Escolastico O. Servande

To Escolastico "Andy" Servande, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Andy, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Andy really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Andy was born on February 10, 1930 at home in Palompon, Leyte, Philippines. His parents were Florencio Servande and Teofila Omega. Andy was raised in Philippines. Even as a child, Andy had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention.

Always a good playmate, Andy was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Andy managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Andy was raised with three sisters and two brothers. He had two brothers, Miguel and Inocensio and sisters, Celes, Natividad and Miguela.

All of Andy's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Andy experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He was a member of the ROTC in his high school days. In his spare time he liked playing cards and Mah Jong.

Ask anyone who knew him from school and they would tell you that Andy was a class “cut-up.” He didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Andy simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of his friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Andy, grades may not have been the most important thing to him, but he really did enjoy his school experience. Since experience was Andy's best teacher. He enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was Math. The teacher he enjoyed learning from the most was Mr. Ramos.

Andy reveled in his college years, where his imagination could run free. He was viewed by many of his classmates as being a creative, artistic person. Andy was usually found at the center of things, whether it was during class or in extracurricular activities. He was a jovial person who loved to share his passion for fun with others. But for Andy, life was not a case of all play and no work. Andy relished the task of putting his imagination to work in class. He was able to discover new and different ways of answering problems and creating unusual and different solutions. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education. His favorite courses were math.

Andy never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Andy to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Andy delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Andy was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Andy utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. Later in life, he became friends with many Mah Jong playmates. Andy loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Andy very easy to approach. On December 6, 1963 Andy exchanged wedding vows with Paciencia Linsangan at Quezon City Hall and they renewed their wedding vows on their 25th anniversary at St. Joseph Church in Spring Valley, New York. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Andy related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Andy was blessed with two children, daughter, Roselyn and son, Ramil. They were also blessed with four grandchildren, Ryan, Jennifer, Jessika and Lupe. Andy had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Andy's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Andy had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Andy was a real “people person. ” he had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Andy liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Andy was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Andy's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Andy as an excellent problem solver. His primary occupation was a teacher in the Philippines and a Physical Therapy Aide in the United States. He was employed for 22 years.

Andy enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Andy liked creating and making things. His favorite pursuits were playing Mah Jong and dancing.

Andy felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Andy loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Andy relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Andy never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Andy was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were baseball.

Andy had an endless appetite for new and different activities. He was always ready to join in the fun and add his flair and energy to an organization. Because of his personality, his humor, and his ability to get along with everyone, Andy's service was greatly valued by the organizations to which he belonged. Throughout his later years, Andy was an active member of the Knights of Columbus, Philippine/American Senior Association of Rockland, Filipino Association of Rockland and the Witherspoon Neighborhood Association of Spring Valley.

A generous person who often wore his heart on his sleeve, Andy often found himself involved in activities he deemed important. He was charitable, kind and giving, qualities that made him a natural volunteer. Outspoken in his beliefs, yet tactful in his dealings with others, Andy was a member of several community groups, serving on committees for the Philippine Independence Day Parade held in June in New York.

Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Andy recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member of Spring Valley Church in New York for 30 years and St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Henderson, Nevada for 5 years.

Living life in the fast lane suited Andy just fine. It is no surprise that he loved to travel and to visit new and different places. He was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. He was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included long drives to Florida and cruises.

Andy was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Andy's favorites was Tiger, a Pekapoo dog. They were best friends for 14 years.

Andy believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 1992, Andy took it in stride as one more way to have fun. His new life involved relocating to Las Vegas, Nevada. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Andy remained busy with people and projects. Even in retirement, Andy continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

Andy passed away suddenly on May 30, 2010 at St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson, Nevada. He is survived by his wife, Paciencia; children, Roselyn and Ramil; four grandchildren, Ryan, Jennifer, Jessika and Lupe; and two great grandchildren, Brandon and Emma Ann. Services were held at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Andy was laid to rest in Palm Valley View Cemetery in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Andy brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Escolastico "Andy" Servande lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will be remembered with a smile.