Pete Garcia, former leader of Chicanos Por La Causa, dies at 71

Pete Garcia, former CEO of Chicanos Por La Causa and president of the Victoria Foundation, died Wednesday night of health complications at St. Joseph’s Hospital. He was 71.

His passing was a surprise to many in the Valley who remember him as an important leader with a legacy of service, and as a Mexican-American kid from the barrio who left a mark on the lives of countless people locally and nationally. 

Garcia led Chicanos Por La Causa for nearly 25 years from 1984 to 2008. The organization is one of Arizona's largest non-profits, working to empower working-poor families.

Jose "Casper" Habre, board member of the CPLC and a longtime friend of Garcia, credits him for the growth of the non-profit, which was founded in 1969 and now serves more than 200,000 individuals annually in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.

"Right now, Chicanos Por La Causa has 42 programs and that stemmed mostly from him," Habre said. "He saw a need for services."

During Garcia's tenure, CPLC's asset base grew from $15 million to more than $155 million. The non-profit also established the CPLC Esperanza Latino Teacher Awards, the only Latino teachers award in the Southwest, according to the CPLC.

Garcia was also known as "Big Dog," a name he earned for his ability to get things done, said Abe Arvizu, a CPLC board member.

“He always came through with it. He was always getting what everybody needed,” Arvizu said.

Still, Garcia would recognize others before bragging about his accomplishments.

Arvizu said he also remembers Garcia as a man of faith.

“Every time we went on a trip with him, we always made sure to stop at the shrines and at the churches to have a moment of reflection,” he said.

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Commitment to the community

Garcia grew up in the Marcos de Niza public-housing neighborhood in south-central Phoenix.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Arizona State University in 1971. After working as a reading teacher, he went to University of Southern California and graduated with a master’s degree in public administration. He then worked at Valle del Sol before joining CPLC. 

In 2009, he received a Medal of Excellence from ASU.

After retiring from the CPLC, Garcia started the Victoria Foundation in 2008, an organization he named after his mother who pushed him to stay in school and out of trouble.

The Victoria Foundation provides small grants for education programs, affordable housing, economic-development projects and arts and culture activities.

“Pete’s selfless commitment to the community, amplified by his love for all people, will profoundly impact the lives of countless many for generations to come," David Adame, president and CEO of the CPLC, said in a statement on Thursday.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton applauded Garia's "four-decade legacy of leadership and activism." 

"Pete’s stellar work and leadership at Chicanos Por La Causa, Valle del Sol and the Victoria Foundation helped generations of Arizonans – especially Latinos – overcome discrimination and other challenges by connecting them with educational opportunities, affordable housing, health services and the investment capital needed to start businesses and create jobs," Stanton said in a statement. "Arizona is a far better place because of Pete Garcia. ”

Ray “Gumbi” Salazar, a CPLC board member, said Garcia will be remembered for his humble personality and dogged ambitions. 

"All the community loved him very much," Salazar said. "As a person, he loved his people, loved to work and loved education, and fought for every child to get a chance to become someone in education."

Garcia is survived by his wife, Sara, and three children, David, Iliana and Hilario. 

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