Aurora is mourning the death of Art Velasquez, who was known for his work with minority communities and with education in the city.
Velasquez, 83, who passed away Saturday at Presence Mercy Medical Center in Aurora, was named the grand marshal of Aurora’s Fiestas Patrias Parade back in 2015, and was an international representative for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters of America, who began working in the Aurora community in the early 1970s. He was the longtime president of League of United Latin American Citizens Council 5218.
He had long been an education advocate, known for his critiques of and work with East Aurora School District 131.
“He would both criticize and compliment you within a sentence,” said Assistant Superintendent for Educational Services Beatrice Reyes Childress, who described him as a mentor.
District officials highlighted League of United Latin American Citizens scholarships that went to students both in East Aurora and other districts. School board President Annette Johnson said Velasquez also obtained grants that would go to services or programs for students.
Velasquez pushed for parent education and involvement, and would sometimes sponsor refreshments for parents at district events, Childress said. He would sponsor students so they could attend conferences, and once obtained White Sox tickets that he gave to a program that works with district students. He was instrumental in organizing a college event in November through the national Hispanic College Fund, working with Comcast, she said.
“Anytime we needed anything, he would be there to be an advocate,” she said. “To be a voice for our community as well as, if needed, monetary backing.”
Childress said he worked to bring people together, corralling her for breakfast and often bringing along other district administrators or officials from other districts.
Childress appreciated Velasquez’s critical eye in the district. He pushed district officials, but also supported them and helped provide resources to conquer issues. He seemed to have no ulterior motive for his criticism, but just wanted to improve the community, she said.
“People are critical of our work and our district and things like that, and he was someone that would, he would be critical but then he would also say, ‘these are all of the things that you’re doing right,'” Childress said. “And just pushing to do better.”
For years, Velasquez could typically be found every other Monday at the school board’s meetings. Johnson recalled him regularly attending meetings at least since she joined the board nine years ago.
Johnson said he advocated for a strong English program, saying the English language was a path to success for the Hispanic community.
He recently approached her about being involved with the search for a new superintendent for the district, and called for a “culturally competent” superintendent who understood the needs of the Hispanic community, she said. The district is 87 percent Hispanic.
Johnson said she also learned from Velasquez about obstacles facing the Hispanic community. She described him as a “fountain of information.”
“He thought that education was the big equalizer, and that would make a difference in people’s lives,” she said.
Johnson and Childress said they visited Velasquez in the hospital Saturday. They were joined by community leaders, Kane County officials, a Congressman and district teachers, Childress said.
“It’s a huge loss,” she said.
State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) said Velasquez “stood shoulder to shoulder” with the minority population and always made sure they were well represented.
“Art would always fight for those who were under-represented and he was always there for me,” Chapa LaVia said. “When I first won there had not been a Democrat for years, and there is a picture of me in the paper on the night of my victory with Art standing next to me.”
Chapa LaVia added that she also remembers “how giving” Velasquez was and how important it was to him to support youth and make sure they had enough resources.
“Like me, Art was Texas born and raised and he would work to raise money so that kids could go to (educational)conventions,” she said.
Kane County Board member Barbara Hernandez said she met Velasquez when she was 17 or 18 years old and that he helped groom her for her current position.
“Linda (Chapa LaVia] first introduced me to him, and he was an amazing guy who did what he could,” Hernandez said. “Through him, I got involved in (League of United Latin American Citizens) and worked with youth groups.”
Hernandez said through Velasquez’s effort, she and a number of others were able to travel to the national League of United Latin American Citizens conference where they heard then Vice President Joe Biden speak.
“That was a great opportunity, and he was always there to give advice and help in any capacity he could,” Hernandez said. “And he wasn’t afraid to tell me if he felt different about something.”
State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, (D-Oswego) called Velasquez “a force in the community who will be sorely missed.”
“Art just did so much it is beyond words, and he was always a mentor and a resource of information,” Kifowit said. “I’ve known him at least 20 years, and he was compassionate and would find individuals jobs. He truly was a role model for the community.”
In a press release from the city, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin called Velasquez “a champion for our youth and a soldier in the fight for equality for the Latino community.”
“From my time as a community-based prosecutor to most recently as mayor, whenever I saw Art, he’d always pull me aside to give me a little advice and a lot of motivation,” Irvin wrote. “Without fail, he’d always say something that would have us both literally laughing out loud. It was the utmost privilege to know him and to call him my friend.”
Visitation will be held from to 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, at The Daleiden Mortuary, 220 N. Lake St. in Aurora. Funeral services and interment will be held at a later date in Lockhart, Texas, when Velasquez was born.
Freelance reporter David Sharos contributed to this story.
