Starting in 1984, when Bob Orozco accepted a position to grow membership at a small-scale YMCA in South Orange County, the Laguna Niguel facility has been his happy place.
Four decades and some 15,000 fitness classes later, the 94-year-old Orozco is being celebrated for his years of devoted service to the YMCA branch situated in Crown Valley Park.
For the majority of those 40 years, Orozco taught classes for Silver Sneakers, a national fitness program for adults 55 and older.
These days, Orozco is still a regular but mainly as a volunteer.
Whatever the role, Orozco greets everyone he encounters at the “Y” as if he was welcoming a close friend or relative into his home.
In turn, members and staff embrace Orozco as they would a favorite uncle.
“I have my family back east, my family back here, but my Y family is special and separate,” Orozco said. “I do for them. they do for me. Likewise, when they come into class, one of the things I mention to them, when they learn, they have to give to somebody else.”
Dave Santore, 72, of Laguna Niguel, recalls looking into enrolling in a Silver Sneakers class about 13 years ago. He signed up at the Laguna Niguel Y after hearing good reviews about the classes led by Orozco.
Santore said he could tell right away that there was something different about Orozco’s classes.
“He was personally engaging,” Santore said. “As soon as he saw me, the new guy, he said, ‘Hi, what’s your name?’ I introduced myself. He would recognize anyone who was new and introduce us around and within a month, it felt like community. Every class, he taught, I came to. He made you feel like you were coming into a neighborhood, you know, where everybody knew each other and cared about everybody.”
During the holidays, Orozco would bring in candy canes and other goodies, Santore said. And when a member is absent from a class, Orozco becomes concerned, he said.
If a member is ill, Orozco encourages other members to pray for…
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