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HAYWARD — Ernesto Nava, the last living son of Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa (José Doroteo Arango Arámbula), died of natural causes Dec. 31. He was 94.
Nava, a Hayward-area resident since moving to Russell City in 1942, was born in Mexico but moved with his mother to New Mexico when he was very young.
Nava never met his father and didn’t learn his identity until he was 8 years old. He was told by his mother never to reveal the secret, as Villa had numerous enemies who might have wanted to harm him or his family, said Ernesto Nava’s son, Sam Nava.
About 15 years ago, Ernesto Nava told his family about their ancestry. Shortly after, on a trip to his home town of Durango, Mexico, word leaked out that Villa’s son was in town.
“It exploded,” Sam Nava said. “It became a really big thing. We would go down there once a year, and they would plan all these events for us to go to.”
Ernesto Nava also made local appearances at churches and schools until about five years ago, when his health began to decline.
Filed under: Information Tagged: | Durango, Ernesto Nava, Ernesto Nava Villa, Hayward, José Doroteo Arango Arámbula, Mexico, New Mexico, Pancho Villa, Russell City, Sam Nava
My husband’s great grandfather is still alive and he was the son of Fierro “el carnicero” pancho villas right hand man.
i know sam and his family. if you want to email me I can send it to him….
Thanks
alisha.guzman@gmail.com
Hi
I wanted to get an email address for Sam or a way to contact him. My Great Uncle was Pancho Villas personal Mail Courier he was the only one allowed access to Pancho Villa resident. We are trying to find more information about our great uncle.
Thank you