Raul Sanchez Vera

Raul “Rudy” Vera was born May 20, 1937, at San Mateo County Hospital in San Mateo, CA to Aurelio and Esther Vera. Rudy’s early years growing up were in Redwood City. Graduated from Sequoia High School in 1956. On April 27, 1957, he married the love of his life, Rita Trinidad, and they started their life together on Spruce Street in Redwood City. Rudy and Rita were the best dancing partners and even won several dance contests. In 1958 he became a proud Father to son Raul Vera Jr. and then in 1959 came daughter Trinae (Vera) Pauley. In 1960 they moved to Santa Clara on Cabrillo Ave where Rudy became a long-lasting resident. In 1972 Aurelio Vera became the little addition.

For work, Rudy had a paper route and shined shoes during his early years. He then joined the Navy reserves for several years until he broke his leg. Palo Alto is where he started working at Dymec, Xerox, and Hewlett Packard. Working for HP, he moved to Cupertino to continue for 40 years with HP before retiring. During that time printing presses became copiers. He also started his own business in the garage with a printing press and a very big paper cutter. His company was called ART Printing (after the kid’s names). The paper cutter was also used for scratch pads that he sold at the many garage sales the family had.

One of his hobbies for many years of his life was raising and racing homing pigeons. Rudy was an athletic kind of guy, mainly involved in table tennis (ping pong), golf and softball. He played table tennis during lunch hours at work and became good enough to play in tournaments. He would play golf almost every weekend early in the mornings and be home in time to watch golf or any other sports on tv. Besides playing softball on a few teams, coaching became a thing when Trinae’s team needed help. Starting from 5th grade through her high school years, coaching in Bobbie Sox’s & PAL. He was very successful in having several competitive teams. He also helped Raul’s team in baseball for several years. But then he thought the PAL league needed some more umpires, some good ones, ones that know the rules… so he became an Umpire, for not only PAL but for High School and college aged girls’ fast pitch. It was not a hobby anymore. He traveled locally and out of state to umpire some prestigious tournaments. He was also the Umpire in Chief for the Santa Clara PAL Police Athletic League. He also officiated volleyball and football. Played cards at the Senior Center, bridge being his favorite.

Rudy and his family, or at times with several other families, would go camping at Berryessa and New Hogans lakes. During the weeks of camping there were BBQs, water-skiing, jet-skiing, boating and fishing. Besides lake fishing, he would head out to the Bay, Carquinez Strait, and ty to hook a surgeon fish or two. Along with camping Rudy and Rita did some traveling to Mexico/Mexico City, Hawaii, Australia, and Acapulco. He even went on a couple of cruises with his siblings to Alaska.

Rudy loved watching shows ranging from westerns like Gun Smoke, to Jerry Springer and all sports. He was a fan of SF Giants, SF 49er’s, SJ Sharks, and golfers Arnold Palmer/Jack Nicklaus to name a couple. He loved going to Kesar Stadium and Candlestick Park to watch Willie Mays and McCovey for the Giants. When the 49er’s moved to Santa Clara, he even had season tickets for a while. Rudy liked listening to Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis JR or better known as the Rat Pack, Elvis, Neil Diamond, and a variety of 50’s & 60’s music while dancing with his wife Rita. Rudy loved his cioppino at the Santa Clara Fish Market (which is no longer there), Lee’s Kitchen for the Chinese food and Lupita’s for the menudo.

Then there are the grandchildren; Jamie, Velina, Jackie, Lynissia, Nicholas, Aurelia, Christian and Xavier. Then great-grandchildren Dililah, Lily’Ana, Eva’lyn, Marco Jr., Jolise, Natalia, Adani, Nevaeh, and Harlee and then one great-great-grandchild on the way. During visits when all the grandkids were at the house at once he had a hard time keeping track of who was who. Many people have described Rudy as a unique and kind soul. Overall, he was a loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Brother, Uncle and Friend. He will be truly missed.