Mr. Joe E. Medina

Joe was born at home to Melecio and Teresa Medina. He was number six in a family that would grow to eight. Home was located on a farm located at Clark and Spring Sts. in the city of Long Beach. At the age of three, the family moved to Artesia, CA where he grew up.

His education started at Clifton School, continued through Willow, Luther Burbank and Faye Ross Schools. As a child he enjoyed basketball, tetherball and volleyball. He delivered paper for the Press-Telegram. Many of his life-long friendships began in grammar school.

He was a member of the first class to graduate from the new Artesia High School which opened September 1955. He excelled in his math classes and became president of the Math Club. His passion, however, was playing football which remained a life-long interest. He was a member of the Varsity Football Teams in 55-56 and 56-57. He was a member of the Varsity Club. A knee injury halted his football career. He had a brief fling in acting when he played one of the three wise men in the Christmas pageant. He graduated in 1957 in the top ten of his class and received the Bank of America Award in Math.

After graduation, he went to work to help support the family but was able to continue his education at Cerritos College before transferring to then Long Beach State where he majored in Mechanical Engineering. He worked his way through school while working as a draftsman at Douglas Aircraft. It was during this period that he discovered drag racing. Drag racing became his passion and the basis for more life-long friendships.

In the 1970's he became disenchanted with the field of engineering and made a major career switch to real estate. Working as a real estate broker in the local area for over thirty years, he established yet another group of life-long friendships. While Office Manager at the Real Estate Center, he is remembered for his support of staff, sharing his knowledge and well-liked by all.

Until he became ill with diabetes and kidney failure, he lived at the family home on 212th St. He shared his home with his beloved roses, dog Quigley, dog Baby and cat Snow White. It was always open house with family coming and going. It was not unusual for him to pick up his nephews Zack and Zane at day-care and keep them if their parents were running late. Until their deaths, he cared for his mother, sisters Mary Lou and Hortense.

Family

Joe had a deep love of family. He is survived by sisters Elsie, Celia, Theresa and Rosa, his brother George, twenty-five nieces and nephews and cousins too numerous to count!

Niece Amanda Guerrero Wester (Elsie's daughter) remembers “Joe's records being played on his record player when he left the house even though we were told not to enter his room. Once, he drove to Reno just to make sure we (my family) were ok for his peace of mind. Even though the words were unspoken, I knew he loved us. Maybe three years ago I bought a toy car to send to him for his birthday. I never did. I still have it. Every time I see it, I remember him. I guess that's why I didn't send it.”

Niece Laura Guerrero Little (Elsie's daughter) remembers often being told by Joe when she was a little girl “The squirrels are outside looking for you, they think you're nuts!” “I also remember that his room being in perfect order. It was like walking into a museum where one could not touch things. Joe loved hot dogs. I remember sitting eating one and if Joe walked by only half a hot dog would be left on my plate. He found a lot of joy in my sons. He often popped in to watch TV with them, the Z-boys (Zack, Zane & Zephie). My husband Rick and I counted on him for guidance on real estate and refinance matters and he was always available. I see it now that he always cared and was always interested in what we did. What I remember most is that Uncle Joe was such a giver. I remember dropping in on him when Mary was in the hospital. He would be next to her bed reading but frequently touching and patting her.”

Niece Lucy Medina Sanchez (Celia's daughter) remembers the times when Joe would be at the bus station or Union Station to pick them up on a visit from their home in San Jose. “Back then, his pride and joy was his Mustang. I thought he was such a 'cool' uncle because he had a really fast car and it only had two doors! The ride home was fun because the upholstery was so slippery that whenever he made a turn I would slide from side to side and when he had to stop I would slam into the seat in front of me. Before I got to big, I remember that he would always put me on his lap.” Lucy also remembers the talks Joe had with her son Pablo about cars. Pablo was then only 2-3 years old.

Nephew Steve Bearden (Teri's son) remembers the Mustang well. He remembers the Mustang was a maroon fastback with a 390 hp engine. “Everyone thought Uncle Joe was cool.” Steve remembers that Joe, Jim Dunn and others took one of their cars to race at Indianapolis. His love of racing also rubbed off on Steve who got to visit with Joe's friends during his annual trip to Bonneville, Utah.

Nephew Eric Tunforss (Elsie's grandson) remembers that his Uncle Joe took him to see his dad on a few occasions. “He wanted to look at property in Arizona and Nevada and knowing my dad lived in Bullhead City, he invited me along so that I could visit with my dad. I always appreciated that he invited me and allowed me that time with my dad. The drive to my dad's took about five hours. He used to tell me about racing. Driving home from a race, he and his racing buddies knew that when they hit Las Vegas they were almost home. Uncle Joe spent his life taking care of everyone else. He was always just a phone call away if anyone needed him He will be greatly missed not just by me but by our family and all his friends.”

Other memories: a favorite outing of his was to take nephews Jason and Todd to the Long Beach Grand Prix every year; he always managed to find a little something in his wallet as a birthday present; and, he looked forward to attending the Annual Medina Family Reunion held in September. He will be greatly missed.

Friendships

A person could have no greater friend than Joe. He was loyal, he was supportive, and he was generous. Many friendships forged as a child remain today. From those childhood days, among those who counted him as a close friend at the end of his life were Arlene Soares, Ray Mitchell, Sam Boersma, Jack Kooiman and Larry Bailey.

A major loss to Joe was the loss of his dear friend Ray Holmes to cancer. Joe and Ray played football together. They were some of the “cool guys” in high school. He bucked hay with Ray and was close to Ray's family.

He got to attend his 50th High School Reunion thanks to his friends. They made sure he got picked up and taken to the hotel. He thoroughly enjoyed his visit and told them so when it was over. They often picked him up and took him to lunch.

His friendships extended to neighbors. He was always available to neighbors to assist in anyway he could. He often translated or interpreted some document, completed a form, or notarized a document. While walking his dog Quigley, he became well known to many throughout the neighborhood.

Hobbies

Cars and racing were a major part of his life. His interest began in the sixties. He started rebuilding cars for racing with Sam Boersma and then continued with Jim Dunn. Unfortunately, Joe couldn't drive because his head was too big for the helmet that's the explanation Joe gave! He always went to see Jim race at Irwindale, Ontario, Orange County, or Pomona.

His first car was a black '56 Chevy, and then came the Mustang. Once he even owned a red Pinto Station Wagon. But his last car was the love of his life, the black 1997 BMW!!!

Joe wasn't much of a traveler but he did enjoy trips to Las Vegas and the casinos.

He also loved gardening and watching football games on TV, both professional and college. When Joe was watching a football game, he was totally engrossed. Talking to him was futile. So obsessed was he with the game that he had a TV on in the living room, his bedroom, the dining room and the garage when a game was on so he wouldn't miss a play.

Joe passed away quietly in his sleep on August 10, 2009 while a resident at Katella Senior Living. A graveside ceremony will be held on August 29 at the Artesia Cemetery, 11142 E. Artesia Blvd. Cerritos, CA 90703, 562-865-6300. Arrangements are being provided by Whites Funeral Home, 9903 E. Flower St. Bellflower, CA 90706, 562-867-2741.

August 21, 2009