LONG BEACH, Calif. — COVID-19 has been the topic on everyone’s mind the last few months. Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia is leading the charge to stop the spread in his city. Not only has coronavirus changed his job, it has also impacted his personal life.

“It’s been devastating losing my mom and stepfather to COVID. It’s hard, but it’s also an opportunity to, like my mom always said, to do the most good, and to share their story and encourage folks to stay safe,” said Mayor Garcia.

What You Need To Know

  • Mayor Garcia lost his mother Gaby Elena O’Donnell to coronavirus complications and then his stepfather Greg O’Donnell passed just two weeks later

  • Garcia says this tragedy fuels him as a mayor to do more to protect his constituents

  • The Long Beach Mayor took this message to the national stage as a keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention

  • Garcia says many speeches have mentioned a need for more national leadership around the pandemic and he wanted to further that sentiment

Mayor Garcia lost his mother Gaby Elena O’Donnell due to coronavirus complications and then his stepfather Greg O’Donnell passed just two weeks later. He says this tragedy fuels him as a mayor to do more to protect his constituents.

“I felt really good about our response before anything happened to my mom and stepdad, but if anything, it informed me greater to be more vigilant," said Mayor Garcia. "So any chance I have to tell folks to wash their hands, wear a mask, and take care of each other, I’m going to do so. They also need to know it can happen to anyone, their family or friends."

Garcia says his mother was the most kind and compassionate person he’s ever known, even calling her a 'health care hero' as she was a medical assistant for 25 years. Those same health care workers she once worked with helped her battle with COVID-19.

“I saw first-hand, with my mom and my stepdad, how hard they are working. They just need our help,” said Mayor Garcia.

The Long Beach Mayor took this message to the national stage as a keynote speaker at the Democratic National Convention. He says many speeches have mentioned a need for more national leadership around the pandemic and he wanted to further that sentiment.

“It certainly motivates me to continue fighting for the things I believe in. It does affect your worldview, but most importantly, it strengthens your resolve to do the right thing,” said Mayor Garcia.

 

Related Stories

He will continue to do the right thing in his local leadership, especially after seeing the “In Memoriam” during the convention. The lives lost are more than numbers and statistics to Mayor Garcia, they are real people.

“Watching it, I realized my family is included in that list. People need to take this seriously and we need to have a national strategy to take on COVID-19,” said Mayor Garcia.