If smiles were currency, Lolo Saldana left this earth having earned a fortune in goodwill.
Remarkably, Lolo seemingly achieved so much with the mere power of good intentions, love of country, and living with a humble heart.
Lolo passed away on Dec. 1 after living an enchanted life of 95 years.
“Lolo is already being missed on this island,” Mayor Anni Marshall told the Islander following his passing.
Essentially, she said, Lolo was the honorary grandfather for Catalina Island. “His barbershop was always open to anyone,” the mayor said.
To know Lolo was to like him. For many years, in many ways, Lolo was a symbol of inspiration around the island.
For five decades, Lolo and his barbershop acted as the central information point for many in the Avalon community.
According to a family post on Catalina’s Facebook community, “The Saldana family lost their patriarch. Father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, U.S. Army veteran, and a cherished member of the Avalon community. Lolo M. Saldana passed away peacefully with family close by at the Catalina Island Medical Center.”
Lolo’s family heritage ties him directly to the island’s initial development by William Wrigley, Jr. His father and mother, Martin and Marguerite came to the island as young adults believing in the same dream that bolstered Lolo his entire life.
“My father came here in 1919, and he came as a laborer. There was word that Wrigley had bought the island, and they were going to develop it,” says Lolo in a documentary produced by the Catalina Island Museum. “The ones that wanted to work had jobs.”
Lolo was born ten years later in 1929, one of eleven children. Eliodoro was his given name, but he changed it to Lolo, which he said was “a little simpler.”
The Tremont Street housing provided for his parents by the Wrigley companies just happened to be located adjacent to the 18th hole of the new golf course.
Naturally, Lolo learned to caddy and play golf and, eventfully, became one of the best golfers in southern California. Lolo loved golf, and sports overall, as did many of his brothers as they grew up around the course.
Wanting to join the PGA tour, he needed money so he went to barber school in Long Beach and was back in Catalina for what he thought would be a summer cutting hair. He met Lidia, eventually bought the barbershop and he was back on the island to stay.
Lolo was a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan, even attracting the late/great Ernie Banks to his barbershop for a trim.
Eventually, Lolo was instrumental in forming youth golf and baseball programs that endure to this day. It was long ago that Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, both much heralded in today’s game of golf played in Catalina youth tournaments at 13 and 14 years old.
“We started programs here in Avalon for the youth. My brother Frank and I started a lot of different programs that are still going on. They’re paying people a lot of money for things that we did for free,” Lolo smiles as he remembers the past in the museum’s documentary.
A bachelor for many years, Lolo also remembers Lidia, his dear and devoted wife who he says made him laugh. They met on the island when she was on a summer program, and “just had a lot of fun.”
She went back to the mainland, and it wasn’t long before Lolo thought, “I really miss that lady.”
Lolo said in the video that he contacted Lidia and asked her to take a couple of days off. Then he rented a car on the mainland, and they started driving.
Before they knew it, they were in Yuma, Arizona.
“She said, what are we doing here.”
“I said. I want you to meet my buddy that I went to college with,” said Lolo.
“And, I said, by the way, would you like to get married while we’re here,”?
She said, “Stop the car.”
He did.
“She gave me a big hug and said let’s go for it, and that was it.”
“That was my proposal in marriage,” said Lolo. “Really. It happened that quick,” he said,
“Imagine the money we saved,” he added.
To know Lolo was to like him. To his core, he loved Catalina Island and his hometown of Avalon. He somehow smiled from the inside as he spoke.
“It’s a beautiful, beautiful little town,” said Lolo in an interview. “It still has a little quaintness, which is beautiful,” he said.
He used the word “beautiful” a lot.
Lolo and Lidia had four children, three boys and a girl, Marty, Gilbert, Christina, and Lolo, Jr, according to Islapedia.com.
Lolo lost his beloved Lidia in 2008 and never remarried.
“I’m looking for the same as the one that I lost, and she hasn’t come back,” says Lolo during his remembrance video five years ago.
Lolo was a faithful Catholic and left others a formula to reach old age.
“Now my advice to anybody that wants to be my age is, eat well. Take care of yourself. Watch out for the booze. Take care of your family and go to church once in a while. Pray for the good Lord. Pray for his help. It’s important. Praying is very strong,” he said.
“I go to church every morning, and the reason is it helps me get started, helps me start, helps me think in the right direction that day. If I didn’t have this little barber shop,” he said.
“I probably wouldn’t be here now, because this barber shop has kept me in the limelight of having friends come in and talk to me, and I kept myself involved with programs that have kept me alive,” said Lolo.
His barbershop is papered wall to wall with news clippings and other memorabilia from a very active and productive life. From the rich and famous to kids winning youth tournaments, Lolo had no ground rules for friendship.
“You should see on the walls,” said Lolo, “that I didn’t let grass go under my feet.”
Lolo’s family has announced that the community is invited to honor his life on Friday, December 13. There will be a Rosary at 10 a.m. with a funeral mass to follow at 10:30 a.m.
The services will be held at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church.
“We expect a large attendance so please use ushers to find a seat. Additional seating will be available in the courtyard with live video and audio, and in the parish hall with live video and audio of the inside of the church’s sanctuary,” the family said in a Facebook post.
Following the mass, the family announced that there would be a reception and Celebration of Life at Joe Machado Field from 12 – 5 p.m. The family says hot dogs, chili beans, water, and soft drinks will be provided, but members of the public are welcome to bring side dishes and desserts (Potluck style).
The legend of Lolo will live on. His spirit was unique, his family story compelling.
“I know this community has helped me, so let me help you,” said Lolo in his legacy video.
Quoting President John F. Kennedy, Lolo said in his own words, “What can you do for your community, not what your community can do for you. In every club that I belong to, I give something back to the community,” said Lolo.
He loved America so much he could hardly talk about it without tearing up. He was deeply grateful for the opportunities afforded him and his family.
His legend is now left for the ages, and his barbershop is a shrine of a thousand stories, papered with the memories of a very eventful life. Lolo leaves an indelible mark on the island he loved so much.
“You can’t just take from Catalina,” said Lolo, “you have to give something back.”
Editor’s note: Charles M. Kelly contributed to this report.
