like to see things get better in America and for everyone to do better in their lives. It will take hard work and pride in being an American."
Program participants were Raquel Pacheco, mistress of ceremonies; the Rev. Gerald DeLucia, pastor of Santa Rosa de Lima Church in Campbell; Rosa Tirado, chairwoman; Leoncio Tirado and Judy Richards, co-chairmen; and Elba Navarro, who named scholarship recipients. Lydia Gonzalez sang the national anthem, with accompaniment by Porfirio Esparra Sr.
The event also featured music by Conjunto Rique ±a and DJ Chico, as well as a silent auction.
SEE ALSO: OCCHA Scholarships and Services..