Luis Segundo Araya

Luis Segundo Araya Brander passed away on June 9th at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Stockton. He was born in Valparaiso, Chile on July 20th, 1933 to Liboria Brander Diaz and Luis Alberto Araya Carmona. Luis graduated at the Universidad Catolica de Chile in 1958 as an Elementary Teacher. In 1967, he received a Master’s degree in Special Education from the Universidad de Chile. In 1969 he received his degree as a school administrator. In 1975 he received his master as Professor of History, Geography and Social Studies. In 1984 he received his Bachelor of Science with a major in Spanish from University of Pacific and later pursued his Bilingual-Cross cultural credential at the same university. In 1973, Luis was taken as a political prisoner during Coup-‘D-etat in Chile. He survived torture at the hands of the military. Eventually he was driven out of the country by the endless persecution and the unceasing threat of death. He came with his wife and five children to the United States as political refugees. Even though his country had no place for him he always held a special place for the Chile he knew, in his heart. As the years went by, the United States of America had grown to become the rock for which his family had established themselves and pursued their dreams. Luis is survived by his lovely wife of 59 years, Juana Luengo Vera, his two sisters Aurelia and Lorenza Araya, and his children, Ruth Westover, Luis A. Araya, Angelica Ortiz, Juan I. Araya, Waleska Gonzalez, Marcela Brown, and Rodrigo Araya, in addition to 17 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. No matter how many degrees Luis achieved, he never forgot his humble roots. He was a very modest, loving, strong, and gentle soul. Although we may not be able to hug him on earth any longer, his spirit will always be embracing our hearts forever.