Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Eulogy below written by the family...

Avelino Vazquez was born in 1924 to Ramon & Pura Vazquez in Galcia, Spain.

That same week, in the United States, President Calvin Coolidge signed a Bill limiting Immigration to less than 2% a year from each country.

Luckily, Ramon Vazquez had obtained a work Visa and had left for the US of A, sending money home regularly and visiting once every five years which explains the age spread between he and his older brother Andy and younger sister Pura.

Avelino was born on a working farm in the North West Province of La Coruna, Spain. Which is a large fishing Port for all of Europe.

Avelino was very proud of his family home, designed & built by his parents. Life was good for little Avelino. He would take off in the morning to explore the countryside with a loaf of bread and his dog, Nibel.

(When asked about the name Nibel he said he had no idea what the name meant but all their dogs were named Nibel.)

In 1936 the Spanish Civil War began and like all Civil Wars it divided not only it's people but friends and family as well.
Violence was extreme, young boys were taken from their homes and forced to fight on both sides.

The time had come for Pura to flee with her children. They walked many miles in the dead of night, carrying only their clothes wrapped in newspaper. They boarded the ship Volcania in Portugal and began their journey to the United States, to join her son Andy and husband, Ramon.

They arrived on Thanksgiving Day in 1938. At age 13, Al had heard that in the United States the streets were paved in gold. He didn't find the gold - but did have a Thanksgiving feast at his Uncle's home. He thought that the Americans ate very well!

He learned to speak English by singing American songs. His formal education was cut short, but he loved to read and was self educated on Mathematics, History and Politics.

At 17 years of age in the midst of World War II he joined the Merchant Marines and traveled around the world. He rarely spoke of his war experiences but did say "that no one wins in a war".

When the war ended, he traveled cross country on a Indian motorcycle. When he reached home in New Jersey, he purchased a 1935 Pierce Arrow. He rented a garage from a man down the street which happened to have a very pretty daughter - Mercedes Pazos.

It was an era of big bands. Mercedes and Al danced every Saturday night under the watchful eyes of her parents at the Spanish dance hall. They were married in 1947.

They began their early married years in Monterey California, purchasing a little restaurant called "The Madrid". He was the Cook and bottle washer, she the waitress and hostess. Life was good but they missed their family and returned to New Jersey to start a family of their own.

Al began working as a seaman on the Tug boats. Evie was born in 1949. With her daddy away at sea, it was like holiday for her when he came home.

All dolled up, Mercedes and Evie walked hand in hand to the train station to meet her daddy.

In 1953, Evie was given a live baby doll, she named me Carol. Another 4 years go by, another doll arrives, named Kathleen, after Evie's bus monitor.

On the forth try, Mercedes and Al finally get their boy and a $500 bonus…from Grandpa Ramon. (for his first grandson )

Their family was complete and Al rose to the level of Captain, which took him away from home 2 weeks out of the month.

Mercedes and Al realized time missed from the family was too much. So, they sold their little red house on Beer Street, packed up the family Rambler and vacationed all the way to Southern California.

It was 1964 and Al began his career as an Entrepreneur.
He was known to lead by example with his strong work ethics, good morals and responsibility. He use to say: "Take care of your pennies and your dollars will take care of themselves".

Even though he was a very savvy business man, he often said he was most proud of his accomplishments on the Tug Boats and becoming the first Spanish Captain.

At age 55, he enjoyed his retirement years teaching his son to sail, enjoying his grandchildren, walk with his dog, traveling across country and trips to Spain.

Al had many favorites in life. He liked hunting pheasants, listening to the music of the 40's, history and politics. He was a die hard democrat. He watch the 5 0'clock news, the 6 o'clock news, the 10 o'clock news and finally Johnny Carson. He liked apple pie, good wine and the United States. Saying "this is the best county in the world to live".

Al will be remembered as a good father, who was devoted to his family. He was loving, honest, hard-working and kind.

Mercedes was once asked by her children,
"why did you fall in love with Dad?"
She answered,
" He made me laugh, but added, that was along time ago".

In the end, his Nieces and Nephew arrived from Spain in time for his 85th birthday. He passed the next morning, surrounded by his family.

We will remember his positive attitude, his love for animals and his intelligent advise. We will miss hearing his stories, whistling a tune and his raspy voice.