Octavio Noda

Octavio Noda developed his path in life around his creative talent for nature photography. Octavio's lifelong interest in photography began in childhood and remained with him through his life. Octavio recalled a friend showing him how to develop photos in a dark room when he was 9 or 10 years old. In Havana, Octavio hung around a darkroom, cleaning the floors and doing errands in exchange for learning more about photography. As a young man in his 20s in Cuba, Octavio began working for the United States Information Service (USIS), which no longer exists, that developed relationships between the United States and foreign nations. They specialized in "public diplomacy," he said. While employed at USIS, Octavio's training included how to take documentary pictures. His USIS job required travel, including to the United States.
Octavio left Cuba for the United States in 1959, never to return. Due to his employment with USIS, Octavio was a target for Fidel Castro and the government at the time. He evaded patrols sent to arrest him. "You agree with Castro or are killed," Octavio said of the situation.
Octavio settled in Ohio, where he stayed with family at first. Through prior business contacts in the U.S., Octavio started working with libraries. He served as a librarian and film director, eventually heading the audio-visual department of three large Midwest libraries, including the Lima Public Library and the Chicago Suburban Library System. Later in his career he worked with library boards, but he said he tired of that.
On December 19, 1964, at the Saint Cajetan's Catholic church in Denver, Octavio married Yolanda Faggioni. Octavio and Yolanda had first met in Cuba when they worked in the same office building. Though they had not been in contact for years, through serendipity, or the Hand of God, Octavio came across Yolanda's name in the phone book. After marriage the couple resided in Ohio and Illinois for 7 years. During that time, in 1969, both Octavio and Yolanda became U.S. citizens.
Octavio felt inspired by the Horace Greeley statement, "Go West young man." Feeling frustrated with the hectic and dangerous life in the Chicago area, in 1971 they moved to Loveland, Colorado. He recalled Loveland was very friendly town with a population around 10,000 people. The easy-going and less formal Loveland lifestyle both pleased and amazed Octavio.
Octavio and Yolanda established their own business and rented space in Loveland at the corner of Fourth Street and Lincoln Avenue as a base of operation. Building on his expertise in audio-visual production, photography, and library systems in the U.S., Octavio became a distributor of educational materials, which at that time included not only films, but also slide sets and filmstrips. He negotiated with the National Film Board of Canada to distribute films in the United States. As a notable example, Octavio was one of the first distributors of films educating the public about health risks of smoking. The major employer in Loveland, Hewlett-Packard, learned of Octavio's dark room experience, and he immediately started contract work with the electronics company creating slide presentations – a business relationship that lasted for years.
Octavio saw a need for Spanish language books, educational films, and entertainment through his work with libraries. He said he knew books and knew Spanish, so the fit seemed natural. He and Yolanda became trusted distributors of quality Spanish language content to libraries across the U.S. Alongside his Spanish media distribution business, Octavio pursued his passion for photography through projects. For a project funded by the state of Colorado, Octavio photographed the flora and landmark sites for educational presentations that he created about almost every county.
Octavio and Yolanda enjoyed traveling for business and for pleasure. Throughout their more than 50 years of marriage, they traveled across the U.S. as well as taking trips to Mexico, Spain, and Italy. In 2009, they sold their book distribution business. That year the couple briefly moved to Miami, Florida, but missed Colorado and returned, residing in their final home in Berthoud. Not wishing to retire, Octavio continued to distribute videos and to create presentations, note cards, coasters, and wall art that featured his photographs.
Octavio was a long-time member of the Loveland Camera Club (LCC), now Loveland Photographic Society. His skill and passion for photography led to holding LCC offices, entering and winning contests, serving as projectionist, offering workshops to other members, and judging contests on local and national levels. Octavio was active through the last month of life creating presentations from his photographs and meeting with friends and family.
text reference: "An Ever-Developing Career" by Bob MacDonnell of the Berthoud Surveyor
"Something Beautiful Remains," poem author: Martha Vashti Pearson