Happy birthday dad! Today is your 87th birthday & Ive been thinking about U. I actually have 2 sweet memorabilia pieces that Sharon & Kaylie gave me 2 Christmases ago; a photo quilt & the teddy bear. The bear is made of your clothes & Khloe nicknamed him Grandpa bear. He sits on my pillows in the center of my bed & reminds me everyday of you.  Miss you dad, its still so strange not having u here; its still surreal.  I thank God that He gave U to me as my father bcuz it was His plan to do so. Love you very much Dad!

Hey Dad, wherever U are, know that im thinking of U on this anniversary date of your passing. U are still missed so much ESPECIALLY after Christmas. We all miss u so much & love U so much especially for all U did for us!  Your memory & all u did & accomplished, go on. We keep u alive in our hearts. I continue to tell the grand kids about U! Rest in peace Dad. Love U!

Happy Fathers Day Dad! Thinking about you today & how Im grateful for the life lessons Ive learned from you. Your memory lives on in the cabin! We will do you proud with it. Thank you again for the sacrifices you made for me & us kids. I think about all the weekend camping trips & all those day trip getaways. You made weekends & your free time about us. ("Hey, lets go for a ride!!") Appreciated those days very much!!
Love you, Dad. I honor you on this day.
 ~ Linda

Dad, i cant believe this world keeps on celebrating fathers day when youre not here any more! Its so surreal. I think about how u saved &saved and never really got to experience the fruit of your labor. But u instead gave us a wonderful gift i dont think you planned on, the amazing side effect of bringing us sibblings closer You have given us 
so very much in that respect since you have passed away.  I keep u in my memories always Dad. My heart goes out to you.






Thinking about you today, Dad! Remembering the weekends we'd have together. I will always remember them. 

Birthday greetings to you Dad! Your website page was having glitches yesterday :(   Hoping you can sense the lavender flowers I picked out for U (your fave, symbolic color) One of the bad things of living out of state is i cant come & visit your memorial site often enough but i am planning a visit in the next month, so im gonna stop by then! I think about you every day when i see my quilt and when one of your lessons pops in my head. You wont ever be forgotten Dad! Love you very much. Thank you again for everything, i love you very much.

Hey Dad, I do know your soul is out there somewhere and if you get this message, know that I love you very much and keep all the lessons & wisdom I have learned from you. The memories are with us and we cherish them. Sorry i couldnt get out to Calif to go visit your grave on your 1 year anniversary, but know that you are in my heart every day. Your memory quilt is on my bed and i 'see' you every single day and your shirts too; its a wonderful comfort to have you in my life this way, so close to me.  When i consider the part of your life that i have known you, I see how much you had changed over the years and finally became this fragile octogenarian. Im still sad at how you had to struggle with your health at the end, as a nurse its awful to carry that knowledge in my head of what was going on at that particular time. It was out of our hands though. There was nothing any one could do at that time to help you except pray for you. Keeping good thoughts of you as i look at my quilt daily. Its been a true blessing to me to have your shirts, pockets, buttons, collars, & of course the sweet photos of you, Dad. When my fingers casually come across one of the buttons or collars on my quilt, I get a quick memory of you and literally feel the seriousness of my quilt; its not just something that keeps me warm or looks nice on my bed, its a special connection with you. See you when i come out to Cali next. I am really looking forward to that.

Happy birthday Dad! This is the first birthday that I don't have you with me on earth & its just so surreal. I close my eyes and pretend I am giving you one last hug. I hear you calling me "mija" and then I feel comfortable knowing all is OK. Instead of being sad, I'm going to focus on the greatest  & best memories of you, today. Your birthday, father's day, & your leaving day will always be days we are together, in my heart. I wish I could be there to visit your grave today, but I'm so far away. I am, however, coming next month and I will decorate it with flowers, just meet me there. I see you everywhere, Dad, in so many objects, words, mementos, songs, & memories. I see you, feel your presence, and sense the very essence of your being at the cabin. Thank you so much for leaving us the cabin, it's the place I can go to & ALWAYS connect with you. I know you're memories are there. I know you are there! Best birthday wishes & love to you, Dad! 

Forgotten  Bride 
Members of Joel’s elder sister wedding party were hurriedly dressing  as was the bride to   get to the Guadalupe  Church in Santa Barbara   Suddenly the motel room except for the bride was empty of people. W here was the church and how would she get. There. Taxi? Cell phones Not yet in common. Hearing an exploding sound  the bride look out and saw a 1929 Dodge with a sputtering muffler and her teenage brother , Joel inside. Since neither knew church’s location they asked passersby where to.  Sputtering antique Dodge, Joel with bride in back seat arrive at Guadalupe Church   Bride opened Dodge door and stepped in her high heels while soda bottles on the floor of back seat came tumbling out pass her high heels as she descended as elegantly as she could. 

Dad, there's a lifetime of memories that I wish I could put down. I remember when I was little and almost set fire to the house.  I found the lighter and thought it was cool how the petals of the plastic plant curled up. I lit too many and it all caught fire. I went out to the kitchen to get something to cover it up and you followed me back to see the flames almost reaching the ceiling! It became just a funny story you liked to tell! And I remember how you hid the "violent" video games I liked playing. (Not violent by today's standards!) If I found the games, you said you'd give them to me. You felt bad for me and ended letting me play them. Now I am so glad you got to see me get my college degree. I know that was so important to you! It's just insane that you're not around any more. I just wish we could go back in time. Thank you, Dad, for everything. I love you.

I remember always being proud of you tio ,when I was young my mother weould tell  me stories of your educational attainments, I still remember attending your masters ceremony at Pepperdine decades ago,it was a beautiful  sunny day  then earning yourPhD at USC . I will always remember your love , warmth and generosity you extended to me and my family. I can’t tell how honored we were when  you gave me a key to the cabin to enjoy and enjoy we did.   This summer as  we were clearing the brush from the cabin lot I was a impressed and amazed by your strength and stamina, hauling the brush up the stairs to Joaquin’s truck two buckets at a time, the work wiped me out, Although I used a trash bin instead. We then proceeded down the mountain to the landfill in San berdoo (tio driving) I noticed we were going pretty  fast with no noticeable use of the brake or lower gear, I’m hanging on as my body is shifting left to right in my seat as your negotiating curves downhill,I said,” we’re going a little fast and you replied “yeah because I’m driving in neutral gear to save gas.”                                               Tio we just want you to know we  love you and will miss you dearly .

Ah Tio....I will miss you.  I know you can see us and will let us know your presence from time to time.  I feel fortunate that you were a role model and a father figure for me.   I was so proud, as we all were, when you received your MA and then PhD.   As I grew, your teachings (even those that made me upset at the time) became clear.  I knew you were preparing me for life in this wonderful, sometimes highly unfair, world.

For instance, I remember when I was a child, all of the family at a picnic at a park.  All of us cousins were running around having fun.  Yet there was another family that, unbeknownst to us kids, did not take kindly to us or rather our skin color.   You, in a bellowing voice, made it clear "Us Mexicans" had just as must right to be there as they did and so they might as well get used to it or leave.  Wow!  It made me feel protected and proud of who I am.

In fact, you always found ways to make me feel special and supported.  Whether it was coming to see my cross country meets or being there at my college graduation.  

I will always think fondly of our talks at the cabin.  I will always get a chuckle when I think of the newspaper gift wrap, the mystery wines, and the treks you took for parking at the Hollywood Bowl.

Journey well Tio....teach Socrates a thing or two...

Your loving nephew,

Greg

I met Uncle Joel through my husband Martin. He had been a kind hearted person with great love for his family. He had sent Adam, his great nephew, birthday and Christmas gifts every year. I cherish the memories of Thanksgiving and Christmas Eves at his house.  Thanksgiving was always a challenge because the guests were not allowed to have snacks before the dinner so we would eat all of his delicious Thanksgiving dishes. And we did.  Martin and I especially love his sweet potatoes with canned peach, mandarines and brown sugar. Uncle Joel loved to be a chef on that day. He even wore a  torque (chef hat) during cooking. 
Uncle Joel was an example of educational  achievement. I remembered learning about his challenges while working on  the thesis for his doctorate in education. I  remembered thinking that I wanted to get my doctoral degree like he did. Uncle Joel, thank you for your inspiration. I strong believe that your educational success had encouraged me to get my own doctorate degree in nursing. 
I wish that we could have been visited you more often in recent years. I want to let you know that I had thought of you and your family frequently. I thank you for always remembering Adam's birthday and Christmas gifts. I thank you for being the "influencer" on my education success. I will never forget your whole-hearted smile, sense of humor, and humility. 
You are forever in the hearts of all of us: Martin, Adam, and I. 
You are loved and missed dearly forever. 
Diem-Linh Tran on behalf of Martin and Adam Hernandez. 

(Note: Linda not Lisa in above photo.)

One of Dad's Legacies... He leaves 14 descendants altogether as his legacy.

Dad meets his first great grandchild for the first time! Welcome 4th generation baby, Liam Hazlett, V 😁💕

There are two questions that stick in my mind like bookends to our thirty-plus year relationship. The first you asked, calling me back after we’d just finished a business call: “Are you married, engaged or anything?”  And you asked me out for dinner!  You showed up and said you’d made reservations at four different restaurants because you didn’t know what I’d like.  After I picked Indian, you impressed the heck out of me by taking the time to call the other three restaurants to cancel the reservations.  We talked for hours at Akbar’s in Marina del Rey.  When you took me home, you took this photo out of your wallet to show me your kids, saying they were big now.  Such a sweet photo! I couldn’t figure out how old you were. (You’ve always taken such great care of yourself!) You had to be in your 40s, possibly 30s – no, you were 50! I was 34. Your mom thought I was too young for you, but you invited me to be part of your family anyway.  I’m so glad you did!  And a couple years later, we welcomed Ben into that family.  We had our ups and downs like every family, but both ups and downs were punctuated by your witticisms! (You’d claim you weren’t a “full wit – just a half-wit!”)  But sadly, we come to that other bookend question, asked in your hospital room in Huntington Hospital last fall: “So have you given much thought to going it alone?”  “No!” I scoffed.  Your chemo treatment was going well, and in your exercise-walks around the ward, you made it twice around in just minutes, still walking faster than me!  I’m still not ready to “go it alone,” but with all that love we shared for decades and together with our family, I am not alone. You are still here with us in every joke and every determined effort to get things done and make a difference.  Thank you, Joel, for being a blessing to my life in so many, many ways! I love you!

You were the best abuelito a kid could ask for. Always serious and grumpy but somehow always laughing and joking at the same time. I remember going on walks with you struggling to keep up and you’d point to little dog poops and asking me if I wanted a tootsie roll. You served in the 82nd airborne and then went on all the way to get your EdD. You were one of the smartest men I knew and sharp as a tack till the very end. You lived a full life and were loved by all your family. Your memory will live on till I see you again. Love you grandpa abuelito ❤️‍🩹

Hey Dad, I will not forget the Saturday when our only car was inoperable for some reason, and you amazingly bike rode each of us kids separately, up to the church's kids show that was going on. I google-mapped the distance & it was 2 miles one way!! and you rode each of us 3 kids (Joaquin too young) separately just so we wouldn't miss the show. I remember being excited to get to go after all! I also remember thinking you didnt have to do that. But it tells me that you just wanted to make us all happy on that day! It is an astounding feat to do for just some kids (we were 8, 7, & 5). We got a ride back from a church friend/neighbor, if i remember correctly. I dont think i ever thanked you for it. But i never forgot the story!!
One more thing; Joaquin passed away on Oct 27th, you passed away on Dec 27th, & you were buried on Jan 27th, & I cant believe that all those dates are simply a coincident. I dont believe in coincidences. What does it mean? Am I to believe that 27 is an important number of some significance for some reason? I feel that it means something and for now, its a connection with you Dad. I hope to find out what it is all about. I find myself missing you more each day. Its a surreal feeling that you are no longer here. I will carry your memory onto my grandkids, so they know about you and can tell their grandkids some day. You will not be forgotten, Dad. I love you forever. 

Papa was always such a funny man. That’s something I will always cherish with me forever. A memory I have when I was a kid was at the dinner table it always took so long to get the food so I would always say papa I’m hungry! He would come over and shake my hand and say “Nice to meet you hungry, I’m Joel”. He never stopped saying that lol. I love you papa so much I only wish you  could watch me grow up and see how far I go in my life. I know you are watching over all your grand children. We will make you proud don’t you worry. I love you forever and beyond. 

There was a time I spent I think about a week with papa and aunt Sharon. We went to a lot of museums, went bike riding around the school, made popcorn in a pot and not a microwave lol and ate lots of Mediterranean food! And of course the week was filled with papas jokes. One time we went to the 99 cent store and he told my sister and I  “you can get whatever you want in the store, money is no object here.” That joke stuck with my forever. Miss you papa, thanks for everything you did for me. :)

This is really hard for me so I'm just going to retell a story about my dad.  We were at the cabin for Thanksgiving and I was cleaning (as I always did) and couldn't find the broom. So I asked my dad "Hey Dad, where is the broom?" And he replies, without skipping a beat, "Are you going somewhere, Mejia?" That's how quick my dad was with his wit!! Now I'm reminded about my wedding day, my dad said to me at beginning of walking me down the aisle and I told him "Right foot first, dad, so I don't trip and look awkward" as he immediately walked on his left foot and and totally threw off my walk!! It's ok DAD! We looked great!!

I was 8 when we lived in Redondo Beach. I remember our fun family strolls down the Redondo Beach pier, buying live crabs for dinner. But I also loved walking to the liquor store with Dad because I knew he would buy me a 10c pack of baseball cards. I would sift through them and admire the hats and uniforms. Then my dad would look through them and tell me which players were good. I put those cards in a special pile because I valued my dad's opinion. I knew he was right.

I also loved to tag along whenever Dad went to Thrifty's Drug store because I knew we'd all get a 5c single-scoop ice cream cone. And if there was any sports stuff in the discount bin, there was a good chance he would buy it for me (if I begged hard enough and looked pitiful). One time my Dad bought me an NFL coffee-table book from the 1970 season, it was already 3 years old by then. Man, I loved that book, studying photos of Johnny Unitas and George Blanda. I still have it. It's falling apart in the garage somewhere. One time, he bought me a 30-ounce baseball bat. It was too heavy for me to swing correctly, but I loved that bat. I took it to my first little league game and was crushed when the coach said "Son, you can't use wooden bats in this league. Grab an aluminum bat." I still have that 30-ounce bat in the garage, too.

When I was 9, we moved to Long Beach and my parents divorced shortly thereafter. Dad tried to think of fun places he could take us kids on his visits. One day, my Dad took me and my little brother Joaquin to our very first baseball game. It was Helmet day at Angel Stadium (Dad was not a Dodger fan, so neither was I). I still remember the date: May 8, 1976 against the Cleveland Indians. It was majestic! Our seats were so high up, I thought I would plummet to the field if I leaned too far forward. Dad bought me a 50c scorecard because I wanted a keepsake of the game (even though I always kept everyone's ticket stubs). And no, I don't still have the helmet. Those things broke easily

(Part 2)
In 1977, we went to more baseball games because Dad read in the newspaper about this young, wild, strikeout pitcher on the Angels named Nolan Ryan. This Ryan character was capable of walking the bases loaded, then striking out the side. We became Nolan Ryan fans after we found it more exciting watching Ryan pitch himself out of trouble than watching the Angels at bat. From then on, my dad would call me up out-of-the-blue and say "Hey, Nolan Ryan is pitching tonight. Wanna go?" And I'd shout Heck Yeah! Because, every time Ryan stepped on the mound, there's a chance we'd witness a no-hitter. That was our bond, Nolan Ryan. One year, Dad bought me a Nolan Ryan Angels jersey, with a big red #30 on the back. It was the best gift ever!

Before the 1978 season, Dad gave me the Angels game schedule and told me to mark down 3 tickets for all the games I wanted to go. I quickly marked every game where they gave out something free: jackets, shirts, bats, helmets, batting gloves, seat cushions! At $2 a ticket, I was aghast when the total came out to over $65!!! That was a lot of money in 1978, since a Big Mac cost 65c, and a new Honda Civic cost $1800. My dad was a frugal man! This would not fly. I mean, we got an earful for leaving the lights on in an empty room. Nervously, I called him and said, "Dad, we can save a lot of money if we leave Joaquin at home. He doesn't even watch the game. All he does is eat hot dogs, cracker jacks and ice cream sandwiches." But Dad would not hear of it. "That's the way Joaquin enjoys the game," he lectured me. "Don't worry about the money. Mark the games you want, including Joaquin." This baffled me. Dad cut coupons and pinched pennies, and here I was spending $65 on baseball tickets. I felt so guilty. Today, I realize Dad wasn't a miser. He just wanted to spend his money making family memories. He did not want to waste that money on the electric company or grocery stores. I'm the same way now, spending my money on family memories.

(Part 3)
In 1979 the Angels won the division for the first time in their history. They were finally headed for the playoffs against the Orioles. My Dad knew how important this was to me. So, he gave me $400, and my friend Eddie and I stood in a very, very long line to buy Angels playoff tickets for Games 3 and 4, the first two Angel home games. But by the time we reached the ticket booth, the two home games were sold out. All they had left were tickets for game 5, if it was even necessary. That meant the Angels had to win at least 2 games for game 5 to happen. I was crushed when the freaking Orioles eliminated the Angels in 4 games, so that 5th Angels playoff game never happened. Our tickets were worthless. I was so angry at how unfair it was... not only was my favorite team beaten, I was gypped out of the game. I blamed Brian Downing for that, because he choked in game 2, top of the 9th with the bases loaded, 2 out, and 1 run behind. A win would have most certainly forced a game 5. I hated baseball after that. I hated Brian Downing even more.

The next year, in 1980, I discovered punk rock. It was dangerous and exciting. Unfortunately, it was not something I could share with my dad. However, my dad still wanted to play a part, however small, because he always supported my interests. He loaned me money to buy a P.A. system so I could sing for a punk band. Then he loaned me money when my band wanted to make a record. I never did fully pay back those loans. My dad should have had my legs broken. The last game I attended with my Dad was an XFL football game in 2020. It was fun. But we'll always have baseball... me, my Dad, and Nolan Ryan.

Grumps, that was my nickname for you growing up, a cross between grumpy and gramps! It was funny, and you started signing my cards “Love, Grumps”. I have fond memories of spending some summer days with you. One time we went hiking to a waterfall…you kept teasing that we were almost there…even though we were never close & our legs were hurting. I remember you would ask us if we were hungry or thirsty and we would get excited and say “yea!” and then you would point to empty bottles and food wrappers on the floor and say “There you go” and chuckle…always made us laugh. I distinctly remember breakfasts consisted of plain toasted cereal with walnuts and berries, and we often got treated to our own personal pint of sorbet which to me and Will was a super treat. And of course our love of Indian food came from you! You loved your walks…me and William went with you a few times but it was hard to keep up, I think we even started taking scooters. My only regret is that you never got to meet your great granddaughter Khloe, you would have loved her infectious smile and laugh and she would have loved you teasing her. Love you Grumps, until we meet again. Kaylie 

Dad, i said goodbye to you one more time today! You made an impact on this world and you mattered so much. I thank u for enriching my life in so many ways. You were a great dad who put up with all my inquisitive questions about life. U were so patient with me as i would fire off question and question to about random things in life. I loved learning from you. I admired your knowledge and wisdom. I appreciated your tenderness. I felt your pride in me when i did my best or at least tried and it made me so confident. Thank you dad for loving me and raising me, i know you did your best! I hate to see you go away forever. I miss you so much already. Thanks for instilling in me a respect for education. You made me want to achieve my masters degree and just go for it. Thanks for being a good father to me. I know we are not all perfect but love is unconditional. I will keep you in my heart always, Dad.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Joel Recinos, Ed.D

18 février 1938 – 27 décembre 2021

Pierce Brothers Turner & Stevens Mortuary

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