Mr. Anthony James Apodaca

Ordinarily one writes an biography recounting those events and deeds of their life looking back on their personal history to present a journal for all to read. Unfortunately, Anthony was caught short of his life still a young man of 30 years due to a terminal illness, but during those years he endeared himself to all he knew or came across.

Anthony was the first son born to Antonio and Guadalupe Apodaca on June 17th, 1962 in Los Angeles, California. His birth was a happy event marred by an infantile illness which nearly took his life at barely six months. God was gracious to him, and Anthony grew in strength and character as any normal child. His family life and in particular his sisters Rachel, Rose Marie, Diana and younger brother Gabriel provided a channel for his childhood happiness coupled with a love for music fostered by his mother, along with a natural ability for piano. Sensitivity and caring were some of his most admirable traits as evident by his kindness to people and love of nature and animals. His high school period was a blossoming of his talents in music and theatrical aspirations. Dancing with rhythm came as natural for him as successfully demonstrated in a school part with his sister Rose in a selection called “Night Life.”

Shortly after high school graduation, a parental misunderstanding prompted by an overbearing father who could not find enough love and understanding within himself to recognize the grievious error he was comitting led to a forced separation between father, son, and and family, and he was cast out of his home unto troubled times. His sister Rachel now was living on her own provided refuge and assistance for him in his time of need. Living on his own provided an outlet for his maturity, development and ambition with a desire to create beauty with those talents he possessed. Like many young people starting off to find their place in an unforgiving world he, in spite of adversity, found the means to do good, foster friendships especially with his best friend Camilla. Together they laid plans to find success in business, but mainly to find more of life and how to enjoy relationships with people. They were as two peas in a pod happy with each others company. The happiest times he had were engaged with the David Jones Company where he did his best work.

Through time reconciliation was made by father and son, and Anthony returned home with Hercules and Atlas, two cats who also became part of the family. His presence alone brought sunshine into his parent’s home especially his mother who never wavered with her love. “Come and dance with me mom” he would urge to the tunes of George Benson. At his younger sister’s wedding he demonstrated his smooth dance rhythms much to the delight of his dual dance partners.

Life’s pleasures and longevity were to be denied to him through his progression of illness as he grew older. The debilitating disease was taking its toll daily with no abatement. He realized what was in store for him with his illness, and he was determined to allow related drug experimentation on him for other’s sake undergoing similar circumstances and possible future prevention. Trying to stem a forceful tide with nothing but endurance led to an eventual change from home care to hospice care. To demonstrate his steely determination and zeal for life and to complete his educational goals while at hospice care, he applied for and was accepted to the University of Southern California Davis, a goal he had been working toward, while undergoing what only he knew or felt but never complained. Nearing his end he confessed, and told his mother he was going home where home was to his Heavenly Father where he was being expected, and there is no doubt with much fanfare. Anthony left us on March 2nd, 1992.

Such people as Anthony are rare and precious because they bring so much of those rare qualities to us all so lacking in today’s society. To those who knew him I attest that they were impressed by his demeanor, smile and good nature. Gentle, kind and brave is his legacy, and his life reflected exactly that.