Christina Maria Elizabeth Backman La Monico

09/13/1939-09/16/2022

Cupertino

Christina was an educator from the day she was born until the day she graduated from this earthly life. Her inquisitive mind, adventurous spirit, her big smile and and even bigger heart is what her friends will miss most. She was a huge bay area sports fan, loved the SF Giants and 49ers, San Jose State Spartans, and was a season ticket holder for the Raiders. She loved Pebble Beach golf and was a founding member of the Almaden Golf and Country Club. She had an entire room in her house with memorabilia.

Christina was born in San Francisco and grew up in Cupertino. Her parent emigrated from Sweden. Her father Thorsten Backman and mother Cecilia Maria bought a small ranch as one of the first settling families in the area. They raised chickens and grew prunes and walnuts. Christina attended Cupertino Union Grade School and Fremont High School in Sunnyvale. She initially attended the North Park Theology and Seminary College in Illinois, but returned to San Jose and Graduated from San Jose State in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Bachelor of Arts in Education.

She was married for many years to Matthew Peter La Monico who proceeded her in death. During their marriage they traveled to many countries including Scandinavia, Africa, Hawaii, Europe and Australia.

Christina's legacy will continue to support those organizations that were most important to her including:

San Jose State Tower Foundation,

Stanford Research Endowment in the school of Medicine for stroke research,

San Jose Women's golf endowed annual scholarship,

Community Foundation Silicon Valley,

Heritage club YMCA,

Cal State East Bay,

Order of the Eastern Star #31 San Jose endowed teaching scholarship,

Young Life Silicon Valley,

Cupertino Unified Sam Lawson Middle School,

Cupertino Historical Society,

Fremont High School Sunnyvale,

Guide Dogs for the Blind,

Eastfield Ming Quong Foundation,

WNHGA golf association,

SVEA Lodge, Swedish association,

Sunsweet prune growers association,

Diamond Walnut growers association,

Cityteam ministries,

San Jose Younglife,

She will be greatly missed.