Horacio T. Fonseca:
CLASS OF 1959
Castlemont High SchoolClass of 1959
Oakland, CA
California State University Class of 1969
Hayward, CA
Merritt CollegeClass of 1967
Oakland, CA
Frick Junior High SchoolClass of 1956
Oakland, CA
Parker Elementary SchoolClass of 1953
Oakland, CA
Horacio's Story
Life
After now more than 40 years teaching in higher education, I am now retired - well not really, as I am now a PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF HISTORY AND INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS and just about every semester I teach a class or two when needed! And even more important, I've been married to the LOVE OF MY LIFE, Carmen (Puerto Rico) my beautifully gorgeous soul-mate, closest and best friend ever, confidant, lover/mistress, and adviser who blessed us with two wonderful now "grown adult-kids" son Tito (UCLA '01 BA sociology & history) and soon father to be. And a tremendously talented and gorgeous daughter Michelle also UCLA history and public relations. Our children will forever are and be the light and life of our souls!
My beautiful wife Carmen, now also retired, worked as a Special Education teacher, translator, specializing in the evaluation of children with learning disabilities - mental and or physical - and loves and completely enjoyed her job, but now devotes her time to gardening, knitting, and traveling when possible..
After CSUEB) with a BA ('69 latin AmStudies/History/Spanish) I won a Ford PhD Fewllowship and was accepted at UCLA in '70, earning an MA in History and continued graduate work in history and MBA) was heavily involved in intercollegiate athletics specializing in soccer, and was very fortunate to have met the incomparable Basketball Coach John Wooden, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Bill Walton, and many other student athletes of renown.. I have lived in Los Angeles since August 1970 tho' we regularly visit the family in the Bay Area and Watsonville .
In addition to higher education teaching assignments, I've worked in the '84 LA Olympics & FIFA World Cup USA '94 as the WC USA 1994 Historian and Archivist; FIFA Women's World Cup '99 & '03 in several official capacities. Traveled to Germany in '06 for the FIFA World Cup with my son Tito - one of the most enjoyable and unforgetable two weeks experience. Carmen and I have also traveled to Spain and plan to return there for a bit longer period of time in the very near future.
While at at Ye Castle, I enlisted in 11th grade in US Naval Air & was stationed at the Oakland NAS. After graduation, not wanting to spend the next two years at sea I decided to leave the Navy and got an "in-service" transfer and served in the Army for three years 59-62 including one y...Expand for more
ear in South Korea with the 7th Division, and later with the 4th Infantry Division in Ft. Lewis. I received an early discharge to re-enroll in Oakland J.C; then transferred to CSU Hayward earning my BA in Latin American Studies, Spanish & History which in turn enabled me to win a Ford Doctoral Fellowship to UCLA.
Since my arrival in Southern California in the fall of 1970, I haven't looked back and have been a committed Southern Californian and Angelino as well as a Lifetime UCLA Almuni and die-hard UCLA Bruin. So in the Fonseca household it's always GO BRUINS!!!
I always wanted to be a professor when growing up. My family and friends thought that was a great idea and as it turns out, they were 100% correct. And soon I was awarded that prestigious title of "Professor Emeritus..." Sounds neat and very distinguished, don'tcha think? LOL! Happy New Year 2019 to one and all who remember me! I Look forward to seeing you at our forthcoming 50th Reunion!!! Both of us now retired, am still teaching as an "Adjunct Prof. Emeritus" of history; new millenials are sure a lot of fun, but a bit "slow" on historical issues! Been deeply involved in family (paternal) genealogy in Puebla Mexico and Mex City... number of newly found family members is over 350 in both cities and finding even more.... glad we have internet and other social media sources! My wife is also starting her family search and needless to say, she's also amazed!
Son Tito got married in Playa del Carmen (Cancun) Mexico and daughter Michelle is with her soulmate from NYC, and lives in Santa Monica. Hope to make it to next class picnic in September! See you then!!!
Just when one thought it is OK to go back in the water, well, as I edit this piece, we're in the midst of the danged coronavirus pandemic, and am now "self quarantined" per the California governor's directive since just a few days ago I turned 80 years, but even more importantly my wife and I are now the grandparents of a gorgeous and most beautiful little girls (our son Tito's and gorgeous daughter in law Jennifer) named Leona Elisabeth Fonseca! She has been a true beautiful l light in and of our lives and we literally count the hours before we see her again!
Saludos to one and all from Castlemont, and if you're in the Los Angeles area, do drop me a line through this page!
H. Ricardo T. Fonseca
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