Bien Hecho: Remembering Educator Harry P. Pachón

Educator Harry P. Pachón, Ph.D. died this week after battling complications from Parkinson’s disease. He was 66. Pachón received his education in Southern California, his bachelor’s and Master’s at California State University of Los Angeles and Ph.D. at the Claremont Graduate School.

In the 1970s he was the chief of staff for pioneering Latino Congressman Edward R. Roybal, and then went on with related accomplishments, being a founding board member and past executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund. He also served on the President’s Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans in 1997 and received the Ohtli Award from the Mexican government.

In 1993 he became president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute (TRPI) at the University of Southern California. His successor there, Roberto Suro said of Pachón:

“Harry pretty much invented the idea of the Latino think-tank. The targeted work he did was very original. He produced a lot of imitators, and I say that as one of them.”

Pachón will be missed by those close to him as well as the community of scholars he influenced. Spread the word! Our weekly Bien Hecho segment, highlights the good deeds and achievements of Latinos across the U.S. If you feel that someone you know is deserving of recognition, let us know at tips@newstaco.com.