Bernabe Mateo Colomba

As a teenager, he left home by himself to find work as a tailor in the big city of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Bernabe was a caring and supportive man from the time he was young. In his early 20s, he was married to a young lady that had been diagnosed with cancer. He knew she was ill before they married. However, he cared for and supported her while working from home so that he could be with her more until she passed away from cancer only one year after their wedding. They did not have children together.

In 1952, Bernabe started work at the Sastreria Militar (Military Tailor) where he met his future wife, Beatriz Margarita Tripoli. They dated for 7 years before they were married in February of 1960. Three years later they had their one and only child, Daniel. Bernabe adored him. He would get up early in the mornings to bring his new son to his mother to be fed and would sometimes make a bottle to feed to him himself, before heading off to work for the day.

Bernabe was not just a good father and husband; he was also a wonderful son and in-law. He supported his mother Ana who lived with him prior to his marriage and he was instantly liked and accepted by Betty’s mother and brothers. Ana and Betty’s mother, Margarita, quickly became best friends after their children were married. The two mothers moved in together and Bernabe supported them both for the rest of their lives.

Bernabe was a hardworking man. He worked mornings as a fitter at the exclusive tailor shop Casa Munoz in Argentina and then in the afternoons he worked at the Naval Tailor. He was frequently requested by patrons in both jobs. In mid-1968, he opened a private shop beneath his home where he worked afterhours creating custom suits and high end clothing for high-ranking military officials and other important clients.

In February of 1970 at the age of 49, he lost most of his savings in a banking scandal and bravely decided to take his wife and son and move to Los Angeles, California. He had no support system and nothing more than the name of one friend of a relative that was living in the United States. They brought with them nothing more than one suitcase each. But this did not deter Bernabe from working hard in his new surroundings and building a wonderful and comfortable life for his family. They took trips together to such places as Lake Arrowhead, Lake Tahoe, Las Vegas, and Palm Springs. His resilience in times of trial is one reason why he was given the nickname of Firpo, after a well-known Argentinian boxer.

Soon after arriving in the States, Bernabe began working as a fitter at Eddie Miller, a high-end clothing store in Beverly Hills.

In 1975, he moved his family to Orange to be closer to his job at the House of Tailoring and to allow more time to spend with his family. Later, he worked for De Santis in Long Beach, where he was often personally requested as a fitter and for personal delivery to special high-end clients. Bernabe eventually was forced to retire early in 1980 from his successful career in tailoring due to deteriorating eyesight.

Throughout his life, Bernabe worked hard and loved to spend time with his family: his beloved wife Beatriz, his son Daniel, his daughter-in-law Jo Ellen, and his three grandchildren Aaron, Justin, and Kenji.

When Daniel was younger, his father would spoil him with breakfast in bed and always gave his friends candy, sandwiches, and beer any chance he had. Every day before school Bernabe would go outside and warm up Danny’s car and wipe off the dew or dust so that his son would be safe and ready.

Bernabe had some other passions as well. He loved soccer! He was an associate, or a special season ticket holder, for Club Atletico River Plate of Buenos Aires for many years. He followed the Argentine National Team and also watched every Barcelona game because he was a big fan of Lionel Messi. He loved to go to the horse races and was pretty good at picking winners.

In 1982, Bernabe and his wife moved to Anaheim, where they lived until just last year when they moved to Westminster to be closer Daniel and Jo Ellen’s family.

Bernabe passed away on May 26, 2017 and will be laid to rest on June 11th, 2017, his 96th birthday.

He will forever be loved and remembered.

Arrangements under the direction of Peek Funeral Home, Westminster, CA.