Mr. Antonio C. Sablan

Mr. Antonio C. Sablan was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Antonio always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Antonio was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

Antonio was born on May 11, 1945 at home in Santa Rita, Guam. His parents were Francisco and Rosa Sablan. Antonio was raised in Santa Rita, Guam. Always able to express himself well, Antonio possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Antonio was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, Antonio was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Antonio was raised with five siblings. He had three brothers, Martin, Felix and Frank, and two sisters Lourdes and Anna Mae. Antonio had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, Antonio showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. Antonio enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. He took part in volleyball, basketball and baseball.

Friends and acquaintances found Antonio an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Antonio was uncomplicated and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. Later in life, he became friends with Gene Haas, his brother in law and "partner in crime". He was also very good friends with David Sablan, Chris Mulli, Robert Allen and Ronald Lewis.

On January 12, 1972 Antonio exchanged wedding vows with Carolyn Quintanilla at The Chapel of the Bells in Las Vegas, Nevada. Antonio was attentive to Carolyn's feelings, and he charmed Carolyn and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Antonio was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

Very much like a kid himself, Antonio identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Antonio was blessed with five children, three sons, Harry, Anthony and Eric, and two daughters, Angela and Antoinette. They were also blessed with nine grandchildren, Kenneth, Jayden, Julian, Adrian, Ava, Raia, Nicole, Derrick and Harry Jr.

Antonio was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Antonio’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Antonio was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Antonio could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was being self employed in military sales. He was employed for many years by the United States Navy in Military Supply and Logistics.

Antonio was a Navy veteran. Antonio was a cool thinker who could handle himself well in a crisis. He was stationed at NAS Miramar, San Diego, Barbers Point, Hawaii, Norfork, Virginia, Subic Bay Philippines and the USS Intrepid. Antonio saw action for the Vietnam War. He achieved the rank of Petty Officer 3rd Class. He showed leadership qualities and could make tough decisions when he was called upon to do so.

Antonio enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. One of his favorite pursuits were coin collecting. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Because he liked to take risks, Antonio was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. He was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. In high school, Antonio played volleyball and basketball. His favorite recreational sports included bowling. Antonio was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity.

Antonio held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to him. He was a member of The San Diego Mission de Alcala.

Travel and vacations were experiences that Antonio truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. His favorite vacations included traveling to Guam and visiting the Northwestern states.

When Antonio’s retirement finally came in 2006, he was well prepared. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. In retirement, he found new pleasure in playing Bingo and card games at local casinos.

Antonio passed away on June 29, 2010 at home in San Diego, California. Antonio ultimately passed away due to natural causes. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; children, Harry, Anthony, Eric, Angela, and Antoinette; grandchildren, Kenneth, Jayden, Julian, Adrian, Ava, Raia, Nicole, Derrick, and Harry Jr.; brothers, Martin, Felix and Frank; and sisters, Lourdes and Anna Mae. Services were held at The Little Chapel of the Roses at Glenn Abbey Memorial Park in Bonita, California. Antonio was laid to rest at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.

Antonio was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Antonio had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Mr. Antonio C. Sablan.