Heroes never die. They remain forever engraved in the hearts and minds of those who loved and admired them. They live on in their sons and daughters, the families they loved and raised, in the history of the communities they helped to build, in the country they valiantly served for as young men and women.
The life story of my beloved uncle, Jesse Molinar, truly symbolizes the undeniable attributes of the hero and fearless leader he represented for his family and the entire Johnstown community. Given that the historical presence of the Molinares in Johnstown goes back generations, the leadership and contributions of Jesse Molinar will remain forever in the history of Johnstown. As the son of Saúl and María Molinar, the first generation of the “Early Great Comadres and Compadres,” or Mexican migrant families who settled in Johnstown during and after the Great Depression, Jesse’s life and leadership were of great impact in the development of the Colony or the “Colonia” where he continued to reside with his family until his passing on August 9.
