Maximino S. Cabrito

Maximino Supnet Cabrito, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and friend passed away on Wednesday night, November 2, 2022, in French Camp at the age of 94. His wife Priscilla and daughter Elizabeth were by his side.

Max lived his life to the fullest with zest and great aplomb. He valued excellence, decisiveness, decency and positive thinking. His quiet demeanor and low profile belie his quick wit, sharp mind and vivid memory. His 94-year journey was filled with adventure, purpose, achievement, love, friends and family.

Max was born in the Philippines on March 3rd, 1928, in a small town called Palicud near Narvacan, Ilocos Sur, the second of six children to parents Rosendo Cabrito and Estefania Supnet. His life, as well as the lives of all Filipinos was interrupted by the Japanese occupation of the Philippines during the second World War. Max decided to join in the fight against them even though he was barely a teenager. As courier for a Philippine guerrilla movement, he was captured by the Japanese and survived months of torture and deprivation. He faced death threats and branded as a Japanese informant by the guerilla after his release which forced him into hiding, further deprived of family, until the end of the war.

Returning to his life after the war, he studied at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. He had the unique distinction of ranking 3rd in a nationwide examination in the field of Chemistry. At the University of Santo Tomas, he was re-acquainted with his high school classmate and wife-to-be, Doctor Elisea Cabotage.

Max and Elisea lived in a town called Pagasa, in Jose Panganiban, Camarines Norte. While working as a chemist and physician for Philippine Iron Mines, they had four children, Demosthenes, Milafe, Milasol, and Elizabeth. After several years, they decided to emigrate to the US, with Elisea going ahead through a petition from her uncle and Max and the kids soon to follow.

Max’s career in the Philippines was in the mining industry where he did some travelling all over Asia, achieving the rank of Chief Chemist for Philippine Iron Mines and CDCP mining prior to emigrating to the United States to join Elisea. His children from the Philippines soon followed. Shortly after Max’s arrival in the US, his first wife Elisea passed away.

An avid tennis player, Max met his second wife Priscilla in the tennis courts of Griffith Park in Los Angeles. They were soon blessed with a son, David. They lived in Glendale, California and later moved to Martinez, California when Max had to relocate for work. While in the US, Max was employed as a lab technician and eventually as Chemist for several Manufacturing companies including Franciscan Ceramics, North American Refractory Company and Allied Manufacturing, where he retired.

Retirement allowed Max to explore other pursuits. He took on the challenge of owning a trucking business for a short while and kept himself occupied with helping Priscilla manage the Assisted Living Facility they owned. Most importantly, he was able to dedicate more time to his great passion, breeding prized roosters on a farm that he rented in Vallejo. They later sold their care home business and retired to French Camp when presented with a business opportunity to own a larger Assisted Living Facility that came with a large piece of land for Max’s chicken farm. In this rural, semi-agricultural area, he came full circle to his roots in the Philippines. He was at home. Max lived a quiet life with his beloved wife, Priscilla, and daughter, Elizabeth in his prized farm. He relished all family reunions at French Camp in the north and later mostly held at his daughter, Milasol’s place in Chino Hills in the south where he is surrounded by his children, their family and grandchildren. When he can take time away from his prized roosters, he travelled with family in cruise ships to Alaska, Caribbean, Mexico and surrounding areas.

He was pleased as his family expanded when his sister Magdalena and brother Atino’s family moved to the area. He took on the role of family patriarch and found pleasure in engaging and nurturing his nephews and their family. It was an added boon that they all shared his passion for breeding roosters. By his words and deeds, Max commanded respect. He charmed people around him and took every opportunity to share his life stories and impart words of wisdom, give advice and inspire family and others.

Throughout his life, Max pursued his hobbies with unrelenting passion and always strove for excellence, whether it was climbing the ladder at the local tennis club, or winning competitions with his beloved rooster breeds. He loved watching tennis, western movies and listening to classic American music. He enjoyed solving crossword puzzles and followed news and politics with relish.

Max instilled in his children the importance of education and took immense joy and satisfaction in their accomplishments. His sons Demosthenes became a physician like his mother, David, an avid musician, graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, daughters Milafe became a nurse, Milasol a Chemical Engineer with a Master’s Degree, Elizabeth graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology and an MBA. His legacy continues on with his grandchildren Christine, Ph.D. in Health promotion and communication, Darla, a Nurse, Tanya an Engineer and physician, Allan a Civil Engineer, and Matthew a Biomedical Engineer,

Max is preceded in death by his wife, (Elisea), son, Demosthenes, and granddaughter Marissa Gaslan, sister Lucia, and sister Carolina. Max is survived and will be remembered by his wife, Priscilla, brothers, Feliciano and Atino, sister, Magdalena, children Milafe De Leon, Milasol Gaslan, Elizabeth Abesa, David Cabrito, grandchildren, Christine Canieso, Darla Cabrito, Tanya Cabrito, Allan De Leon, Matthew De Leon, Ryan Abesa, and great grandchildren, Christopher Canieso, Kaylee Abesa, Kody Abesa, and Theo Pease.

Max's memories will live on forever in our hearts. He will be loved, always and will be sorely missed.

Memorial services will be held on Sunday, November 26, DeYoung Shoreline Chapel in Stockton, CA at 7676 Shoreline Dr., Stockton, CA. Viewing/Visitation at 11:00 to 12:00, Prayers will occur at 12:00 to 1:00, Video presentation at 1:00 to 1:30, Chapel Service/Mass at 1:30 to 3:00.

Interment and graveside service will be held on November 28 at 10 AM at the Gardens of Christian Heritage, Forest Lawn Covina Hills at 21300 Via Verde St., Covina, CA. For more information, click on this link, https://forestlawn.com/parks/covina-hills/