“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21
Linda Sarno will be missed. She went to join her Creator early this month after gallantly and stubbornly battling a sickness. Her faithfulness with her God-given gifts has been rewarded aptly with her being put “in charge of many things that her Master undoubtedly has found pleasure and happiness in”.
In her lifetime, Linda wore so many hats that bore her emblem of excellence and commitment. Among the enviable hats she donned were that of being a U.S. Patent Attorney and a chemist with a multinational corporation with both fields being beneficiaries of her intellectual gifts that she harnessed to the fullest.
She was an indefatigable community organizer who approached her tasks with consistent passion that has served as a model for community involvement. Her pioneering attribute resulted in spearheading the formation of organizations where she served unselfishly in various capacities .
Her advocacies for the small business, the environment and other worthy concerns had earned for her many accolades which inspired her more to commit herself to various issues that redound to the betterment of the community where she operated. Among the honors reaped on her include the Business Advocate of the year 2005 by the Small Business Administration, Lions Club 2007 Citizen of the Year Award, the Southern California Leadership Award for 2010 and Community Heroes Award of 2011. She was also the Outstanding Thomasian Chemistry Alumni during the 400th anniversary of her alma mater, the University of Santo Tomas.
Linda Sarno, you will be missed: The Filipino American communities in Orange County and Los Angeles County lost a great advocate in the person of Linda Sarno who joined her Creator on the first week of February. She left behind a lasting legacy of a life well-lived. She is shown at extreme left in this file photo at the celebration of her birthday and the baptism of her granddaughter.
As a tireless community leader of both the Asian Business Association of Orange County and the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce, Linda will be remembered for establishing an Advisory Board composed of corporate sponsors and Filipino-American entrepreneurs in Orange County in 2000 and bridging the community and the Chamber through the Fil-Am Outreach Day to showcase Fil-Am businesses, culture and the culinary pride of the Philippines.
Even in the midst of her physical affliction, Linda pioneered the holding of environmental awareness event at the Annual Business Opportunity Day to promote the advantages of Green Technology, health and conservation.
For the past seven years, FACCOC has been very active in encouraging and promoting the green movement by providing a venue for exhibitors, participants, cities and government agencies, sponsoring corporations, representatives from the utility companies, sellers of ‘green’ or eco-conservation products, and consumers.
For Linda, much has been entrusted and much more had been delivered.