If you asked all the people who knew Maximiliano Arteaga Jr. who he was, they’d all give you a different story. Some would say a hard worker, a caring husband, a caring father, a comedian, the world’s oldest baby.
Max was all these things and perhaps a lot more. From the time he was young, he constantly molded himself into what we all thought of him. To most of us, he was, was a storyteller. It didn’t matter if he was trying to entertain his brothers, wife, or kids. No matter the occasion, Max had a story to tell. When he would begin, everyone wanted to hear it because of the way he tells them; he always found a way to make someone laugh, feel loved, or special.
He was born in Edinburg, Texas, on May 3rd, 1945. Max was born into a large family that understood the meaning of the word “family”. His brothers and sisters (Socorro, Carlota, Ramon, Rachel, Federico, Fabian, Alberatano, and Marta) called him “baby” not because he was the youngest but because he was baby Maximiliano named after his father. He and his siblings didn’t have a lot growing up but appreciated what they did have, which was each other.
This is a trait that Max carried with him throughout his entire life. On December 19th, 1966, he married the love of his life for 55 years, Dora Ann Ramos. Shortly after marriage, they started a family of their own. They had a total of five sons Tomas, Michael (Spouse Donna), Edward (Spouse Beth), Jose (Spouse Tami), Andrew (Spouse Dora), and one daughter, Jennifer. He loved his family with every ounce of his being and each child loved his stories. The trait of “family” has been carried on to his children, along with his hard work ethic. These qualities have been the backbone of his family and have been carried down to the next generation of his 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
While hospitalized with complications, Max had a lot of time to check up on his entire family; siblings, children, nieces, and nephews. I’m sure if he could have spoken to us all, his last request would have been, keep telling stories, tell Jerry Jones to retire so the Dallas Cowboys can be great again, and lastly catch me a big one (fish)!
It is our stories that connect us and unite us. It is through our stories that we can be carried on.
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