Longtime Valley educator, community activist remembered by Tulare County supervisors
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- Community honors Celia Maldonado Arroyo for five decades of public service.
- Maldonado Arroyo spent 34 years in education; 22 years in community service after retiring
- She served as trustee and board member for education, Radio Bilingüe, AMAE, CVCF.
Central Valley educator and community activist for more than five decades Celia Maldonado Arroyo mourned by community. She was 80.
“I want to honor and recognize Celia Maldonado Arroyo for her dedication to Tulare County and the people of this great region,” said Tulare County supervisor Eddie Valero at Tuesday’s board meeting. “Celia recently passed, and she was deeply respected in education and a community champion for more than five decades.”
Maldonado Arroyo, who died on Jan. 28, 2026, devoted 34 years to her profession in the field of education and 22 years of service in the community after retirement. Most recently, she served as a trustee for the Tulare County Office of Education.
“A true public servant in many capacities for generations,” said Ruben Macareno, who served with Maldonado Arroyo on the Tulare County board of education.
Community services were not planned, according to her obituary.
Suzanna Aguilera-Marrero called Maldonado Arroyo “a leader way ahead of her time, role modeling the way in all thing education. Her charm, grace and magical presence will be missed.”
A 1963 graduate of Fresno High School, Maldonado Arroyao graduated from Fresno State University in 1967 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She also has a master’s degree in educational counseling.
She began her professional education career at Fresno City College in 1971, serving 19 years in counseling and administrative roles, followed by three years in human resources with the Fresno Unified School District.
In 1993 Maldonado Arroyo returned to working in a community college setting as an Associate Dean of Students at the College of the Sequoias in Visalia, a position she held for 10 years until retiring in 2004.
“Those of us in education will miss her leadership and friendship,” said Antonia Martinez Candelaria of Maldonado Arroyo.
Her dedication to community service spanned beyond her professional life.
She served on boards of directors and committee memberships for Radio Bilingüe and the Association of Mexican American Educators, in 2006 as the AMAE state president.
Hugo Morales, founder of Radio Bilingüe, recalled how Maldonado Arroyo went to the radio station first fundraiser in 1977, a menudo breakfast at a reporter’s home in Fresno.
“Celia Maldonado gave much to our community,” Morales said on social media. “We feel her loss.”
“Celia had the courage to be a trailblazer as part of the early wave of Chicano college grads who made a difference and the many people, she touched benefited from her compassion,” said Vivian Franco, a retired higher education administrator.
Maldonado Arroyo served nine years on the governing board of the Central Valley Community Foundation (CVCF) and for nearly two decades as a trustee on the Tulare County Board of Education. She was one of the founding members of the Tulare County Latino Rotary.
“I’m saddened by the loss of a friend and community leader,” said Joe Del Bosque, who served with Maldonado Arroyo on the Central Valley Community Foundation.
Valero said Maldonado Arroyo will be missed in the community.
“Celia’s leadership, compassion and dedication helped shape the foundation of our club and the positive impact it continues to have in our community today,” said Yolanda Faubel, with the Tulare County Latino Rotary on social media. “Her legacy of service and love will never be forgotten.”
The first of five siblings, Maldonado Arroyo, was born in Fresno, Nov. 1, 1945, to Mercedes and Luis Maldonado of Zacatecas, Mexico. She was preceded in death by brother Luis Maldonado Jr.
Maldonado Arroyo is survived by her husband of 43 years, Robert Arroyo, her son Joaquin Arroyo, daughter in-law Andrea Solis, and granddaughter Marissa. She is also survived by sisters Rachel Aziminia and Alicia Maldonado Zoroya and by brother Hector Maldonado, as well as by her stepchildren Juliet Arroyo, Laurie Montgomery and Joseph Arroyo.
In honor of Women’s History Month, a memorial for Maldonado Arroyo, sponsored by many individuals and Valley organizations, will take place March, 15 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Cultural Heritage Foundation, 107 W. Tulare Ave. in Visalia.
This story was originally published March 9, 2026 at 2:34 PM.
