He was born in Phoenix, Arizona on November 30, 1936 to Panfíla Ramírez and Rafael Mendoza. Frank attended Phoenix Union High School and was married to Diane Reyes on August 4, 1967. They moved to Santa Clara, California in 1968 where they resided for over 40 years.
Frank served in the National Guard from 1953-1956. He then served in the Air Force from 1956-1959 as a Radar Technician. During his time, he received a medal for good conduct. He then worked as a Computer Software Engineer for over 30 years and retired from Hewlett Packard after 25 years.
Frank was an active member in his local community as a volunteer. He volunteered for Loaves in Fishes in San Jose for many years feeding the homeless. He was involved with the local school district from 2000-2005 and was a mentor to young students in the school district’s career guidance program. Frank also volunteered for the San Francisco Jazz Festival year after year to satisfy his passion for Jazz and Latin Jazz.
Frank was a talented bassist and was well known in the bay area musical community. He started off his musical career as a trumpet player at his high school in Phoenix, Arizona. He then continued to play with the National Guard. He later chose the Bass as his primary instrument and played for over 50 years. He most recently performed with the Peninsula Pops Orchestra, Black Tie Jazz Orchestra, The Swing Solution, The Serenaders, and the Hewlett Packard Symphony Orchestra. He performed at the San Jose Jazz Festival in 2011 and was featured in the movie, “Swing”, in 1999 with the Black Tie Jazz Orchestra. His other hobbies included gardening and carpentry.
Frank is survived by his loving wife, Diane Mendoza; a brother, Arturo Mendoza; his son Steve Mendoza (daughter-in-law Stefanie Lopez-Mendoza); his daughter Bernadette Hernandez (Son-in-Law Roberto Hernandez) and his grandchildren Jordan and Kyle Lopez and Lorenzo and Gracie Hernandez as well as many family members and friends.
He will be remembered for his quiet and kind spirit, his beautiful music and enduring love for his family and friends. His treasured memory will forever live on in the hearts of those who were blessed to have known and loved him.
Tears
If tears could build a stairwell and memories were a lane, I would walk right up to Heaven and bring you home again. No farewell words were spoken no time to say good-bye. You were gone before I knew it, and only God knows why. My heart still aches in sadness, and secret tears still flow. What it means to lose you, no one will ever know. Anonymous~
For Out-of-Town Family and Friends can books rooms at a discounted rate at Mariani’s Inn & Restaurant, 2500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara, CA 95051, phone (408) 243-1431. Please mention the ‘Celebration of Life for Mendoza’ when booking the room.
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