Elmira Ruiz

One of four girls born to Augustinho and Maria Viera Fernandes. Both immigrants sailed from St. Roque Madeira Island Portugal to the USA in Oct. of 1920 to settle at 9 Mill St. Lowell, Mass. They raised four daughters Jill, Clara, Elmira and Tina. In 1945 just after the war Augustinho met three returning military men at a funeral celebration of life, and herd them speaking of California. He ended up traveling across the US with them by car to see California, ending-up in the SF Bay Area. Shortly he returned back to Lowell to move his family to Oakland Ca. that same year. Elmira was 15 years old and in High School.

Elmira met her husband Raymond J. Ruiz in Oakland; his brother Richard introduced them. Elmira and Raymond married in November 1949 and had their first child David while still residing in Oakland. They moved to So. California where Raymond was originally native of, and had two more children, Gregory and Paul. In 1972, Elmira and Raymond moved their family from San Dimas So. Cal. To San Jose California.

Elmira always enjoyed her career in finance, ending her tenure as North West US Regional Credit Manager for Intel Corp. She told stories of her career in Silicon Valley as it was forming. She recalls Apple Computer coming across her desk looking for Intel Credit. She thought to herself “What a Funny Name for a Company”. She spoke of many then start-up companies, now very familiar named large companies of Silicon Valley that she had to research to determine if they were credit worthy.

Raymond retired, and Elmira was still working for Intel when one day she said “enough” and quit her position to be with her husband. When she quit her position, Intel paid-off their home. They first traveled the US and Canada, saying we will be back in a month. Only to return almost 4 months later. They took multiple trips all over Europe, and took at least four separate trips to Madeira Island Portugal to meet family she only had heard of but never met. One time just the four Fernandes sisters made this trip, only to be met by merchants as “Oh you must be one of the sisters from America”. After their first Ocean Cruz for their 50th wedding anniversary, they became hooked. They enjoyed many Cruses afterwards, and hosted two cruses for their whole family and grandchildren.

Elmira spent many of her retired years as a volunteer to the Cupertino and Kirkwood senior centers, planning and escorting groups to Reno, “Ya Baby”. Elmira and Raymond both enjoyed the gambling environment of Casino’s in Las Vegas, Reno, and Aboard Ship. Elmira had her coffee can full of money that they would take for this fun activity, and managed that coffee can for many years. Sometimes full sometimes low, they loved that coffee can.

Elmira is survived by her older sister, Jill DeSouza, resident of New Bedford Mass. age 98. Two sons Gregory and Paul. Six Grandchildren, Elizabeth and Ernie, Rochelle and Gregory, Steven and Emily. Six Great Grandchildren, Merrick, Hunter and Scarlett, Laniya and Cyrus and Cinnavie. We will all miss her very much!