Victoriano Martinez De Haro

On December 18, 2020 our beloved father and husband Victoriano Martinez De Haro, “Victor” as he was affectionately called, left us to be with God. Born in Rancho Los Haros, Zacatecas, Mexico, and while still a child his parents moved to adjacent Rancho La Leona. Life in Rancho La Leona was not easy for children since they were expected to work at an early age. At the age of seven, Victor was sent off to spend the night watching cows; this was one of his chores. His mom would fix him a bag of food and off he went with a blanket and his two dogs. When asked if he was scared, he would say he wasn’t as long as he had his dogs with him. Following in his father’s footsteps, Victor became a farmer, growing corn and beans for sale in the nearby local store “la cooperativa.” He had a number of farm animals, cows, pigs, chickens roosters, horses, and a goat. He worked from sun up to sun down. At the age of 17 he married Felicitas Orozco Pacheco. But his farming way of life was not to continue because of times of drought. He made the hard decision to leave for the USA to look for better job opportunities first to Tijuana, Mexico, then to San Jose, California, leaving behind his wife and children until he became settled. While in Tijuana after working several odd jobs, including as a dishwasher and tortilla deliveryman, he came to San Jose, California and found work as a laborer for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. During this time he visited his family regularly, but when his father Isaac De Haro Murillo died, he brought his family to live with him in San Jose. His family consisted of five boys and two girls. He and his wife worked tirelessly to save enough money to buy a home in 1963 for $17, 500. They lived in half of the home, and rented the rest of the home with an adjacent cottage, which proved to be a wonderful investment choice for his family. His monthly payments were $125 per month. His wife, Felicitas, was not to enjoy this home much for she passed on four years after the purchase of their dream home, leaving behind 8 children; the baby, born in San Jose, was 4 years old and the oldest was 18. Our father, Victor, was devastated and did what he could to keep on

going. The oldest sibling, Nellie, took on the responsibility of raising the younger children close to the time he married for the second time. In 1968 Victor married his second wife, Maria De Haro Reza. She brought with her a young daughter, and later they had a son together. This marriage added two more children to the family. By example Victor instilled his values of hard work and responsibility in his children. He labored for Southern Pacific Railroad Company Monday through Friday, 40 hours per week, for 38 years. On weekends he worked at Del Monte Cannery and during some summers, including some alongside with his children in the fields, he picked strawberries, tomatoes, cherries, and prunes. When there were no crops to be picked on weekends he worked for a landscaper. Despite his busy work schedule, he also found a way to spend time with his children and take them to outings such as to Santa Cruz’s board walk or parks. Soon after retiring he worked for MetroED school district as a handyman until he moved to Modesto. Victor didn’t know how to read or write when he first got married. His wife, Felicitas, taught him how to read and write before leaving for the USA. She told him that she didn’t want a stranger to read her letters or write his letters. In a matter of a few days, he learned how to read and write. His determination to learn something was amazing. He taught himself how to drive by driving up and down on our drive way on his 52 Dodge car. He read the Department of Motor Vehicles book in order to pass his first driving test at age 35, and at the age of 91 he studied this book once again for months in order to pass his DMV test for the last time. He and his family were extremely happy that he passed his test. He put himself through ESL classes to learn how to speak English. He never spoke English to his kids, but while at stores or the bank, he would make himself understood somehow. His favorite word was “Ok,” and his belief in God in helping him in whatever he set out to do was his driving force. His wonderful stories of his childhood and his youth as a young man in Rancho La Leona and nearby Ranchos revealed days of not only hard work but also stories of adventures at the Rodeos: bull riding, horse taming with many of his friends, especially stories of his best friend Edwardo Marquez. Together they would bronc ride horses and buck bulls. Victor was known as one of the best at it. He earned many ribbons, and of course, had many female admirers. He earned a lot of money while doing this very risky, but fun sport. His favorite horse “El Palomo” was his

constant companion during these fun filled days. His vivid stories also revealed many of his life struggles while in Tijuana, while adjusting to his new life in the United States, and his ventures while working as a railroad employee alongside his many coworkers. Victor had a romantic side about him and would show it by singing to his wife Maria an old song titled “Te Vas Angel Mio” while some of his children looked on with amusement. Maria will miss the many nights they prayed the rosary for those souls long departed. He left us with many beautiful memories that will help us forge ahead without him. Victor and his family’s life in the United States would not have been possible had it not been for his in-law’s and our maternal grandmother Maria Celsa Pacheco and our maternal step-grandfather Antonio Anaya. He and we would forever be grateful to both of these kind and wonderful human beings. Our dad, Victor, will be deeply missed by his surviving wife of 52 years Maria Reza De Haro; his children; Nellie Carrazco (Lupe Carrazco), Margarito O. De Haro, Teresa O. De Haro (Ismael Gonzalez), Frank O. De Haro (Norma De Haro), Tony O. De Haro (Liz De Haro), Ted O. De Haro, Mary O. De Haro, and Irene Romero(Jaime Romero); his grandchildren Silvia Cuevas, Lorena Cuevas, Mike De Haro, Pedro De Haro, Olivia De Haro, Mary Alice Rodríguez, Patricia Gonzalez, Isaac De Haro, Christina Perkins, Felicitas “Felice” Suzi Orias, Anthony De Haro, Angelina De Haro, Jerica Lowman, Joe Lowman, Emily De Haro, Teddy De Haro, Peter De Haro, David De Haro, Desirae De Haro, Stephanie Romero, Melissa Reyes, Jennifer Romero, as well as his nephews Manuel Castillo De Haro, Juan Castillo De Haro, David Castillo De Haro, Fernando Castillo De Haro, and niece Gloria Castillo. He will also be deeply missed by his beloved great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and great-great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his first wife of 22 years Felicitas Orozco Pacheco, his sons Victor De Haro Jr. and Leonardo “Leo” De Haro, his sister Atilana De Haro, his mother Prejedes Martinez Padilla, his father Isaac De Haro Murillo, his half-sisters Jacinta DeHaro and Gregoria De Haro, granddaughers Nelissa Cuevas and Margaret De Haro. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the American Heart Association, or American Cancer Society. http://www.heart.org/ http://www.cancer.org/