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Tony Torres, San Jose director of recreation at Gardner Community Center, and volunteer Teddy Day were recognized for their valiant efforts on Aug. 16 by state Sen. Elaine Alquist and by the city of San Jose. Torres and Day administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation to an elderly volunteer, Pete Contreras, who had a heart attack at the community center on July 9. The men rushed to his aid, but were unsuccessful in reviving him.
Torres administered CPR. "After everything was said and done, we were like emotional roller coasters," Torres said. "Teddy is a valiant kid. He did not shy away. He stepped up to the plate. I couldn't have done it without him."
Torres added, "There was a bond formed between us after that day." Day is a 19-year-old volunteer at the community center who recently enlisted in the military. He is at boot camp and plans to train to be a paramedic.
Torres is well respected throughout the community by parents, seniors and teenagers alike, said Dolores "Dee" Urista, secretary of the Gardner Neighborhood Advisory Board.
Urista called Sara Hensley, director of parks and recreations, and told her what happened.
"I told her that Tony deserved to be recognized for his efforts last month with Pete Contreras," Urista said. "He was very heroic. Although not all of us were present at the incident, we all felt affected by it. Tony did it without thinking anything of it. He's got heart for this community and its people."
As far as being recognized for his courage, Torres said it was bittersweet.
"I wish they could have told the story of what happened, what I did and then added to the end of it, 'and he made it.' " Torres said.
The entire situation felt surreal, he noted.
"I spoke to Mr. Contreras' wife at the service," Torres said. "She told me that her husband had a history of heart conditions and they both knew he was on 'borrowed time.' She was just relieved to know that Mr. Contreras did not suffer and was not alone."
Torres has worked at the community center for more than 20 years. He grew up in the neighborhood and went to school there.
"It's taken Tony a lot to be where he's at," said Pati Palomares-Mason, who has known Torres since he began working at the community center. "There's no other community center in San Jose that has a director who knows its people, not just its staff."
In the last year the Garden Community Center had a multi-million dollar makeover but Palomares-Mason said, "It's not the building that brings the people here, it's Tony."
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