> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.smdp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Alberto Rico, 66, hopes to leave six years of homelessness behind in Santa Monica
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/alberto-rico/
- Published: 2004-03-01T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T03:53:02.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Community, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless, Homelessness

Asked why he joined the Navy, Rico replied, “Being black, in the South, in the 1950s — you had to get out of there. Things was weird.” After six years homeless, the 66-year-old Cuban native is hoping to get off the streets of Santa Monica — for good.

Born: Oct. 2, 1937 in Cuba. Raised: Moved from Cuba to Georgia with his parents as a toddler and to New York at 11\. Background: Rico said he earned two Purple Hearts during 15 years with the U.S. Navy, including during the Vietnam War. Rico, who is diabetic, later worked as a molder at manufacturing plants in LA and San Jose before serving time in prison.

Hobbies: Watching people surf from a bench at Ocean Avenue and Pacific Street. Rico said he used to enjoy boxing and bowling before he became homeless.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on March 1, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/030104.pdf?ref=smdp.com)