Bobby Pedro / 1950-2015Medic was popular ‘people person’ who improved outreach
Leila Fujimori / Lfujimori@staradvertiser.com
YoungBobbyPedrowasathin,fitmedicwithlong,curlyhair,wholookedlikeOlympicswimmerMarkSpitzandwas“verypopularwiththenurses,â€saidlongtimefriend andactingEmergencyMedicalServicesAssistantChiefEddieFujioka.“MyfirstimpressionofBobbywasthathewasarealcharismaticperson,â€saidFujioka,whorecallsgoingonanambulanceride-alongwithPedroin1977,whenFujioka wasacollegestudentandsummerhire.“Hewasverylikable,superniceguy,gotalongwitheverybody.Hewouldhelpanybody,especiallytheyounginterns.Iftheywere havingstrugglesduringinternship,hewouldtakethetimetodemonstratepropertechniques.…Hewasverypopularwiththeemergencyroomdoctorsandnursesaswell.â€The65-year-oldretiredEmergencyMedicalServicesdistrictchief,whoserved36yearswiththecity’sEMSandspearheadeditspublicoutreachprogram,diedTuesday.“Theoutpouringoflovewe’vehadfromhisfriendsandfromthecommunityhasbeensotremendousandmuchappreciated,â€saidPedro’sdaughter,ReyneenPedro.“He wasawonderfulfatherandgrandfather,andhemeanteverythingtous.â€DennisYurong,Pedro’sfirstbossatEMSsaid,“HedevelopedintoaverycaringindividualinEMS,andIthinkheleftthatlegacyandwasabletopassthatontowhomeverhementored.…That’swhyeveryonespeakssohighlyofhim.â€Asaparamedic,Pedrodemonstratedagreatdealofcareandcompassionforhispatients,hiscolleaguessay.“Whensomeonewasinpainordiscomfort,hereallydidthebesthecouldtomakethepersoncomfortable,â€Fujiokasaid.“Regardlessofhowminorthepatient’scondition was,hetreatedeveryonethesame.â€FujiokapickeduponeofPedro’strademarkpractices.“Beforeweleftthehospital,wewouldalwaysgoinandcheckinonthepatienttowishthemluckandtotakecare,â€hesaid,addingthatthisissomethinghedoesn’tseeothersdoinganymore.Yurong,whobecameEMSoperationschief,selectedPedrotobetheprimarypublicrelationspersontostartacampaigntoeducatethepublicaboutEMSand“totakeourmissionontheroadâ€byvisitingschoolsandhospitalsinanambulance.“Hedidavery,verygoodjob,â€hesaid.“Ibelievewhathedidhadanimpactonrecruitment,betterrelationshipwiththehospitalsandstaff.â€RetiredEMSsecretaryKarenLeecalledhim“apeoplepersonofthedepartment,â€andshemaintainedaclosefriendshipwithhimafterheretiredin2010duetohisfailinghealth.Afterhislegwasamputatedafewmonthsago,Leefoundhimasecondhandscooter,whichheusedtogetaroundaswellastocatchthebusorTheHandi-Vantoattendconcerts,moviesandculturalfestivals.“Hewouldnotwastetimejustsittingathome,â€shesaid.“Hewasveryindependent.…Hewasn’tthetypetogiveup.â€AnAug.17HonoluluStar-AdvertiserarticleonkidneydiseasefeaturedPedro,whohadbecomeaType2diabeticandanamputeeondialysis,due,inpart,tohisadmittedconsumptionofBigGulpsand“allthewrongfoods.â€â€œIneglectedmyself,â€thefatheroffourtoldtheStar-Advertiser.“Itookcareofeverybodyelseexceptmyself.â€Ex-wifeGildaMoritaattestedtothat,sayingPedrohadbeenplanningforhisonlyson’sweddinginNovember.“Hewastotallylookingforwardtothat,andwewerehopinghewouldbethereforthewedding,â€shesaid.“Hewassomuchapartofeverybody’slives.â€Hisdaughter,GenellSimoes,said,“Thishappenedtoosoonandwewishwehadmoretimewithhim.Welovehimandmisshimandareverygratefulforhavinghiminourlives.â€ThekeytoPedro’srelationships,bothworkingandpersonal,wastotrytobenicetoeveryone.Hewasalikable,funguy,with“areallyrascallaughwhenhe’dtelljokesorfunnystoriesaboutotherpeople,â€Fujiokasaid.Thisearnedhimthenickname“thePortuguesedevil.â€Yurongsaid,“Hehadabighandatfosteringasenseofohanaandbelonging….Hehadagiftofbringingpeopletogetherandtosharegoodtimes.â€RichardMendonca,45,anEMSsupervisorinWaipio,saidPedrowashisdistrictchiefwhenhewasaparamedic.Thetwometin1992,andremainedfriends.Forthepastthreeyears,MendoncahadtakenhimtoLasVegas.“ThethingaboutBobbywas,healwaysgavehisall,â€hesaid.“Ifyouneededanything,hewouldgiveittoyou…withoutanyrecognition.â€SoMendoncaneverthoughttwiceabouthelpinghimout,especiallyafterhegotsick,“becauseifIneededanything,hewouldhelpmeout.â€Forthisyear’sVegastrip,theyflewfirstclass,rentedaspecialvantoaccommodatehisscooteranddrovetoBoulderCity,Nev.,soPedrocouldgethiswishtorideatrain.“Peoplecouldn’tunderstandwhypeoplewouldbendoverbackwardsforthedistrictchief,â€Mendoncasaid.“Hisphilosophyistotakecareofhispeoplefirst,â€eveniftheyarewrong,thenlater“pullyouonthesideandsay,‘Eh,youwerewrong.’â€â€œPhysically,he’snothereanymore,butaslongasyoukeephiminyourheart,he’sbasicallyeverywherenow.â€Pedroisalsosurvivedbyhisson,Riley;daughtersReyneenPedro,GenellSimoesandGeryzeSimoes;andfourgrandchildren.HisservicewillbeOct.19atOahuCemetery.
Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased