Alirio Orduña

A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Alirio Orduña of Elmhurst was a longtime member of Community Board 4 and the beloved Commander of the New York Military Youth Cadets. He passed away on October 30, 2017 at the age of 65.

Born in 1952 and raised in Colombia, Mr. Orduña was 16 when he emigrated to the United States with his siblings following the death of his parents. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1972, eventually rising to the rank of corporal and earning numerous medals along the way.

In 2000, CPL Orduña founded the New York Military Youth Cadets, an Elmhurst based organization aimed at directing disadvantaged children away from crime and toward higher education and service to one’s community and country. In the nearly two decades since, dozens of young cadets either went to college on full academic scholarships or enlisted in the military. CPL Orduña’s work with the NYMYC has earned him various honors from the federal, state and city governments and cultural groups.

CPL Orduña was also one of CB4’s more vocal members. Over the years, he repeatedly pressed the 110th Precinct and area elected officials to better address prostitution and illegal dumping in Elmhurst and Corona.

His support for the children of the community and families was unprecedented and words cannot describe how he has truly impacted the Village of Elmhurst and beyond. Nothing will ever match his larger-than-life legacy.