Ernest Garcia

He was born June 14th, 1915 in Belen, New Mexico to Beatriz Baca and Jose de la Cruz Garcia. His mother passed away when he was 9 months old and his father passed away when he was 6 years old. His father, a World War One Veteran, died in 1922 from debilitating mustard gas damage to his lungs during that war.

He was reared by his mother’s parents Placida and Bernardino Baca, and was surrounded by his mother’s younger brothers and sisters, Carlie, Eloisa, Libby, Nick and Milton who regarded him as their little brother. He enjoyed the farm life and developed a great appreciation for nature.

When he graduated from high school, with the strong urging of his family, he became the first member of his family to attend college by enrolling at New Mexico A&M (now State)College. Being a good high school athlete, he tried out for the football team and made it. He transferred to the University of New Mexico the following year where he met his future wife, Herlinda (Linda) Salazar. He enrolled as a biology major, and after sitting out a year and playing trumpet in the band, he tried out for the football team and made it. He started for the Lobos for two years at end.

Upon graduation, he began looking for work, but the depression was still limiting opportunities. He had an assortment of odd jobs from encyclopedia salesman to insect removal. In the end, he became frustrated that his college degree was not being utilized. He appealed to then U.S. Senator from New Mexico, Dennis Chavez for help finding appropriate work. To his surprise, Sen. Chavez invited him to join him on his Washington, DC staff. With this opportunity, he asked Linda to marry him and off they went to Washington.

It was one of the Senator’s rules, that all of his patronage appointments must go to school or they could not stay with him. My father chose to enroll at Georgetown University Dental School in 1939. Upon his graduation from dental school in 1943 he volunteered for active duty with the Navy. He was stationed at the Navy Yard, Washington, DC for the duration of the war.

In May of 1945 their son, Stephen Garcia was born. They lived in Northeast Washington until 1948. At that time, they bought their first and only house in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

He began his dental practice in downtown Washington, DC 1945. He retired from active practice in 1990.

In 1952, because of a loophole in the draft law, he was drafted again during the Korean War. He was ordered to Moffett Field test base in Mountain View, California. He achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander before his release from the Navy in 1954.

He developed a passion for golf and honed his game to shoot in the low 80’s. He was also an avid baseball fan and Redskin season ticket holder from 1952 until 2002. He also enjoyed games of chance and developed a lifelong love of horseracing. He owned three racehorses during the 60’s and found that great fun albeit expensive.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Linda, who passed away in 1996. He is survived by his son, Stephen, his grandson, Michael, granddaughter, Briana, great grandson Hawken and daughter-in-law Jennifer.

He will be greatly missed by all of those whose lives he touched.

Services will be held at Blessed Sacrament Church, Chevy Chase, MD Friday, August 24th at 11AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Montgomery County Humane Society at 14645 Rothgeb Dr. Rockville, MD 20850 or by calling (301)-279-9677