Auto dealer Charlie Clark's beloved nana dies at age 99

Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times
·3 min read

Auto dealer Charlie Clark's nana, who starred in his dealership commercials and was the inspiration for his feature film, died at the age of 99. Services will be in McAllen.

Mari Cruz Aurora Aguirre, whom Clark has said was a great influence in his life, died Tuesday, the Charlie Clark Automotive Group announced in a news release. Clark is the owner of two dealerships in El Paso, Charlie Clark Infiniti El Paso and Charlie Clark Nissan, and has other dealerships in the Rio Grande Valley.

Aguirre "made an indelible mark on who the Charlie Clark Automotive Group is today with her unconditional love throughout Charlie’s personal and professional life," the statement read.

“We are thankful for all the love and affection that was shown towards her. Nana won our hearts andbecame a symbol of our nanas. She is and will continue to be a pillar to all that knew her. She will foreverbe RGV’s, El Paso’s, (and) Laredo’s Nana … Our Nana!” Charlie Clark said in the emailed statement.

Mari Cruz Aurora Aguirre, better known as auto dealer Charlie Clark's nana, died Tuesday. She was 99.
Mari Cruz Aurora Aguirre, better known as auto dealer Charlie Clark's nana, died Tuesday. She was 99.

Aguirre was a native of Montemorelos, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, but lived in the Rio Grande Valley for most of her life. She was the Clark family nanny for four generations and her love and care for Clark combined with her cultural Mexican traditions made a huge impact on Clark throughout his life.

Clark said he grew up feeling like an adopted son of the Latin community. Under his nana's care, he got used to big, demonstrative hugs of affection, learned to speak Spanish fluently and laughed along to Mexican TV characters like El Chapulín Colorado and El Santo. He also enjoyed many get-togethers with her extended family for carne asada, a tradition he continued at his dealerships.

More:Restaurant update: Cracker Barrel sets opening date; Juárez eatery comes to East El Paso

"Me dio un don de amor. (She gave me a gift of love.) It opened up my capacity to be a loving person," Clark said in an April El Paso Times interview promoting his feature film, "Green Ghost and the Masters of the Stone."

The film, which debuted April 29 in major theaters, was his love letter to his nana. The film featured Mexican actress Renee Victor in the role of his beloved, powerful nana who holds a secret about the powers tied to an emerald stone.

Auto dealer Charlie Clark with his nana, Mari Cruz Aurora Aguirre, who died Tuesday at the age of 99.
Auto dealer Charlie Clark with his nana, Mari Cruz Aurora Aguirre, who died Tuesday at the age of 99.

"It's about family, but not necessarily family that is your own," he said in the story. "It's the family that you create, and that's exactly the message of the movie."

Customers who walked into his dealerships could easily spot the ads featuring Clark and his nana. And his ability to connect with Hispanic customers in their language early on in his career helped propel his success as an auto salesman and dealership owner.

Nana quickly became his famous sidekick when he incorporated her image in his marketing campaigns and later on in his commercials, where she would tell Clark that she would give him "pau pau" if he didn't keep his word to customers.

Aguirre's gathering and rosary will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Rivera Funeral Home, 1901 Pecan Blvd. in McAllen. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Friday at the St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, 900 S. 23rd St.

María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @EPTMaria on Twitter.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Auto dealer Charlie Clark's beloved nana dies at age 99