Rosendo Macias Padilla

Rosendo was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico, to Rosendo Macias Navarro and

Maria Guadalupe Padilla. He was the youngest of four siblings and had three sisters

Lupe, Silvia, and Socorro.

He attended Our Lady Queen of Angels Grammar school and graduated from

Cathedral High School. He was a straight A student, a member of the soccer team,

worked part-time at Bank of America and Student Body President in his senior year.

Due to his scholastic excellence, he earned a scholarship to Yale University and

attended there his first two years of college. When his birthdate was corrected to

avoid being drafted, he returned to California and attended Cal-State Los Angeles

where he earned his Bachelor’s degree majoring in Psychology and Spanish.

He continued working for Security Pacific Bank for several years while finishing

college. Subsequently, he was employed for Mexicana Airlines for about fifteen

years. While at Mexicana, he worked in various positions and was the shop steward

representing several fellow employees with cases against the airlines. During those

years, his phone was always non-stop providing guidance and support. He worked

for Mexicana until they closed.

Being bilingual and having been an advocate for others in several previous

situations, Rosendo successfully passed difficult language exams and was hired by

Los Angeles County as a Spanish Court Interpreter; he worked there for twenty

years.

One of Rosendo’s passions was cars and working on cars. His interest in cars came,

as a teenager, from the knowledge he acquired working with his father making their

repairs. Many of his friends sought his assistance when mechanical issues came

up; he diagnosed both simple and complicated problems, helped with oil changes,

ordering car parts, even giving advice when purchasing a vehicle. His guidance was

freely given to family members too!

Rosendo’s other passion was bicycling. He had a steady group of friends who joined

him on several treks including the Tecate to Ensenada race more than once. He

routinely kept in shape, locally by cycling to the Rose Bowl hills or other routes and

even at home, with upscale bicycles and equipment that reinforced his interest. If

you stopped by to visit and it was Le Tour de France, the TV was on; he never missed

watching it yearly.

He loved music of different genres but especially Brazilian, Bossa Nova, smooth

jazz. Some of his favorite musical artists included Sergio Mendez, Stan Getz, João

Gilberto, Astrid Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Jorge Ben, Kenny Rankin, and Chuck

Mangione. Rosendo had a great sound system and music going continuously at

home. He also enjoyed his movies exchanging favorites with family from Netflix

He gave unconditionally to his friends and was always willing to help them by

preparing taxes, fixing cars, speaking up for them or providing a listening ear.

Rosendo loved his family and spent time always enjoying their company at holidays,

birthday celebrations or backyard barbecues. He is survived by his sisters,

nephews, brother-in-law, and many extended family members. He left us too soon

and fought valiantly against cancer; he will be missed tremendously.

Rosendo studied & enjoyed Spanish literature. Following is an excerpt from:

La Vida Es Sueño – by Pedro Calderón de La Barca (16th Century Spanish Poet)

¿Qué es la vida? Un Frenesi,

¿Qué es la vida? Una ilusión,

una sombra, una ficción,

y el mayor bien es pequeño;

que toda la vida es sueño,

y los sueños, sueños son.