Reynaldo Leon Escarzaga - Eulogy - 11/21/2012

Reynaldo L. Escarzaga Sr. was born on May 11, 1927 to Ramon and Candy Escarzaga in Riverside, California. Grandpa was so gungho about serving his country that he lied about his age and joined the Army at the age of 17 during World War II, serving as a supply truck driver in Italy where he earned the Army of Occupation and World War II Victory medals. After leaving active duty service, he worked for 35 years at Norton Air Force Base as a Pipe Fitter maintaining the heating and air conditioning systems throughout the base.
Rey was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Carmen Escarzaga. He is survived by his five children, Marian, David, Thomas, Cindy, and Rey Jr., Sister Emma Gutierrez, and Brother Henry Escarzaga. He also leaves a heritage of 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
May 11, 1927 to November 15, 2012.  For those who pass his grave, there will be little else to remember him by but the day of his birth and the day that he left this world.  To us in this room, the days between those two have changed our world and have made us better people because we knew Grandpa. 

What kind of man is he?  For me, his overwhelming quality was what could be called stoicism, or his even-manner.  Grandpa was not one who wore his emotions on his sleeve.  The highs never got too big and the lows too low.  He was very even keeled.  That is not to say that he was emotionless though.  When he was proud of you, he would get a half smile, nod his head and get a tear in his eye.  His love for his wife, children and grandchildren guided his life every step of the way. You could say that his emotions ran deep and pure, greater than what could be outwardly expressed in his mild-mannered way.

He was a committed volunteer.  Grandpa not only loved his kids but loved his kid’s friends.  He coached Little League at Del Rosa Little League for 20 years.  I heard testimony yesterday from one of the moms whose boys played for Grandpa and she still remembers the time he invested in them, not only teaching them baseball but building character, loyalty and courage in their lives.  I learned from him that when I have a passion for something, I need to do it with to the best of my abilities and spread the passion to those around, touching their lives, helping them grow.  I am still involved in Little League because my grandpa believed in Little League.  I am involved with the community because he helped his be a better place.

Grandpa was a provider. Some people show their love to others by giving gifts, others by saying “I love you.”  Grandpa showed his love by providing for the needs of his family.  He worked for 35 years at Norton Air Force Base in a job many would not consider glamorous but he did his job and did it well.  When raising five kids in a small house required more than his day job paid, he found a way to make it work through teaching himself small appliance repair.  Even this was more than just earning a buck though, it was to help out those in need even if they couldn’t pay.

Grandpa was hospitable.  Growing up, I always thought it was strange when we visited Grandpa’s house that my dad would walk up to the front door, check the mail box, and then walk right in.  That wasn’t what I was taught about other people’s houses but it was appropriate here because Grandpa’s house was the family’s house.  Even though my dad had moved away, got married, and had 3 kids, the door was always open on Holly Vista for a visit, a quick peak in the refrigerator, and a chance to sit, talk, watch some TV where apparently I took my dad’s place as the remote control, and be with grandma and grandpa.  Holidays were always a major event where the families got together, the adults talked inside and us cousins would go entertain ourselves outside, trying not to get caught and get in trouble.  Grandpa’s house was comfortable and safe – a place where we could go and slow down, enjoy life, and be family.

Grandpa was a team player.  One of his favorite pastimes was bowling.  Grandpa was a fantastic bowler yet the team was always most important to him.  If the team needed him to throw a strike, he threw a strike.  If they needed him to throw a spare or miss a few pins to keep the team handicap down, he would do whatever was needed.  He was so good that other teams thought they brought in a ringer, a retired professional to guarantee they would win – which his team did. A lot.  He never tried to be the superstar but because he was such a great team player, he was. 

Grandpa was loyal and committed.  He was a man of integrity who kept his word and taught that quality to his children.  This was best demonstrated by his marriage.  He was married to Grandma for 49 years, through years of illness and hospitalizations, yet he stayed by Grandma’s side through everything.  I remember writing to my grandma when I was in the Navy and she would brag about how great Grandpa was and how much she loved him.  His love brought her comfort through the painful times.  His example guides me still as there are always family issues but running away is never an option – Grandpa would stick it through.

One of the last things my grandfather said to me was that he was going to beat me up for smiling.  Not quite as good as Amanda’s story yesterday.  The last few years have been hard for us as many of the qualities we loved about grandpa started to fade but his strength, his loyalty and his love continued to shine through.  Now that he has shuffled off this mortal coil, the pain is gone.  The disabilities have ceased.  I’d like to think that as Grandpa enters Heaven, Jesus is there to greet him with a half-smile, a nod of the head and a tear in his eye and welcomes him into his rest.  I look forward to the day when I will meet him again in joy.