Constantino Mendoza Aguirre

CONSTANTINO MENDOZA AGUIRRE was born to Abundio and Petra Aguirre on June 24, 1924 in Manila, Philippines. He grew up in Tondo, Manila where he attended Torres High School. He was fondly called “Tinoy” or “Agui” by family, relatives & friends in the Philippines, and “Tony” by his family & friends in the United States. On his first year of college in 1941, he attended the College of Business Administration in the University of the Philippines in Manila where all college students were required to undergo ROTC military training to handle a real rifle (World War I armament).

On December 7, 1941 after the announcement of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Constantino at the age of 17 years old together with all male students of all universities and colleges were immediately inducted to military service at the outbreak of the war, and all ROTC cadets were ordered to join the armed forces in Bataan Peninsula due to the rapid advance of the Japanese army. In 1942, he had served in the 11th Infantry of the United States Armed Forces in Northern Luzon in the final battle with Japanese forces for Philippine liberation until Manila was occupied by the U.S. Forces in 1945. Constantino was honorably discharged from service on November 1945.

Constantino married Rosine Navarrete on December 12, 1948 in Bacoor, Cavite. They have 6 children: Grace, Helen, Paul, Vivien, +Shirley, & Amy, and lived in Manila and Quezon City. In 1951 Constantino graduated from Far Eastern University with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Commerce and was Certified Public Accountant in 1952. He worked at various companies in Manila as Internal Auditor, Insurance Adjuster, Finance Manager and Controller, Chief Finance Officer, and Accounting Professor.

Having the opportunity to become US citizen thru his father, Abundio, who had served the US Navy, the Aguirre family moved to the United States in 1974 and settled in Birmingham, Alabama where they became members of the Trinity Presbyterian Church. They also became active in the City of Irondale community, and the Filipino American Association of Greater Birmingham. Constantino worked in the City of Birmingham until his retirement in 2004. His love of travel brought him and his wife to different countries around the world.

Constantino “Tony” joined our Lord peacefully on May 21, 2022. He is survived by his children: Grace(Manny), Helen(Raoul), Paul(Dianne), Vivien(Frank), son-in-law Allan(+Shirley), and Amy(+John), 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, brother Samuel(Erlina), and former daughter-in-law Olivia. He was preceded in death by his wife Rosine, daughter Shirley, son-in-law John, and granddaughter Aileen.

The family will receive friends on Monday, May 30, 2022 from 10 am until 11am. A celebration of Tony's life will follow at 11 am at Ridout's Elmwood Chapel Funeral Home.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.johnsridoutselmwoodchapel.com for the Aguirre family.