A Tribute To The Late Benny Acoba

The following remarks were shared by LMR Executive Director, Dillon Delvo, at Benny’s memorial service.

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All of us at Little Manila are proud to host Red Phoenix Rising youth theatre at our center of which Benny and Val put in countless hours of passion and time.

So I’ve got 2 quick reflections.

First, I got to know Benny because like Benny, I am a back stage guy, or the guy off to the side while the performers rehearse. And it would be in these moment that Benny told me stories of Little Manila and the community. See Benny and I have a connection because both our dads were from the Manong generation, first generation of Filipino Americans in America. Except my dad didn’t have me until he was in his 60’s. And so, when I looked at Benny, I would always think, if my dad had me at the normal age of having children, I’d be Benny’s age.

He knew this so he would tell me about how things used to be in Stockton, in Little Manila. It was a real gift to me, because he helped reveal a little part of my father’s world. I would listen to his stories until, of course, we’d hear Val yell for Benny because something broke and needed to be fixed. He’d leave immediately, because that’s who Benny was. He got things done for Val and for our community. And he will be sorely missed. And I will definitely miss his stories.

2nd reflection: I got to talk to Val a couple days after Benny passed and I asked Val “what can we do to help?” Her reply was, “well someone’s gonna have to teach me how to unlock the center and turn off the alarm for rehearsals, because that’s what Benny used to do.”

I said to Val, “yeah, of course, although I’m sure there’s more we can do.” But I wanna talk about that because opening a door is the most unsung action of unsung heroes like Benny.

Door openers create space and is how community begins. Door openers allow us to get out of the cold and into the warmth of community. Door openers allow for serendipity and creativity to take place. Door openers allow for children to learn and adults to mentor. Door openers allow for strangers to no longer be strangers, friendships are created, people fall in love, young people are empowered, and art is created.

And it is only when you understand the power of the door opener and then multiply it by the years and generations of people allowed in by Benny that you understand his impact on our community.

Door openers are the opposite of gate keepers. And in today’s world we need more door openers than gate keepers. Blessed are the door openers and blessed be Benny Acoba.

To the Acoba family, Val… we love you. Thank you for sharing Benny with us. And Benny, thank you for all you’ve done for our community. We will miss you. And please, keep fixing things for us, in the backstage of our world.