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As for my career, I completed my master's degree in Art at Claremont Graduate School in my late 20s. I started teaching ceramics, photo, painting, drawing... (all art forms) at Claremont HS in 1968, and taught for 36 years before retiring. I built a large ceramics studio at CHS, where many local artists got their start. I also taught at Chaffey College for 10years. In addition, I was the track and field coach at CHS for 20 years.
I was a board member in the National Watercolor Society, and am currently a signature artist in Watercolor West. I still paint every day and sell and donate art to various organizations and people..in fact, a lot of my paintints hang at the District Office for Claremont Unified.
I've seen a lot of the world, and love to travel. I have traveled to Europe, Asia, South America, Mexico, and much of the United States.
As for my personal life, I was married for 26 years and raised 5 great kids. As a teacher I was able to travel every summer. We had a truck and camper, which we drove across the United States and into Mexico every summer. As a young family we saw the Grand Canyon, East Coast, Yellowstone, Painted Desert, Devil's Tower, South Dakota, Shasta, Puget Sound, SF, Mexico...even Billingham to see my old High School friend Fred Reinard!
Later, as life changed, I divorced and had a daughter 16 years ago. I have raised her on my own since she was 3. She is now a junior at CHS. She has a big heart and is a good person. She runs track and Field at CHS.
I am proud to say that I have a close relationship with all of my children. Despite imperfections that have occurred in our lives, my children love me and I adore them. I am also lifelong friends with their mother.
My oldest son Rick sells real estate in Upland. He has a son who is 10.
Bill is happily married with 3 kids. He is a hard worker and owns his own house painting business.
My daughter Mellissa writes a column on Language and etymology for the Claremont Courrier. She also teaches ESL at UC Riverside and has a son who is 9.
Mitchell lives in Davis and is very happily married. He teaches sculpture classes at UC Davis.
Ariana, as I said, is still young and at the starting gate of life. I'm just hoping that she makes good choices and gets the most out of life!
I am also very close with ALL of my grandchildren. I am still an avid fisherman and I love to take my grandkids fishing on boats as often as I can.
I love to go watch them play soccer, baseball, dance..everything. they are amazing kids. One of my grandkids, Diego, goes to Sycamore. He is the only kid at the school who has a grandparent who also attended that school.
I once had a photography business. I photograped weddings and portraits for over 30 years. Now, photography is a great hobby of mine.
A child of Mexican immigrants, I was born in Claremont (at home) in the Barrio. People may remember that there was a vibrant Barrio in Claremont. I have great memories of playing, running around, causing trouble and growing up with many cousins (Louie Armendarez especially).
The first time I was ever invited out of the Barrio to a friend's house was Scott Fowler. It was a real treat for a kid like me to be invited in 3rd grade to friend's house. Later, I became great friends with Fred Reinard in the 6th grade. He invited me to his house for his birthday party. Given that we have the same birthday, it was really great of them to include me and sing to me as well ( I grew up in a family of 11 kids, so they had forgotten my birthday that year)!
As for my brothers and sisters, Daniel, Queno, Pat, Marciano, Lupe, Isabel, Cheva and Christina (who sadly passed away a couple of years ago) I share a close relationship with all of them. Twice a week, Louie Armendarez (my cousin) and I go to Marciano's figure drawing class at Fullerton...(I still haven't been able to talk Marcie into retirement!)
All of my brothers and sisters have had many many wonderful children and grandchildren who are sucessful and happy. Many are college professors and grade school teachers. Great professions. Isabel's grandaughter is the successful actress, Jessica Alba.
The things I love the most are sunsets, growing tomatoes, smell of fresh air, Claremont trees, rain....hanging out at the ocean, painting...spending time with family!
