Pacita (Maria de la Paz) Woodward

Pacita's mother, Encarnacion Gomez, a native of Spain, was a teacher who, as a very young woman, left her hometown of Madrid to live and work in the Philippine Islands, settling in Manila. Possessing the spirit of adventure and a heart to help others, Encarnacion saw this as a very special, once in a lifetime opportunity. It was there in Manila that she met and married Pacita's father, William Woodward, an American, who worked as a Police Officer overseeing the safety of the workmen in the mines. Originally from England, Mr. Woodward and his family emigrated to the United States when he was just six years old.

The Woodward's only child, Pacita, was born in Manila on October 16, 1917 and spent her early childhood there. Sadly, when she was three and a half years old, her beloved father passed away due to a bout of pneumonia, most likely caused by his daily exposure to the unhealthy conditions in the mines. Less than two years later, however, her mother, Encarnación, married their next door neighbor, John Calvin West, a pioneer in early amateur photography with George Eastman of Eastman Kodak. Mr. West had moved to Manila from his home in Fort Worth, Texas. He was standing outside his home, his back to her, when Pacita saw him for the first time. Like her father, he was tall, (6'1''), and wore a white suit, and she ran across the street to him, exclaiming, "Papingos, Papingos!" – the name she called her father. Mr. West turned around and lovingly picked up this beautiful young girl. Encarnacion, "Mamita," came running outside, and the moment her eyes met his they fell in love. Soon after, Mr. West became young Pacita's loving stepfather, and the two grew very close. Over time he even taught her the art of photography and film development.

Over the next several years it became apparent that the extreme heat and humidity in the Philippines was taking its tole on Pacita's health, and the family's doctor advised them to move to Shanghai, where the weather was more agreeable. Pacita was approaching her teen years when they moved there; the fabled city remained their home until the outbreak of what is known as the Battle of Shanghai, a part of the Second Sino-Japanese War; the year was 1937. One horrendous day, Stepfather West put Pacita and Mamita on a cargo ship which took them away from the imminent danger. West stayed behind and they never saw him again. That year, at the age of nineteen, Pacita and her mother arrived in San Francisco, where they lived together until the death of Encarnación in 1966.

Miss Woodward never married. She had a wonderful career as an accountant for more than thirty-eight years with the Southern Pacific Railroad in the San Francisco headquarters until her retirement in 1983, all during those years surrounding herself with many loving friends. In the 1940's and '50's, Pacita also worked in the photo studio at The Emporium, a favorite department store in downtown San Francisco. Pacita not only was the on-site photo colorist, but also one of their photographers, a job she thoroughly enjoyed. It warmed her heart to see images of children and their parents captured in a moment of time that they would cherish for a lifetime.

Living for several decades in the Marina District, Pacita became a fixture in

the neighborhood – the "little lady with her black beret." During the last several years of her long life, Pacita had a small coterie of friends whom she saw daily, and who cared for her when she became less capable of caring for herself. Her caregivers became like family to her. Pacita was happy that all of her caregivers were men, and all four of them, along with Conservator, Laura E. Fox, share a great sorrow over her passing: Christian Haase, "Pacita, my friend that I saw almost daily for years, left people feeling cared about. She had a smile that made her eyes twinkle, and she always had something both wise or funny to say." Robert (Bob) Feldman, "I will miss Pacita, and she will always have a place in my memory, and she will always be part of my life." Juan Espinoza, "Pacita, I am a very fortunate person to have had you in my life through the years. You filled my life with joy and happiness. I love you. I honor you. I miss you." Jim Lewis, "Pacita was a charming, flirtatious woman up to her final days. Born and raised in the Far East and a serious traveler around Europe, she had silly, worldly and wise sides that made her a pleasure to be around."

Recently, Pacita Woodward stated to her team of caregivers: "I pray to God that nobody suffers. How can anybody suffer with all the people we have in this world, for we all help one another? Thank you for your help to me. I love you." A brilliant, deep thinking woman of great faith, Pacita generously shared her wisdom with adults of all ages. A gentle and loving person, she lived to bring smiles to others. Even to her last day, Pacita charmed us with her wonderful sense of humor and razor-sharp wit. Those of us who have had the privilege of knowing her, deeply mourn her passing and will miss her greatly.