Samuel Carlos Garcia, Sr. said those words last December. And, as he had earned a reputation for being true to his word, he kept his pledge. Mr. Garcia of Garcia's Market, now Food City, died Thursday at the age of 72.

"He was still working right up until we found out he was sick," said Annette Garcia, one of his 13 grandchildren.

From 6 a.m. to 1 p.m., three days a week, customers could still find Mr. Garcia at the Food City on Dysart Road in Avondale.

He walked the aisles in his white uniform, white hat and red apron, with a pocket filled with candy. When children - or anyone really - returned a smile, he handed them a piece.

Sometimes, a child would sidle up and tug on his apron, hoping for a treat.

"I always give them a candy, see their faces light up," Garcia told the View in December. "They have to smile, though. A smile is the universal symbol of friendship."

And Garcia made a lot of friends since he moved to Avondale with his family after World War II. In 1946, his parents, Marcelino and Concha, opened Garcia's Market, turning their living room into a grocery store.

Fifty years later, Garcia sold the landmark Garcia's Market to Food City. The sign may have changed, but many people still refer to the shop at 323 E. Main St. as "Garcia's."

Garcia's son, Sam Jr., runs the Food City at 1450 N. Dysart Road, where Garcia Sr. worked until he suffered a stroke March 6.

Garcia had called his long career rewarding.

"It's never been a chore," he said. "It's always been fun."

Until Garcia's Market closed, each year on Christmas Eve Garcia would dress up as Santa Clause and give bags of toys to children. Sometimes he would see between 1,500 and 2,000 children.

Last year, the Garcias were traveling in Maricopa and a police officer pulled Garcia over for driving 5 mph over the posted speed limit, his wife Bea Garcia said in December interview. The officer recognized Sam Garcia as his childhood Santa.

"He remembered. They often remember," Bea Garcia said.

Giving to the community
Garcia was born April 22, 1935, in Jerome. His father, Marcelino, had a seat on the first Avondale City Council in 1946.

The Garcias said they believe people get back what they give out in the world. They earned a reputation for helping the community.

Through the years, the Garcias have organized toy and food drives and donated time and money to community groups, such as the Westside Recreation Program, the Salvation Army, Estrella Rotary Club and St. John Vianney Catholic Church.

"As a businessman, the community supports you in everything you do," Garcia said. "It's nothing but right for businesses to do likewise."

To honor Garcia's contributions and service to the Southwest Valley, founders of the Shanty Irish and Great American Golf Tournament selected Garcia as an honoree of last year's event.

"He and his family have done so much for Avondale and for Goodyear," said Jim McCoy, a tournament founder.

Garcia had tears in his eyes as he spoke about how humbled he felt knowing his peers, fellow West Valley business men and women, chose to honor him and his family last year.

"It means so much to me, to my family," Garcia said. "The Lord has blessed us."

Garcia's family said he will be remembered most for his generosity and his love for his fellow man. Garcia would often tell people, "work hard, play hard, but most of all - pray hard."

While the Garcias traveled the world - including Rome, Spain, Japan, China and England - they have always made Avondale their home. Their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren all live in the community. When their home burned to the ground in 1989, they built another right in its place.

"I've never wanted to move," Garcia said. "This is my home."

The Garcias often visited Los Angeles to shop in "the alleys," the city's famous shopping district. On one trip, they met a man selling roasted corn, though he wasn't selling much at all, Garcia had said. The former butcher-turned-grocery-store manager bought an ear and, he said, "Boom, people came from all over and bought him out," he said.

More than one year later, on another trip, Garcia said he saw the same man selling corn. As he approached, the man recognized Garcia and came out from behind his cart to give him a hug, and said, "You blessed me!"

"I touched his life once, and he remembered me," Garcia had said, as he wiped tears away with his palm. "That's what life is all about."

Services
Sam Garcia Sr. died of pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife, Bea; two sons, Samuel Jr. and Danny; two daughters, Cindy Amin and Lizzy Beltran; one sister, Melinda Garcia; 13 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

A viewing and Rosary will be from 9 to 11 a.m. April 22 at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 539 E. La Pasada Blvd. in Goodyear, with a Mass celebration beginning at 11. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 10045 W. Thomas Road in Avondale.

Greer Wilson Funeral Home in Phoenix made the arrangements.

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