Oscar was born Jose Oscar Saldivar De Haro, to Jose and Emilia Saldivar in the town of Jerez in the state of Zacatecas, Mexico. He lived in a small village, Rancho Los Haro. At the age of 1 year old, Oscar was adopted by his godparents of baptism, Feliciano De Haro and Juanita De Loera. When Oscar was two years old he, Juanita and Feliciano immigrated to the United States and settled in the town of St. Helena, leaving behind his biological parents and 10 brothers and sisters.

Oscar’s family became the first family from the state of Zacatecas to settle in the Napa Valley. In St. Helena Oscar attended kindergarten through high school and graduated from St. Helena High School in 1972. There he played football, soccer and was involved in student government. As a young man, Oscar worked in agriculture, picking grapes, walnuts and prunes in the Napa Valley and picked apples in Sebastopol and one summer picked strawberries in Salinas. He also worked at Taylor’s Refresher in St. Helena while attending high school. After graduating from high school he attended La Universidad de Las Americas in Puebla, Mexico and two years later transferred to Napa Valley College then to San Jose State University where, in the year 1976, he received a bachelors degree in Political Science and Mexican American Studies. He worked for Kentucky Fried Chicken while attending San Jose State University.

In 1977 Oscar was hired at Napa Valley College as Director of the Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS). During that time he became involved with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers activities in the Napa Valley and served on the board of directors of Health Clinica Ole, Legal Aid of Napa County and other organizations.

In 1988 Oscar moved to Ukiah to work for Mendocino College as an Assistant Dean of EOPS/Financial Aid and spent the last 3 years at Mendocino College as Dean of Student Services. He continued going to school while working at Mendocino College and earned his masters degree. In January of 2006, after a 17-year absence from the Napa Valley, Oscar returned to Napa Valley College to become Vice President. In his role as Vice President of Student Services, Oscar supervises over 90 employees which provide services to students in 18 different programs & services and with a budget of 7.5 million dollars. The services are offered to make certain a student has what they need to become successful at Napa Valley College.

Oscar is married to Zita De Haro Segura and has three lovely daughters; Flor de Consuelo, Catalina and Ana-Carolina and has three beautiful grandchildren; Ariana Jenny (Lily), Robertito, Bella Esperanza and Gia.

Oscar’s motto: Life is what you make of it – make of it what you best can.