Jaime Piquer Ampaya

BORN IN MANILA, DURING PRE-WORLD WAR II, JAIME PIQUER AMPAYA, GREW UP AS A BOY IN MUNTINLUPA TO NATIVIDAD AND TRANQUILINO AMPAYA. HE WAS THE SECOND CHILD TO HIS OLDER SISTER “ATE” EDNA. THEIR FAMILY LATER GREW TO 8 TOTAL CHILDREN. HE WAS BAPTIZED AS A BABY AT THE EVANGELICAL CHURCH OF MUNTINLUPA IN WHICH HIS FATHER WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE ESTABLISHMENT AND LEADERSHIP FOUNDED BY AMERICAN PROTESTANT MISSIONARIES. HE EXCELLED IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND GRADUATED SALUTATORIAN WHICH LAY THE GROUNDWORK TO BECOME VALEDICTORIAN OF UNION HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1955. HE ENJOYED VOLLEYBALL, BASKETBALL, AND WAS SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT. HE THEN WENT ON TO GRADUATE CUM LAUDE IN 1960 AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING. AFTER PASSING THE BOARD EXAM IN 1962, HE CAME TO THE U.S. AND WAS HIRED AS A TEACHER’S ASSISTANT AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY. WITH $800 AND A SUITCASE, HE SAW HIS FIRST SNOW AND ENCOUNTERED HIS FIRST FOOTBALL GAMES. IN 1963, HE WAS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRANSFER TO CAL STATE BERKELEY.

IN 1963 HE MET THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE, TERESITA ALONA, AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BERKELEY. THEY HAD MANY ADVENTURES THROUGHOUT THEIR COURTSHIP FROM CHURCH ACTIVITIES, BOWLING, SINGING IN THE CHURCH CHOIR, CAMPING AND ENJOYING THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA. HE GRADUATED IN 1966 AND THEY WERE MARRIED ON JANUARY 7, 1967 AT A SMALL CEREMONY AND RECEPTION ON TREASURE ISLAND. THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE PHD PROGRAM AT UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA AND MOVE SOUTH WAS A DREAM. HE WAS THE 3RD CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DOCTORATE CLASS TO GRADUATE IN 1975 UNDER THE MENTORSHIP OF ROBERT RINKER. HE WAS THE PROUD FATHER OF 2 CHILDREN, ERIKA IN 1972 AND JAMIE IN 1976. HE WAS AN ACTIVE PARENT ATTENDING DANCE RECITALS, SOCCER GAMES AND TOURNAMENTS, TRAVELING BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES TO VISIT FAMILY AND THROUGHOUT THE US.

HIS LOVE FOR SCIENCE AND ENERGY RESEARCH CONTINUED AS HE WORKED FOR ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL FOR OVER 32 YEARS. HE MOVED THE FAMILY TO THOUSAND OAKS IN 1976 WHERE HE RESIDED UNTIL HIS PASSING. HIS FAVORITE ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT HIS INCREDIBLE LIFE RANGED FROM TEACHING SUNDAY SCHOOL, FISHING, CAMPING, GARDENING, TRAVELING WITH HIS CLASSMATES FOR REUNIONS, SPENDING TIME WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY, SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND BEING AN ACTIVE MEMBER OF THE CHURCH. JAIME’S LEGACY OF BEING CHRIST’S EXAMPLE AND DISPLAYING THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT AND LOVING HIS LORD AND SAVIOR WILL FOREVER BE AN INSPIRATION AND A TESTAMENT TO LIVING OUT THE GOSPEL. GOD IS LOVE AND HE EMBODIED THAT EVERYDAY HE LIVED.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Ventura County Rescue in his honor.