TRACY JARA, 47, CASTAIC CIVIC LEADER.

Byline: PATRICIA FARRELL AIDEM

Staff Writer

CASTAIC -- Tracy Jara, a longtime civic leader in Castaic, has died after a brief battle with cancer -- a battle that drew support from hundreds of friends who asked only to repay him for his kindness.

Jara, who was 47, died last Friday at home and will be remembered at a 7 p.m. service today at Castaic Lake's lower-lake area.

He helped plan the service, as well as a smaller one Saturday at a Santa Clarita bowling alley for family and close friends, his wife Maria said Thursday. He was an avid bowler.

"I loved every piece about him," she said. "The biggest thing is how much he loved his family, how hard he worked and how much he loved the community."

Jara served four terms as president of the Castaic Chamber of Commerce and was a community's Man of the Year. His business, T&M Enterprizes, a private mail shop, was a Castaic Business of the Year.

Jara was diagnosed in April with a rare stomach cancer. In May, hundreds of friends and family held a benefit for him, and several people told gripping stories about how he had helped them when they needed it most. His surprise appearance at the event brought the crowd to tears.

Born Dec. 5, 1959, Jara is survived by his wife; daughters, Veronica and Jenna; his father and stepmother, Gonzalo and Jan Jara; brothers, Mike, John, Ed and Kenneth Jara; sisters Theresa Jara, his twin, and Kathy Alejo; numerous nieces and nephews; and his mother-in-law, Louise Previtire. His mother, Barbara, and sister Mary predeceased him.