Serving soldiers and family with flair

Stella Chavos’ mild-mannered appearance becomes surprising upon

listening to her laundry list of accomplishments.

She owns Newport Center Orthopedic Supplies, Inc. and did research

during World War II on why soldiers were dying in the Pacific.

She helped prove that vitamin B12 was lacking in their diets. She

also did research on radiated food during the war. She helped prove

that oleo, better known as margarine today, was a better food product

than butter because it was more stable.

Chavos, 82, recently sat down with the Pilot’s Luis Pena to talk

about her past, especially her family.

Where did you grow up? What kind of childhood did you have?

Grew up during the Depression. It was an average middle class

neighborhood in Akron, [Ohio]. We lived in a house that my dad built.

There were six children in the family. Five girls and one boy. It was

a very happy childhood, very happy. Had wonderful parents who

believed their children should be well-educated. All six children

have college degrees. Three of them had graduate degrees.

How did you end up in Newport-Mesa?

He started this business in Newport Center when it was being

developed in ’67. We moved here I think in ’70. We live in Spyglass.

My young son went to Corona del Mar and he’s now an attorney. My

eldest son works in the business with me.

What are your greatest accomplishments in life?

My greatest accomplishment is being a mother and raising two boys.

The boys lost their dad over 28 years ago and I had to raise them by

myself as a single parent.

If you could re-do one moment or incident in your life, what would

it be?

The thing I would do over is take more vacations as a family. But

starting a business was difficult, because you always had to be here,

because we never could do it once my husband started this business.

We were here 12 months out of the year, and looking back, I would

have changed that. In other words, the two boys were always in school

or working and it would have been better to have more play time

together, vacation time together.

What profession other than yours would you like to have tried?

If I could go back to school I would go back and be a historian. I

am very interested in history. Especially history of our country. I

just finished reading Alexander Hamilton’s book that just came out.

And there’s a biography by Thomas Jefferson that just came out that

I’m not finished reading. These were great leaders and sometimes I

don’t think we have those leaders today.

What are some differences between a typical day in your life now

versus a day in your life 30 years ago?

The difference between then and now is that I was a mother with

young children and very concerned about their homework. And making

sure they were getting it done. I think it’s very important that

parents spend a lot of time with their children. Now I spend a lot of

time in my garden, and of course I do a lot of church work.

What is the greatest lesson you’ve learned in your life?

The greatest lesson I’ve learned in my life is to walk with the

Lord everyday. Whatever you do, the Lord is first.

What do you treasure most?

My grandchildren. According to scripture [it’s important] that you

live long enough to see your children’s children. And I think they

are the greatest gift the Lord has given me.

What would you like people to always remember about you?

That I was a good person and a caring person.

What was one of the best of the unexpected things that happened in

your life?

Well, I think the development of this business. After my husband

died, it was a lot of insecurity. And I must say my family was

surprised that we did so well.