Antonio Arroyo, a maintenance worker for the City of Orinda, retired July 24 after 17 years of service. Known for his wide-ranging maintenance skills and positive attitude, Arroyo said he will miss his coworkers and the Orinda community.
After 17 years of keeping Orinda’s facilities in top shape, maintenance worker Antonio Arroyo retired from the City of Orinda on July 24.
Arroyo, whose full name is Miguel Antonio Arroyo Rojas, has spent almost two decades working for the city, first with the Orinda Community Center and now as part of the Public Works team.
And he’s become a familiar and valued presence throughout the community.
Born in Costa Rica in 1954, Arroyo moved to the United States at age 26 and lives in Concord. During his years with Orinda, he has handled a wide range of responsibilities, from electrical and plumbing work to irrigation, fencing, construction, painting, tile work, pressure washing, roof repairs and more.
“My favorite part of the job is sharing my knowledge and showing others how to do the job as safe and as good as possible,” Arroyo said.
His ability to tackle nearly any maintenance challenge and his willingness to teach others have made him a valuable mentor to his coworkers.
Orinda’s Parks & Recreation director Todd Trimble has worked with Arroyo for 10 years and said his contributions will be difficult to replace.
“He’s amazing [to work with]. He is very capable and always very positive,” Trimble said. “We will all miss everything about him – his positivity, his laugh, his singing, his cooking, his skills, his expertise, everything.”
Trimble said the city is currently recruiting for the maintenance position, with the goal of finding someone to continue the work Arroyo has done for the community.
Steve Ehrhardt, who previously served as Orinda’s Parks and Recreation supervisor and was Arroyo’s direct supervisor for 12 years, said Arroyo’s knowledge and personality made him stand out.
“He is incredibly positive and has a wealth of knowledge about everything Orinda,” Ehrhardt said. “He is a resource that will surely be missed.”
Ehrhardt said Arroyo’s work ethic was one of his defining qualities.
“Anyone who knows Antonio knows that he is go, go, go,” Ehrhardt added. “He is an extremely hard worker and has a great eye for seeing what needs to be done.”
While Arroyo said he will miss the people he worked with most, he also expressed appreciation for the Orinda community.
“The people in Orinda – they have been very nice to me,” he said. “I love people in general and I definitely will miss you [Orindans] very much.”
As he begins retirement, Arroyo is looking forward to returning to the area where he was born and creating a place where he can relax and welcome visitors.
Arroyo’s advice to the person who follows in his footsteps reflects the values he brought to his work.
“Be yourself, treat everyone with respect, be a teachable person, have patience, love and you will be loved,” he said.
He is the proud father of a daughter, a fourth-grade teacher who lives in the Sacramento area with her husband, and has built a legacy of service rooted in kindness, craftsmanship, and dedication.
“This is definitely another phase in my life and I will do the best out of it,” Arroyo said. “Thanks to all.”
