Ekstrom, a south Tucson native and Army veteran, began working for the county in 1983 as a regional reemployment program manager, according to a Thursday news release from Pima County.

Two years later, he became responsible for all training programs in the county and eventually created a one-stop center to continue helping people find jobs.

The program has since been replicated by the U.S. Department of Labor, said Ekstrom's brother Dan, a local political figure who served on the Pima County Board of Supervisors for several years.Dan Ekstrom announced his brother's death on Facebook weekend.

“Art was a strong pillar of our family. His dedication to being a 'keeper of sisters and brothers' earned him the love of all of them,” he wrote. ing. “To all of his nieces and nephews, he was affectionately known as 'Uncle Junior' because of his extreme kindness and generosity.”

Throughout his local career, Art Ekstrom was known for his “fervent belief” in labor unions. He served as president and staff member of the local United Steelworkers union and wrote about his late brother on January 12th.

“He was the brains behind the political success of his brother Dan Ekstrom and niece Jennifer Ekstrom. More importantly, he loved his community and strived to better himself. He has never been afraid to fight for meaningful employment opportunities for disadvantaged and displaced workers in the United States,” Dan Ekstrom wrote on Facebook. “He didn't really like to be in the spotlight, but he was always behind the scenes running everything. That's what I learned from him that I love.”

Under Art Ekstrom's leadership, the county “created a number of innovative programs that connect people with barriers to employment to meaningful work,” according to one report. Thursday news release From the county. They include: sullivan jackson employment center, Las Artes Arts Education Center And that Kino Veterans Workforce Center.

Pima County Executive Jan Lesher said in a written statement that Ekstrom “hates being called a visionary,” even though that is an appropriate title.

“His style was one of quiet leadership, getting out of the way and allowing his staff to execute on the programs and initiatives that he had masterfully created. Without his vision, there would be a lot of turnover. Additionally, there would not have been a one-stop career system to help veterans, youth, and people experiencing homelessness find jobs,” Lesher wrote. We are grateful for his wisdom and advice, which he continued to share even after his retirement. ”

Ekström also end poverty now program. Current director Bonnie Bazata said in his written statement that he is a “practical visionary” looking “20 years into the future.”

“Art's legacy is that he improved the lives of thousands of Pima County residents, and what he introduced will continue to impact families for years to come,” Bazata wrote. . “[Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.]said that the arc of the moral world is long, but it bends toward justice. … There is no doubt that art has helped bend that curve. He was an inspiration to many of us and will be greatly missed.”