For more than a decade, Pete Garcia kept his beloved students at
Mt. Madonna Continuation High School safe.
For more than a decade, Pete Garcia kept his beloved students at Mt. Madonna Continuation High School safe.
The entire school turned out for the 83-year-old’s retirement celebration Friday morning. Though he might be retired, “I’ll be back,” he said with the wide grin Mt. Madonna students came to know and love.
So much more than the campus supervisor outlined in his job description, Garcia was a mentor, friend and father to many students at the high school, students said. Every morning, Garcia took to the airwaves and started the morning announcements with a hearty “Good morning, Mt. Madonna! This Pete Garcia. I’m here to keep you safe.”
Like clockwork at 8:05 a.m., the white haired, bespectacled campus supervisor could be seen raising and saluting the flag at the high school. A plaque commemorating Garcia’s service now stands near that flag pole.
To every new teacher that stepped on campus, he gave them the assurance that he would take care of any student that gave them a hard time. To the students, he offered a shoulder to cry on – a shoulder that was put to good use as he said good-bye to some of the students – and constant words of encouragement.
“Pete’s the real deal,” Mt. Madonna Principal Jennifer Del Bono said.
“He’s freakin’ awesome,” a girl yelled as her classmates cheered.
Every student’s life was touched by Garcia, staff and students said.
“How many of you kids love me?” Garcia bellowed into the microphone, evoking a boisterous round of applause. “Didn’t I do good for you guys?”
Born in Bakersfield, Garcia wanted to serve his country so badly that he joined the military when he was only 16, Del Bono told the crowd of students and district officials. Garcia served proudly in the Army Special Forces in World War II and the Korean War.
Garcia came to Gilroy in 1965 and decided to make it his hometown. He and his wife of 41 years have one daughter, three granddaughters and a great-grandchild on the way.
After working at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill for 17 years, Garcia came to the Gilroy Unified School District and has been here ever since.
“I did it for so many years I just can’t stay away,” Garcia said. “Every time I come here I feel great. I’m back home. This is my home.”
