Fernando Pro Jr.

Fernando "Chappy" Pro, Jr, 86, passed away on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 in Tampa, Florida. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Loretta, who died in 2007. He is survived by his six children; Debby (Tommy) Ellison, Donna Rollins, Danette (Jack) May, Mark Pro, Delores (Chip) Rutherford, and Clark Pro; 11 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Born in Port Arthur, Texas in 1927; Chappy was raised in New York, moved to Miami in 1959 settling in Cutler Ridge. His work with and for migrant farmworkers began in 1962. In 1972, Pro became Dade County's liaison between the two, and retired in 1993 after serving 17 years as Director of the South Dade Skills Center. He remained on the boards of organizations such as COFFO, RCMA, ECA, FNP and continued his work with Centro Campesino. In 1996 he was honored with the 4th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Farmworker Conference. The first recipient was Cesar Chavez. The 2006 dedication of the Fernando (Chappy) Pro, Jr. Child Development Center in Florida City marked the depth of contribution of this "Friend of the Farmworker". He was called "an uncommon common man with uncommonly good sense" by a respected colleague. Pro's motto: "Give me a fish and I eat for a day. Teach me to fish and I eat for a lifetime." We thank him for his love and his work.