David Xóchihua, Jr.

Born in Mexico, David was introduced to the U.S. by stories from his mother Rita, who was a former nanny for a wealthy family in New York; and by visits to the U.S. with his father, who was also named David. He met his future wife, Doris Bergman, and her sisters Laverne and Dorothy, in Mexico City, when they traveled there from Minnesota. David and Doris were married in Minnesota in April 1955, in Doris’ home town of Cambridge. David drove from Mexico with his best man Eduardo for the wedding. After their honeymoon, David and Doris lived in Mexico, but moved back to Minnesota before the birth of their daughter, Lilia. They wanted their ten children to be born and raised in the U.S., but stopped after only three more, all boys – David Alan, Paul, and John.

David’s Aztec surname was unique among the fifty listed in the New Citizens Reception program booklet of July 7, 1960. His personality was also unique. A stern disciplinarian when his children were young, he revealed his gregarious, humorous, loving and thankful nature more and more over time.

After experiencing a double tornado in Fridley, Minnesota in 1965, David and Doris bought five acres of land in the country in Hopkins, where they built their own home. David managed the project and did much of the work on the house, which was at the end of a 500’ dirt driveway off of a gravel road. In Hopkins, the family explored the rolling fields, woods, and nearby lakes and ponds in every season. David spent many hours behind a snow-blower in the winter or on a tractor in the spring, keeping the driveway clear and in decent shape. The family raised heifers, horses, raccoons, geese, and rabbits. Their first dog, Canéla, always rushed to greet David whenever he arrived home. There are many family stories from this era in David’s life, and his children remember it fondly.

David was drawn to Oregon by reports from Doris’ cousin Carmen, and her husband Bud Spezza, which favored Oregon’s weather and natural beauty over Minnesota’s. While Lilia stayed in Minnesota to attend college, David moved the rest of the family to Oregon in 1973; first to Gresham, then to Sandy.

David could build, fix, or improve almost anything, and he worked as a mechanic until he retired at age 65. He loved the outdoors, hiking with the Mazamas in his youth and to many of Oregon’s waterfalls and natural wonders. Camping (tent and/or camper trailer) was a frequent weekend activity for the young family, as well as weekend drives. David also enjoyed woodworking. He was entranced by e-mail, computers, and the power of the internet, and he was always interested in new technology.

To David’s lasting sorrow, he was preceded in death by Doris, their son David, and his sister, Evelina. In addition to two siblings and extended family in and from Mexico, David is survived by his remaining children and their spouses, nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. David – and the accent he never lost – is and will be remembered and missed by his family, friends and acquaintances.

A Celebration of David’s Life will be held at McMenamins Kennedy School, 5736 NE 33rd Ave., Portland, on Saturday, June 4, 2016, at 1:00 p.m.