Passionate, tenacious community advocate dies in Pasco

A Pasco woman who was a vocal advocate for Latino residents, but also passionate about making the community better for all, has died.

Gloria C. Garcia, 73, died Wednesday in Pasco — her home for two decades since moving from California.

She is survived by her husband, retired Pasco Fire Chief Greg Garcia, and her extended family, including grandkids and great-grandkids.

Gloria Garcia was on the Mid-Columbia Libraries board for nearly 15 years, serving as the chairwoman for her final three years.

Executive Director Kyle Cox described Garcia as energetic, tenacious and a very giving leader.

Garcia was “a real champion” for Latinos by pushing the library district to build upon its Spanish language collection, and welcoming and engaging the Spanish speaking population, Cox said.

Garcia also was part of the group that negotiated with the city of Pasco for a second library.

The West Pasco branch is a testament to her dedication to the city, as she was committed to seeing the project through even while battling cancer and getting chemotherapy treatments, he said.

The Wrigley Drive library opened in April 2013, four months after Garcia stepped down from the board.

“She put her heart and soul into that building, in making sure it opened for the residents of Pasco,” Cox told the Herald. “She was just a champion for the underdog and was proud of her community.”

When Garcia ended her board tenure in December 2012, she said she had seen the libraries grow a lot over the years and was proud of the work the board and the district’s staff had accomplished.

Cox said Garcia’s presence has been missed because she was such an asset and “did wonderful things” for the district.

Garcia was board member and executive director of the Pasco Downtown Development Association when it was a volunteer group of Pasco business owners and leaders.

She also was an organizer of the annual Cinco de Mayo celebration and Fiery Foods Festival, and was honored as co-grand marshal of the Cinco de Mayo parade in 2002.

In 2012, Garcia received the Latina Lifetime Achievement award from the Tri-Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Herald archives show that Garcia had been a Tax Aide bilingual volunteer to help Mid-Columbia residents prepare tax forms for free. In 1999, she also was a member of Pasco’s census committee to help get out the word.

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 6:45 PM with the headline "Passionate, tenacious community advocate dies in Pasco."