Armando Jose Palomar

Armando Jose Ramirez Palomar was born on April 9, 1949, in Palo Alto, California, and passed away peacefully on his 76th birthday, April 9, 2025, in Auburn, California, surrounded by his beloved wife and children. He was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and Jose, and his brother Leonardo. Armando is survived by his loving wife, Bertha; sons, Mauricio and Victor; stepsons, Christopher and Eric; stepdaughter, Jennifer; brother, Andy; and sisters, Lisa and Evangelina.

Armando believed deeply in the value of education and remained committed to learning throughout his life, constantly acquiring new skills in engineering and other trades that fascinated him. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Chico State University and later obtained his Master’s in Business Management from Golden Gate University. He had a long and distinguished engineering career, contributing to both established and startup companies that helped shape Silicon Valley, including Amdahl, Tandem, LSI Logic, Commercial Data Servers, and Andor Systems. He had the distinct honor of working closely with Silicon Valley pioneer Gene Amdahl, serving in key engineering roles at two of Amdahl’s companies—Andor Systems and Commercial Data Servers. He also worked as a real estate agent and was the owner of a small electrical business.

Armando’s talents and interests extended far beyond his professional life. He was a passionate runner who completed multiple marathons, including the Boston Marathon, the Los Angeles Marathon, the Folsom-Sacramento Marathon, and the Big Sur Marathon. He played in the Twin Creeks adult softball league, enjoyed racquetball and volleyball, and completed several century bike rides. He earned a black belt in karate, rode motorcycles, restored old trucks, took ballroom dancing classes, and was a lifelong fan of the San Francisco Giants and 49ers. He had a love for classic westerns, especially those starring Clint Eastwood and John Wayne. He enjoyed attending Native American craft fairs in New Mexico with his wife, Bertha. A devoted collector, he amassed Coca-Cola memorabilia, commemorative plates, coins, stamps, sports collectibles, and Southwestern-style artwork. He had a deep love for animals—especially his cat, Samantha, and his German Shepherds, Tara and Jasmine. In retirement, he embraced woodworking, crafting, landscaping, and finding creative ways to improve their home in Auburn.

Above all, Armando will be remembered for his kindness, generosity, and unwavering support of his family. He was a calm presence, a thoughtful listener, and a reliable helper, always ready to lend a hand or offer words of encouragement. Whether taking the family out to one of his favorite restaurants, watching movies or sports together, or simply enjoying a meal around the dinner table, Armando created moments of comfort, warmth, and connection. His quiet strength and generosity touched all who knew him and will continue to live on in those who loved him.

A celebration of life and interment will be held on June 13th, 2025, in Santa Clara, California.