He is survived by his wife, 8 children, 23 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and extended family and friends.
Gusmaro Reyes, a man of integrity and vision, was born on October 11, 1919 in Parlier, California. At a tender age of seven, his parents drove the family to Jalisco, Mexico, with the intentions of returning to California. Instead, Gusmaro grew up at Rancho de Las Animas in Santa Maria de Los Angeles, working tirelessly in growing corn, beans. Inspired to fight poverty, he learned to be a tailor and as a teen, he studied under a master tailor. By 1940, Gusmaro embarked to Mexico City to work as a tailor, earning no more than $2 a day. In 1946, Gusmaro married Bernarda Puentes and journeyed back to the U.S., proving to immigration services that he was a United States citizen. The tailor found himself working “la pala” for Jack Harris Ranch, after working seasonal crops in the San Joaquin Valley. From 1948-1959, living in a train box-car, tents, and labor camps, Gusmaro clocked 24 hour days. By 1959, he worked in a Fresno raisin company and irrigation work and picking cotton at night by moonlight and the headlights of his 1953 Dodge pick-up. Raising eight children, he gave up his dream as a tailor. He dedicated his life to his children’s educational success, yielding doctoral degrees earned by three children, a J.D., M.D., and Ed.D, two children earned B.A degrees and are public-school teachers; one earned a B.S. and worked in government/public affairs; one daughter worked as a university professional; and one son a construction superintendent. Gusmaro often said, “you can work the fields or go to school.”
Over his lifetime, civic and community involvement were essential to Gusmaro. He taught his children to be civic-minded and support families in need. In 1968, Gusmaro not only joined the United Farm Workers of America but registered all eight children as UFW members, as he joined the March 10, 1968 rally when U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy visited Cesar Chavez in Delano, California. Gusmaro's values were aligned with the values exhibited by the UFW. Gusmaro was also a proud 60-year member of AFL-CIO International Brotherhood of Teamster’s Union, Local #431. He was also an active member of Calwa Community Service Organization, La Sociedad de Oro, and instilled in his family the importance of voting in every election.
Recognized for his personal sacrifices and dedication to higher education for his children, in 2009, Gusmaro was awarded the inaugural “Padres Heroes” award by Telemundo and Verizon Wireless.
Gusmaro also enjoyed showcasing his trophies from the Big Fresno Fair Run, Shin Zen Run at Woodward Park, and the Delano Father’s Day Run. He loved listening to mariachis, singing and playing music, gardening and grafting trees, traveling, dancing, reading and journaling, and spending quality time with his family. At 96, and almost 70 years of marriage, he remained a man of strong Catholic faith.
To keep his vision alive, a Memorial Scholarship Fund has been established in his name at the Education & Leadership Foundation. To contribute, or learn more, visit www.education-leadership.org
Biography
Gusmaro the American Citizen: On October 11, 1919, Francisco Reyes and Ramona Enriquez gave birth to their fourth child, a son, named Gusmaro Reyes. Gusmaro was born and raised in Parlier, California, a small town in California’s Central Valley, and attended an elementary school near a railroad track in Parlier until the age of seven. With the money earned from the land leased from a Japanese farmer, they bought a brand new 1925 truck, and in 1926, they drove from Parlier to Jalisco, Mexico, through what is known as The Grapevine. The family had intentions of returning to California soon. They left a newer car with neighbors for safe keeping.
Gusmaro the Mexican/Misteco/Obrero: At the tender age of seven, Gusmaro lived in Rancho de las Animas until the age of 27, a ranch with so much rich history, and a beautiful landscape located outside of Santa Maria de los Angeles, in northern Jalisco. Later in life, he learned that several generations were from Rancho de las Animas and the surrounding areas (including Zacatecas) dating back to the 1650’s. Now that the family was back home in Mexico, Gusmaro’s parents bought more property with the money they had earned from the farm in Parlier, California.
Gusmaro the survivor: He shared that there were times food was unavailable, and he and his brother would go hungry, often carrying only a piece of a hard tortilla in his pocket. He and his oldest brother Antonio, who was seven-years older than Gusmaro, worked tirelessly at El Potrero, one of the properties, living there from June thru December each year. They planted and grew corn, beans, and raised cattle to sustain the immediate and extended family. Gusmaro has many fond memories of his older brother, Antonio, who he considered his first teacher. He shared many stories on how rock fences were built to divide property; or clearing the land for planting – or for fencing in their cattle. They would carrying one rock at a time from the land or from a nearby river; fences often had to be repaired.
Gusmaro the tailor: He learned to be a “sastre,” (tailor), from a man named Domingo Rubalcava in Colotlán, Jalisco who not only taught him a skill but gave him his personal patterns for making suits. After his apprenticeship, Mr. Rubalcava encouraged Gusmaro to return to Rancho de las Animas and sew for people from the town. He shared that one day, he stayed home from school because his mother had washed his only pair of pants made out of “manta” (a white linen that peasants would wear), and the pants disintegrated. His school teacher from Rancho de las Animas came to his home to find out why he was absent. Gusmaro was wrapped in a blanket because he had no other clothes. He was extremely embarrassed. This incident inspired him to be a tailor, and never go without clothing.
By 1940, in his early 20’s, Gusmaro embarked on a new life leaving rural northern Jalisco to Mexico City to find work. He first took on work in construction, and also continued his business as a tailor. Using what he learned in Colotlán, he made his own patterns for suits, jackets, pants, sewing various types of material, including leather. Earning just enough to keep a small place in Mexico City, he recalled times were rough, sometimes earning only no more than two-pesos in a full day’s work – but he learned to make ends meet.
Gusmaro the husband: His marriage was of utmost importance to him, married for 70 years to his beautiful wife, Bernarda Puentes, known for her strong faith in God. They were an incredible team. In 1946, Gusmaro returned to Rancho de las Animas to ask for Bernarda Puentes’ hand in marriage. By July 7, they married in the catholic church in Santa Maria de los Angeles. Shortly after getting married, and while still working in Mexico City, his uncle Jose Navarrette, came looking for him in Rancho de Las Animas to urge him to return to the United States. People were hesitant to tell him that he and Bernarda were living in Mexico City. After finding them in Mexico City, Gusmaro and Bernarda then embarked on a journey to the U.S.
Gusmaro the visionary man: Expecting their first child, Gusmaro and Bernarda decided to move back to the California, their birth place, with the encouragement and financial help of his uncle, Jose. Gusmaro entered the U.S through Ciudad Juarez, working with Immigration Services to return to the U.S. Gusmaro had to prove to Immigration that he was an American citizen and had to stay for many days in the immigration office sorting through books looking for the day his family signed to enter Mexico through the California- Tijuana border. He recalled he was only seven years old, so he sorted page by page in a book dated 1926. Successfully finding his parents signatures, Gusmaro was able to show that he was only a child when his family entered into Mexico. The political climate caused Gusmaro, now 28 years of age, to provide evidence, since it was perceived that he had deflected the World War II. The evidence, coupled with legal representation hired by his Uncle Jose, allowed Gusmaro and Bernarda Puentes Reyes to enter into the United States. He recalled being upstairs in a building, then being told he was done with his interview and permitted him to leave. However, never experiencing an elevator, he said to himself, “OK, now how do I get down from here?". He did not know how to leave the building, but was determined, as he knew he was in search for a better life and opportunities for his family, and break the cycle of poverty.
Gusmaro the migrant worker: He and Bernarda lived in Riverdale, near Five Points, before moving to the labor camp owned by Jack Harris, working in irrigation at night, and in the cotton fields during the day. As a migrant worker he would follow the seasonal crops moving his family to Woodlake, Lamont, Caruthers and Arvin – and many other small towns in the San Joaquin Valley – as many farm-working families did during this time in history. This was also the time the Bracero Program was fully implemented in the U.S. From 1948 through 1954, many life events happen during this time: the loss of his first born, the birth of his second child, Maria Elena, and the many different living conditions such as; in a train box-car, temporary tents, and various labor camps.
Gusmaro the skilled laborer: By 1959, work ethic continued to be a big part of Gusmaro . He secured steady employment with Bonner’s Packing Company, a family-owned raisin company located in Southeast Fresno. After 22 years with Bonner’s Packing Company, Gusmaro retired at 62 years of age, due to his health. However, he continued to model the work ethic to everyone that knew him. In the earlier years, he continued picking cotton on his free time, known as a 700-pound-a-day giant of a man. At night, he would take his 1953 Dodge pick up truck and picked cotton by the moonlight and headlights from his red pick-up truck. His children had no deference for his plight, and they would sometimes sleep on top of the cotton sack while waiting in the fields.
Gusmaro the saver and money manager: He saved his money to purchase his first home in Calwa, a community in southeast Fresno. By September 1960, he made a down payment of $1600 and monthly payments of $60 at 6.6% interest, finally moving his family to a permanent home. By 1962, his family was complete -- six girls and two boys. Because of his employment at Bonners he secured dental, health and home insurance for his family, now providing the stability he strived for.
Gusmaro the compassionate man: Take the money! When Nicholas went to off to Occidental College in Los Angeles, Gusmaro pulled out his wallet to give his eldest son college money. Initially, his son did not want to take the money, however, his older daughter, Olivia, whispered to Nicholas, “take the money and do not deny him from being part of your education.”
Gusmaro the agronomist: He was a very skilled farmer and an expert at pruning and grafting trees and vines. Gusmaro loved to garden, growing chile de árbol, cilantro, tomatillos, nopales, pears, peaches, avocados, apricots, oranges, lemons, and maguey and sharing his fruits of his labor with others. His most famous trees were grafted trees that produced apple/pear; lemon/grapefruit; lemon/orange; and most popular was the “chau’acate,” two fruits, avocado/apricot on one tree. Clearly, he believed growing a chili plant over a rose bush to produce food for his family.
Gusmaro, the man of service: Mr. & Mrs. Reyes taught their eight children to work hard, to persevere, to finish what you start, to save money, the value of respect, and the value of higher education. Over his lifetime, civic and community involvement was essential. He taught their children to be civic-minded and support families in need. In 1968, Mr. Reyes not only joined the United Farm Workers Union but registered all eight children as UFW members, as he joined the March 10, 1968 rally when U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy visited Cesar Chavez in Delano, California. Mr. Reyes was also a proud 60-year member of AFL-CIO International Brotherhood of Teamster’s Union, Local #431. The Reyes’ were active members of La Sociedad Edad de Oro, Calwa Community Service Organization, and dedicated countless hours on grassroots scholarship fundraising, and religious causes. Gusmaro also instilled in his family the importance of voting in every election.
Gusmaro the musician. He loved music from composers and artist, Jose Alfredo Jimenez, Agustin Lara, Jorge Negrete, Pedro Infante, Vicente Fernandez, Antonio Aguilar, Rocio Durcal, Vikki Carr, and Lola Beltran to name a few. Over the years, he enjoyed playing the guitar, the “mandolina” and listening to ballads and singing “rancheras.” He was a romantic at heart.
Gusmaro the passionate man: He had a passion for his 1953 Dodge pick-up truck having it restored by his first son-in-law Richard Trejo. Gusmaro once built a camper for it, took regular trips to Mexicali to visit his brother Antonio and to Woodlake to visit his brother Fidencio. His Dodge was used for both work and pleasure; to pick grapes, to pick cotton, as his children enjoyed sitting freely in the back of the truck on trips to Kearney Park on Sundays after church.
Gusmaro the father: His pride and joy were his children. As his children grew and became part of the American educational system, his dream of returning to his homeland, Mexico, died. His dream now became his children’s educational success, ensuring they never missed a day of school, and that they all had an opportunity for higher education. While he may not have said “I love you,” Gusmaro had a way of letting you know that you are loved. He taught his eight children to work hard, never to give up, finish what you start, save money, the value of respect, and the value of higher education. The fruit of his labor includes three children with doctoral degrees: (an attorney with a juris doctoral from UCLA, a school administrator with an educational doctoral degree from Alliant University, and a medical doctor from Stanford University and Harvard University); an administrator in higher education with a B.S. from U.C. Santa Cruz, an administrative assistant in higher education from Fresno State University, two public school teachers, who earned their degrees from Fresno State, and a construction superintendent who attended Fresno City College.
Gusmaro the athlete: He was a runner as child, and continued running even after retirement; he ran a half-dozen 5k runs earning several trophies! Gusmaro remained fit weighing the same 145 pounds throughout his adult life. Gusmaro had a strong desire and will to live life to its fullest. He lived to be 96 and ½ years old.
Gusmaro our hero: On 2009, Gusmaro, the grand winner of the Telemundo “Padre Heroe” National Contest stole the hearts of everyone present with his simple words of advice to other parents; “I would advise you to help your children, anyway you can, so that they do not suffer like I suffered.” At 90 years of age, and his first public speaking event, he especially enjoyed attending the event at the campus of University of Southern California, as he humbly accepted the recognition and grand prize.
Gusmaro, our legacy; we will be forever indebted to our beloved father. And we end in words that describe our sentiments:
Gracias papá; por ensenarños el valor de la cortesía, el valor del respeto, por los buenos consejos; y por enseñarnos la satisfación del silencio.
Gracias papá; por ensenarños el amor a la música; el amor a la gente; el amor a la naturaleza y el hambre para la educación y el aprendizaje.
Gracias papá por ensenarnos que es ser una familia unidad.
Gracias papá por darnos el orguyo de ser de sangre indio.
Gracias papá por todo que nos diste para ser una persona mejor.
Gracias papá por los muchos sacrifícios, para que nosotros ténganos una vida mejor.
Todo lo que nos diste será siempre parte de cada uno de tus ocho hijos.
Te amamos y siempre estas en nuestros corazónes.
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