Wednesday, July 17, 2024
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EVA REYNA was my family's neighbor. She would visit my mother often for some chit-chat and "chisme" (gossip). We knew she was walking over because we could her loud voice as she crossed the street. Ultimately her voice became her identity.
On behalf of the citizens of Hollister and the citizens of San Benito County, we send our condolences to Eva's family and friends. Eva was an outspoken advocate for those less fortunate in the Latino community especially the youth. Eva would attend City Council meetings and speak in a forceful, unfiltered and direct manner and at times "ruffled some feathers" in her advocacy to be heard about issues and concerns that needed attention. To paraphrase famous boxer Muhammad Ali's quote, she would "Float like a butterfly but sting like a bee" with her loud voice. Eva would get very angry and animated in her public speeches about the youth in Hollister that a newspaper reporter wrote about Eva's inability to say the word "youth" and would say, "The yutes" Like the Vinny character in the 1992 movie, "My Cousin Vinny". In the movie, the judge tells Vinny, "Uh, did you say "yutes" and Vinny says, "Yeah, two yutes". Those who attended the city council meetings will know what I'm talking about. The current City Council members should honor Eva with a memorial plaque on one of the public seating chairs to keep her memory alive. Eva Reyna made the City of Hollister a better place to live and will never be forgotten Thank you, Eva. You made Latinos proud. Rest in peace. Que Descanse En Paz.
