Newport-Mesa Mourns Anti-Gang Activist

Roy Alvarado, a community leader who was a drug and gang counselor for the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, died at his Costa Mesa home Monday afternoon of cancer on his 61st birthday.

His death saddened students, teachers and administrators who gathered at several schools Tuesday to talk about the remarkable journey of a man who spent a combined 13 years in prison before turning his life around.

“Some of the students were crying,” said Lynne Bloomberg, coordinator of substance abuse programs in the Newport-Mesa district, who hired Alvarado six years ago. “All of them had the most touching things to say about him. He was really like the best kind of parent for these kids. He wanted to hold them accountable, but he knew they were kids and they were going to mess up.”

Alvarado was born in Costa Mesa and grew up in an environment of gangs and drug abuse. His criminal career began at age 10 with a two-year sentence in the California Youth Authority for theft. After serving time in various prisons, including San Quentin, Alvarez found success as a Newport Beach hairstylist in the 1960s and 1970s.

He was sent to Chino State Prison in 1983, after police found drugs and weapons in his home.

In a recent interview, Alvarado credited members of Alcoholics Anonymous and a court-assigned counselor for helping him change his life at age 50. He earned state certification as a drug and alcohol counselor from Saddleback College Roy Alvarado

in 1986 and began working with troubled youths at various county medical centers and recovery hospitals.

“There were so many things he wanted to do,” said Tony Valenzuela, coordinator of migrant education for the Newport-Mesa district who began working with Alvarado in 1989. “He was always planning a new program; he was always involved. He had a great rapport with students.”

Seeing the need to work with parents as well as students, Alvarado founded Familias Unidas, a drug-abuse support group for families, and the anti-gang group Madres Costa Mesa. He began the first Latino Alcoholics Anonymous chapter in Costa Mesa and later created Latinos Costa Mesa, now called Todos Hermanos, to encourage Latinos to take part in the social and political life of their city.

“The parents really respected him because he offered them guidance when they needed it the most,” said Oscar Santoyo, executive director of Save Our Youth, a Costa Mesa anti-gang recreational program. “He really proved to a lot of people and to himself that you can accomplish whatever you want to. He definitely left a legacy.”

Last Sunday, Alvarado’s family gathered at his Costa Mesa home to celebrate his coming birthday on Monday. Just a few days earlier, X-rays revealed that the cancer he was diagnosed with five years ago had spread throughout his body. He decided it was time to stop his chemotherapy treatments, according to sister Rosie Gonzalez.

“He knew he had such a short time, but he put everything he had into the time he had left,” Gonzalez said. “We grew up together and we saw the struggles he went through. We were so proud of him when he changed his life.”

Alvarado, who also worked with youths in prison, said in an interview last month that his experiences have taught him that everyone has the power to change.

“I’ve forgiven myself for all the trouble that I created, because I did a lot of bad stuff,” he said. “I hope that, if for nothing else, people will remember me as an example of something that can be done, someone who could change a bad life into a good life.”

Alvarado is survived by a daughter, Dominique; sons Frank, Larry and Nicholas; seven sisters and four brothers.

His family has scheduled visitation from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday with a 7 p.m. rosary service at Pierce Brothers Bell Broadway, 110 Broadway, in Costa Mesa.

A Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Joachim of Costa Mesa, 1964 Orange Ave., with a memorial service at the nearby Lions Park afterward. Burial is scheduled at 2 p.m. Friday at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery, 7845 E. Santiago Canyon Road, in Orange. Memorial fund donations may be made to Todos Hermanos, 270 Bristol St., Suite 101-136, Costa Mesa, CA 92627.