California contractor's license. For many years, Chavez maintained a liaison with fellow labor leader Dolores Huerta. They never married, but four children were born of the relationship. Richard Chavez died from complications of surgery at a hospital in Bakersfield, California, on July 27, 2011, at the age of 81. He was survived by ten children, six from his first marriage and four from his relationship with Dolores Huerta. Chavez was also survived by two sisters, Rita Chavez Medina and Vicki Chavez Lastra, and one surviving brother, Librado Chavez. President Barack Obama issued a statement calling Chavez a "symbol of hope." Chavez had visited Obama at the White House in 2010 to mark Cesar Chavez Day. References United Farm Workers people American trade union leaders American trade unionists of Mexican descent American carpenters People from Yuma, Arizona 1929 births 2011 deaths Cesar Chavez People from Delano, California Trade unionists from California