Harrington, founder of Dia de Los Muertos in Modesto, was dedicated advocate for Latinos
Her Facebook pages are a colorful tableau of community and holiday events, Latino-themed concerts, local issues and women’s empowerment. And, of course, they show the latest artistry of face painting on grinning skeletons.
Rebecca Harrington, a dedicated community advocate in Modesto, died Jan. 6 after a battle with health issues. She was 68.
Harrington was known for founding Modesto’s Dia De Los Muertos celebration, a Mexican custom paying respect to ancestors. She promoted other events to show the beauty of her Hispanic heritage.
As a former president of the Latino Community Roundtable, Harrington helped achieve gains for Latinos in school board and City Council representation. She was a fearless advocate for neglected neighborhoods as a leader of the South Modesto Municipal Advisory Council.
“She is irreplaceable,” said Steve Fimbrez, commander of the American GI Forum, a Hispanic veterans organization and co-sponsor of Dia De Los Muertos. Harrington, whose father served in World War II, became secretary of the group providing military honors at veterans’ funerals.
“She was enjoyable to work with,” Fimbrez continued. “Anytime anyone had questions or an issue, she seemed to know what resource or whom to get ahold of to help. She helped to make our organization a role model for the other organizations in the country.”
County Supervisor Channce Condit said Harrington advocated for American Rescue Plan Act funds for sidewalks, drainage and other infrastructure improvements for neighborhoods in the south part of Modesto. She also pushed for establishing the Farmworkers Center.
“She left a huge impact on my life and everybody who knew her,” said Condit, a second-term member of the Board of Supervisors. “She was fearless to meet any challenge that came her way and had a deep sense of justice and calling to fight for her community. Her passion was to serve the voiceless and the underserved.”
Silvia Camarillo of the South Modesto MAC recalled when Harrington pushed for county code enforcement against a scrap metal recycling business on South Ninth Street. The business used a mechanical claw to tear apart old car bodies, spreading dust and shaking the windows of nearby homes.
“She was the voice of her neighbors who were too afraid to come forward with their concerns,” Camarillo said via email.
Harrington advocated for Mancini Park improvements to serve residents in the area called “no man’s land,” between Modesto and Ceres, but never saw the goal fulfilled. “Now it is up to us, the remaining (council) members, to see this project through,” Camarillo said.
Harrington, born Feb. 13, 1956, was a 1974 Modesto High School graduate. She is survived by her mother, Emily Ortega, sister, Alice Arnold, and three grown children, Matthew Harrington, Joshua Harrington and Hillary Boden. She was preceded in death by her brother, John David Ortega, and father, John Amancio Ortega.
Christine Schweininger said she was heartbroken to lose a dear friend and confidant.
“Rebecca was a mentor, a cherished friend and irreplaceable gem in our community,” said Schweininger, chief executive officer of Valley Builders Exchange Inc. “She selflessly gave her time and energy to make a difference in the lives of others. Rebecca’s impact will forever shine brightly in the hearts of those she touched.”
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 21 at Lakewood Funeral Home and Memorial Park. Additional details will be posted on social media.
Fimbrez said that Harrington, despite health problems, continued her community work last year. In September, she fell and was injured, resulting in cancellation of the Dia De Los Muertos event, he said.
“She said next year she would be ready again,” Fimbrez said. “She was a great asset because of her contacts with the community. She was able to bridge the community with the rest of us.”
This story was originally published January 13, 2025 at 1:00 PM.
