Fortunato Penalver

Fortunato was born on January 18, 1964 in Calera, Zacatecas, Mexico. He was the second son born to Catalina Caldera Montoya and Fortunato Penalver Mercado. Fortunato had a unique childhood in which he often would share stories of adventure and mischief. He told of biking miles to visit his grandfathers farm, the difficulties of having his mother chaperone at school, running to his father's business after school for candy money, life with maids, instances of farm animals turning form pets to feasts, and the accidental burning of the barn.

In the 1970s his mother, brothers and sister moved from Mexico to Los Angeles, where he attended Stevenson Junior High and Garfield High School.

He enjoyed sports; especially baseball, where he may have perfected his aim as a pitcher, and boxing which he passionately passed to his younger brothers Joel and Jorge. He and his brothers learned from their mother what it was to work hard at a young age; as teenagers they earned money mowing lawns, selling watermelons and shoe shining.

One can imagine how the streets of Los Angeles are different today from how they were then; in the wrong place at the wrong time Fortunato suffered from a shotgun wound that nearly took his life. Soon after, Catalina decided to move the family to Washington State to seek a new life. On May 18, 1980 on the way to Washington state, they ran out of gas in Portland, Oregon and were welcomed by the falling ash of Mt. Saint Helen’s and decided to stay.

In 1984, Fortunato met his future wife Linda Alicia and they later had two daughters, Alejandra Alicia & Yesenia Catalina. As the second oldest of six and a strong and just man, Fortunato was viewed as a father figure to his siblings. With his love and respect for family, and willingness to do anything for them he became the protector, the disciplinary and a business leader. At a young age he enlisted in the US Army, but as a man with such strong convictions the match was not there. As a smart, talented, and resourceful individual, he found his calling in construction and real estate. Throughout his life, he persevered in assisting the family restaurant business doing whatever necessary for its success; from renovations to maintenance, to opening up El Mercado and La Cantina.

Fortunato earned his Associates Degree in Business Administration from Portland Community College while exploring a variety of jobs. He worked as a cook, a forest fire fighter for the US Dept of Agriculture, US Moorings, Spanish translator for the local hospital, and estimator for Blue Star Construction. In 2005, he and his family journeyed to Seoul, Korea for three years and then to Hawaii for over a year where he worked as an Army Education Counselor. While abroad, he and his family had the opportunity to travel around South East Asia and were able to tour the Sydney Opera house in Australia, the Karen Long Neck village of Thailand, to the intensity of Tokyo, Japan and more. Upon returning to Oregon he worked as a Project Manager for Habitat for Humanity and continued to do renovations and improvement on the commercial and residential properties that he is so much a part of today.

Fortunato was a very dedicated son, brother, husband, father and uncle. He is remembered for his big heart, his friendly and happy attitude, his sincere smile, his humor and conviction. He always was looking to improve the quality of life of his family and those around him as he was a selfless individual. He loved gardening, exercising, hiking, camping, raising his ducks and chickens and most of all spending time with family.

Fortunato was preceded in death by his father Fortunato Penalver Mercado and his brother, Joel Caldera. He is survived by his wife Linda VanBlaricom, daughters, Alejandra Alicia Penalver-Vanblaricom & Yesenia Catalina Penalver-Vanblaricom. His mother Catalina Caldera and brothers, Eduardo Penalver, Jaime Caldera, Jorge Meza and his sister Esmeralda Caldera. His brother-in-law Andre Haynes, and sister-in-law Monica Meza and Geraldina Becerra. Many nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends who loved him dearly.

Fortunato received two awards for outstanding education support services from Director of the Army Continuing Education System Korea Region & appreciation on the home front for his sacrifice in defense of the Nation from US Navy Region SW Reserve Component Command.

In honor of Fortunato, donations can be made to Catholic Charities and Habitat for Humanity

Que Dios los bendiga