Ismael Albert Duarte, Jr.

Albert graduated from Santa Clara High School in 1971. He loved his SCHS community of friends and loved participating in school activities. He was proud of receiving the SCHS 1971 School Service Award, a testament to his school spirit. Had boys been allowed to be cheerleaders, he probably would have been the Head Cheerleader!

Among the various jobs Albert held, were cook, cashier, guard and packager, but the one he was most proud of was being an assistant machinist to his brother, Mark.

Albert suffered a brain injury in 1971, from a motorcycle accident during the week before his high school graduation. This resulted in 52 years of mental illness, which sadly affected all those who loved him. He was lovingly cared for by his sister, Rita Duarte Herrera, his brother-in-law / cuñado, Joel R. Herrera, and his cousin / primo hermano, Richard Torres, for several years. God knows they did their best to keep him safe and healthy.

Albert received many awards for his poetry and art from the Grace Community Center. His artwork was published, along with others, in a Grace Community Center booklet. Albert loved making collages and writing thank you letters. These heartfelt expressions of gratitude were given directly to family and friends by Albert.

Our hearts are broken. We grieve for the artistic, kind, humorous man, who was loved as a son, brother, cuñado, primo, friend, uncle, and as Dolores Ramirez’ life partner.

Albert is survived by his precious sweetheart, Dolores, her brother, Richard, his loving sister, Rita, and his cuñado Joel. Albert is also survived by the 4 Ismael and Pauline Duarte grandchildren (Mark, Kristina, Jesse, Jessica); 7 Duarte great-grandchildren (Anthony, Gabriel, Alyssa, Bella, Briana, Isaac, Jacob), and 3 Duarte great-great-grandchildren (Emma Rose, Ben, Aayla Rae). Albert is survived by many first cousins (Prim@s Herman@s) from both the Ismael Alberto Duarte Peñúñuri branch and from the Pauline Nelly Nava branch, many nieces and nephews in both the USA and México, and his “adopted” Bandara, Douglas, Zamora and Muñoz families. The members of the Grace Community Center also grieve the loss of the valued friend they knew as Ismael.

Albert is predeceased by and lovingly reunited with his brothers, Louie, Mark, their parents, Ismael and Pauline, his God Parents, Catalina Duarte Torres and Juan H. Torres and other Heavenly Beloveds.

His sister, Rita, says, “Thank you, Albert, for teaching me to be a more understanding, more patient and more compassionate human being. I will always love you.”

Donations in the name of Ismael Albert Duarte, Jr. may be made to “The Friends of Grace,” a non-profit organization, a 501c3 public benefit corporation. GCC provides unparalleled therapeutic services to adults with mental illness. The Grace Community Center was a sacred space for Albert, and it was his second home and where he thrived!

the Duarte family