Esteban Nacapuy Sagucio

Esteban 'Iban' Nacapuy Sagucio came into this world in the town of Lanao, Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines on December 30, 1931. He was the youngest son of 13 children born to Gregorio Sagucio and Nicasia Nacapuy.

After graduating from high school, Esteban attended a trade school to learn architecture. He did not complete his schooling as he was accepted into the US Navy.

On September 23, 1955, Esteban began what was to be a 20-year military career in service to his new home and country.

He married the love of his life, Elena Padre Aguinaldo, on August 5, 1960 at Manila City Hall. Nine months later, they were blessed with their first child, Edwin. Eleanor came a couple of years later, followed by Efren, two years after that.

Esteban lived his life giving to others, as others have given towards him. He has told stories of how people have helped him along the way, to become who he is and to accomplish what has become his legacy.

Aside from being a father, he was an inventor. He loved tinkering with anything that involved mechanics. He had a list of "Ideas" that would have taken more than a lifetime to achieve.

His love of maps, whether the antiquated paper ones, or Google Maps on the internet fascinated him. He would relate stories of places he has been, things he has seen, and people he has come to know. Maps allowed him to travel to the places of his loved ones and view places he has never explored.

In his nearly 86 years of life, he has touched many lives, created many memories, and left pieces of himself in the hearts of those who knew him.

IF I SHOULD EVER LEAVE YOU WHOM I LOVE,

to go along the Silent Way, grieve not,

NOR SPEAK OF ME WITH TEARS,

BUT LAUGH AND TALK

of me as if I were beside you there.

--- Isla Paschal Richardson

On December 30, 1931, Esteban Nacapuy Sagucio was born to Gregorio Sagucio and Nicasia Nacapuy. His grandfather is also Esteban Sagucio, whom he is named after. His great-grandfather, Ciriaco Sagucio, is descended from Damaso Sagucio, one of the founders of Lanao, Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. The other founder being Mariano Sagucio.

Noteworthy Events in the Life of Esteban:

September 23, 1955 Entered US Navy at US Naval Base Sangley Point, Cavite, Philippines * October 1, 1955 Boot Camp at US Naval Training Center, San Diego, CA * December 1, 1955 Technical Training at US Navy Supply Corp School, Athens, GA * January 18, 1956 Rate/Rank of Steward Recruit (TR)/Steward Apprentice (TA) * July 1, 1956 Promoted to E-2, Stewardman (TN) * October 25, 1956 - March 6, 1959 PCS to USS Cape Esperance (TCVU-88) Oakland, CA (Report to: US Naval Receiving Station Treasure Island, San Francisco, CA) * March 7, 1959-January 27, 1961 PCS to USS Oriskany (CVA-34) San Francisco, CA (Leave address: 55 Coast Road, Santa Cruz, CA) * September 22, 1958 Received 1st Good Conduct Medal Award * September 22, 1959 Re-enlistment aboard USS Oriskany (CVA-34) * November 12, 1959 Promoted to E-3/Steward 3 (SD3) * August 5, 1960 Married Elena Padre Aguinaldo at Manila City Hall, Philippines * May 1, 1961 First born, Edwin Aguinaldo Sagucio, Place of Birth: Moncada, Tarlac, Philippines in Philippine Rabbit Bus along McArthur Highway * September 22, 1961 Received 2nd Good Conduct Medal * May 16, 1962 Promoted to Petty Officer 3rd Class (E-4)/ Electrician's Mate (EM-3)/7-years TIS * May 30, 1962 - February 4, 1964 Pearl Harbor, HI/USS Bennington (CVS-20) * June 5, 1962 PCS Transfer from Treasure Island to USS Bennington (CVS-20)/Leave address: 325 Welcome Street, Los Angeles, CA * March 11, 1963 Second born, Eleanor Aguinaldo Sagucio, Place of Birth: Monte Sano Hospital, Los Angeles, CA * September 1963 - February 1964 On board the ship USS Bennington (CVS-20), Long Beach, CA/Leave address: 706 N. Coronado Street, Los Angeles, CA * 1964 - 1967 PCS to Pearl Harbor, 916 Kalihi Street, Honolulu, HI * February 9, 1965 Third born, Efren Aguinaldo Sagucio, Place of Birth: Honolulu, HI, Tripler Army Medical Center grounds (back seat of 1963 Chevy Impala) * September 22, 1965 Received 3rd Good Conduct Medal Award, Pearl Harbor, HI * November 16, 1965 Promoted to Petty Officer 2nd Class (E-5)/Electrician's Mate 2 (EM2)/Pearl Harbor, HI/10-years TIS * March 3, 1967 Re-enlistment at Pearl Harbor, HI * June 28, 1967 - September 28, 1968 Assisted in the Vietnam War, USS Hampshire County (LST-819) * September 25, 1968 PCS, Off-Base housing: 107-E Fendler Street, Olongapo City, Philippines * November 1968 - 1971 PCS, Subic Bay Philippines, 107-D Fendler Street, Olongapo City, Philippines * September 22, 1969 Received 4th Good Conduct Medal, Subic Bay, Philippines * February 13 - 20, 1970 US Citizenship, TDY to Guam for Naturalization * January 14, 1971 Re-enlistment at Subic Bay, Philippines * May 5, 1971 PCS Arrive at Ship Repair Facility (SRF), Guam * May 26, 1973 PCS Naval Station, Guam, 18 South Columbus Avenue, South Tipalao, NAVSTA, Guam * September 1, 1972 Promoted to Petty Officer 1st Class/Electrician's Mate 1 (EM1)/17-years TIS/Ship Repair Facility, Guam * December 11, 1972 Received Meritorious Unit Commendation Award, Ship Repair Facility * June 18, 1973 - June 14, 1975 PCS Lemoore Naval Air Station, 169 Skyraider Avenue, NAS Lemoore, CA 93245 * June 13, 1975 Retired from the US Navy, Lemoore Naval Air Station, CA *

Medals: National Defense Medal and Vietnam Service Medal * June 1975 Transition to Civilian Life,

21749 Acarus Avenue, Carson, CA * June 8, 1977 High School Graduation

Banning-Carson Community Adult School * 1977 Moved to Quezon City, Philippines * 1981 Employed with Alaska Packing Co., Kodiak, AK * May 6, 1982 - November 24, 1982 Employed as Electrician 2 aboard USNS MIZAR (T-Agor II) * September 19, 2008 Passing of wife, Elena Aguinaldo Sagucio, Place of Death- Sutter Roseville Medical Center, Cause of Death- Pneumonia/Multiple Myeloma * September 9, 2017 Passing of Esteban Nacapuy Sagucio at home in North Las Vegas, NV, Cause of Death- Pleural Effusion/Pancreatic Cancer

Surviving Family Members:

Edwin Sagucio (son) and Levy Sagucio (daughter-in-law), Eleanor Phan (daughter) and Hung Phan (son-in-law), Efren Sagucio (son), Megan Sagucio (granddaughter), Christopher Fernandez, Anthony Phan, William Phan, Brandon Sagucio, Nathan Sagucio (grandsons)

Eulogy for Dad by Edwin Sagucio

Thank You to all for the medical treatment and advice he has received, to the doctors and nurses at Nellis AFB (Las Vegas), VA Hospital/clinics in Las Vegas area, VA Hospital Los Angeles (double bypass operation), VA Hospital in San Francisco (pancreas operation Oct 2017), Roseville Pointe (rehab center), Dr. Emilio Padre, Dr. Europa at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay in Manila.

The two families helped dad financially during his younger years were the Gaor family (late auntie Sela) with their financial help got him an education, and the Macapulay family (late Mg Pedro Macapulay). Mg Pedro felt college was not for him and offered his college money to dad, which he gratefully accepted and used for architecture school in Manila.

To my sister (Eleanor and family) for their unconditional love and devotion to dad's care for over 8 years,

For taking him to Doctors appointments, primary care doctor, specialists, and Emergency Room visits.

Thank You to family, relatives, friends, co-workers for attending. Many thanks to those traveling from afar (San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Hawaii, and Vancouver BC)

Dad's Life -- Born Dec 30, 1931 in Lanao Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Philippines * Parents Gregorio Sagucio and Nicasia Nacapuy * Youngest of 13 children (he was last living sibling) * Named after his grandfather, Esteban * Went to elementary school in Lanao, and then continued on to Bangui High School * College in Manila (architecture) * Worked as a jeepney driver * Heard about testing for US Navy (1955) * Agreement between the US and Philippines government for the use of US military bases in the Philippines, 1947-1992) * about 8-10 of his friends took the test * 2 passed, Rafael Ancheta and dad * 100 people who take the written test, 25% would pass (those who pass written test go on to interview) * 100 people go to interview, 25% would pass * Went to medical exam, found a spot in chest; went back about 6 months later, spot did not change (as told to Eleanor) * Accepted into the US Navy * Cleared many hurdles * Took ship MNL-HNL-SFO (Treasure Island) * San Diego for 3-months boot camp * 2 to 3 weeks steward training (related civilian job would be: waiter, room service) * Filipinos were recruited as stewards * Filipinos didn't mind, quickest way out of poverty * Within a year of dad joining the US Navy, his father passed away * Dad became an electrician (after showing his supervisor an invention) * USS Cape Esperance, 2 year (aircraft carrier for transporting planes) Bay Area, Alameda, CA * USS Oriskany, 2 years (aircraft carrier), Bay Area near Candlestick Park, then ship transferred to San Diego * USS Ticonderoga (aircraft carrier) * USS Bennington (aircraft carrier), Long Beach, CA * Nov 1962, mom emigrated from Philippines and joined dad in Long Beach, CA

Served many places throughout his Naval career -- Treasure Island and Hunters Point in Bay Area * Bremerton, WA * Pearl Harbor, HI * Vietnam * Subic Bay, Philippines * Naval Station, Guam * Lemoore Naval Air Station, CA; retired 20 years honorable service for the US Navy (side note: in 1983 there were about 20 thousand Filipinos in the US Navy, more Filipinos in the US Navy than in the Philippine Navy; The Filipinos made up 4% of the US Navy)

Life after US Navy -- Moved to Carson, CA * Worked at Long Beach Naval Shipyard * Dreamed of building a house in Philippines (he purchased property near Project 2 while stationed at Subic Bay) * Moved to the Philippines * Built home: 128 K-7th Street, Kamias, Quezon City, Philippines * Studied Animal Husbandry on GI Bill * All kids eventually moved back to the US * Mom and dad would make annual pilgrimage to visit us, flying out of Clark Air Base * Benefits was free travel on board military cargo or military chartered aircraft; often flew back and forth between Philippines, Guam, Hawaii, and California * While stationed at Norton AFB (San Bernardino, CA) we flew together to Tacoma, WA * On deployment to Thailand, plane stopped at Clark AB, Philippines for refueling, passengers disembarked; Mom and dad were catching a plane to HI, we sat down and had a meal in cafeteria

Life with Dad -- Earliest recollection goes back to February 9, 1965 (when I was 3 years-9 months-8 days young) * Brother was born (date stamped in history) in the back seat of dad's 1963 Chevy Impala * I was in front seat looking back, with my sister sitting next to me * Lived in Pearl Harbor, HI (base housing) * Dad taught me to ride a bike without training wheels * Subic Bay, (duty) spent the night on board shop (YO), learned how to bait, hook, and fish * Guam, went spear fishing (rode on float, wore goggles and saw coral) * Lemoore NAS, learned how to read a map * He loved to BBQ, had a bowl of water to sprinkle flare-ups * He would do magic tricks for kids (tongue trick) * He enjoyed giving visiting relatives tours (Manila, Sacramento, Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Diego)

His Passion – Inventing * 8 patents with the US Patent Office easily searchable on electronic database (patents older than 1976 require other search criteria)

Some Inventions -- Automatic bingo scoring machine, a machine where you insert card, and can play multiple games * Full flush/half flush toilet (water saver) * Spill resistant cup * Food stand with coils to make ants dizzy * Hanger with a V-notch * Pedaled flotation (fish shaped) * Hook type clothspin * Variable angle oscillating fan * Refrigerated casket and more

Other passion -- Map reading * When on vacation, he was the navigator (paper maps) * Introduced to Google Map and Google Earth on internet, like a child with a new toy * Before going to work, I showed him how to log in, go to Google Map, click on left side for satellite view, zoom in

His Later Years (after Mom) -- Stay in Las Vegas, Roseville, Philippines * Health deteriorated and lived in Las Vegas

The last funny story I heard about dad was about a week before he passed away -- 3 weeks before his death, during his last hospital stay, his monitoring device indicated a low oxygen level and was prescribed oxygen tanks to take home. During is next appointment with pulmonary doctor he was asked to walk the hospital corridor where his oxygen level was monitored in mid-90s. Doctor: You don't need oxygen tank anymore. Dad wanted reassurance, Where to buy one? Doctor informs him he needs doctor's prescription to get oxygen tanks. * Dad disappointed

Dad is ready to join mom.

In closing -- Dad was a kind man and was always giving. There are many stories from relatives of how his kindness has touched their lives for the better.

Saying "I love you" to a man with many titles: Father, Husband (Widower), Grandpa, Sailor, Steward, Electrician, Fisherman, Traveler and Inventor.

Thank you, Dad.

We love you and miss you.