Care home workers rewarded for doing right thing

Maurice Rowland of Hayward was the cook at Valley Springs Manor in Castro Valley. Maurice Rowland of Hayward was the cook at Valley Springs Manor in Castro Valley. Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Sam Wolson, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close Care home workers rewarded for doing right thing 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

Editor's note: This article from November 2013 is apparently going viral on Facebook in April 2015.

Maurice Rowland and Miguel Alvarez, the cook and janitor who stood like sentinels over 19 elderly residents abandoned by staff at a Castro Valley care facility, were honored last week at the Hayward Veterans Memorial Building. It was the latest of many laurels bestowed on the two men, who have been friends since middle school. In the week since news of their good deed spread, people responded with goodwill, gifts and donations to the men and their families.

Rowland and Alvarez stood fast for two days after the state-ordered shutdown of Valley Springs Manor, an assisted care center. They cleaned, fed and cared for patients on their own time, placing the dignity of human life above their paychecks. State officials moved swiftly last week to assume control of a Modesto care home owned by the same people who ran Valley Springs.

The selfless actions of these two men have drawn praise from every corner, including government bodies, veterans groups and scores of private citizens from the Bay Area to Ottawa.

In addition to the award from the American Veterans Association, they received a certificate of special recognition from Rep. Eric Swalwell's office and a commendation from the California Legislature.

And thanks to the generosity of Chronicle readers touched by the story, they are being compensated for their efforts as well. Checks and gift cards have poured in, and the two men have established a bank account to take in the donations, which they have agreed to split evenly.

"We didn't expect any of this," Alvarez said. "We've never expected anything from anyone in life."

The men were surrounded by friends and family at the brief ceremony in Hayward, and it was one of those occasions when parents could not have been more proud of their children.

Miguel's father, Angel Alvarez, said his son's actions were proof of God and his mysterious works.

"I think I raised him the right way," said Rowland's mother, Carrie Bell, who turned to me with a knowing smile and asked, "What do you think?"

Outpouring of support

That question has been answered by the impromptu outpouring of appreciation for the only two workers at the care center with the heart and dignity to stand up for what was right. One anonymous donor contacted The Chronicle last week to make arrangements to take Alvarez's and Rowland's children on a large shopping spree. Another has offered to pay them for the unpaid hours they worked after Valley Springs was shut down.

Summit Bank in Oakland has established accounts in their names, and the Castro Valley Chamber of Commerce has done the same, Alvarez said. Rowland said he has received more than a half-dozen job offers in the past week.

Oh, and Hollywood has come calling.

Alvarez has fielded calls from Paramount Pictures on behalf of the "Dr. Phil" show, and they are trying to schedule an appearance on the show. Another afternoon medical show, "The Doctors," produced by CBS, has called The Chronicle looking for contact information.

Alvarez's wife, Cindy Orozco, admitted a little sheepishly that she was initially angry with her husband when he refused to leave work for a planned family trip to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. The couple have three children.

'I was heartbroken'

Orozco said she drove to the care center to see for herself what was more important than precious time with their kids. When she walked in the door, she said, the scene stopped her in tracks.

"I was heartbroken," she said.

As it turns out, Alvarez and Rowland did the right thing for the patients, for themselves and for humanity. Their decision to stay has come back to reward them in ways they could have never imagined.