ForeverMissed
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His Life

Where It All Began And Thank You

January 31, 2016

  Rey’s story began on January 15, 1935 in Kingman Arizona. He was 1 of 6 Children born to Maria and Ricardo Sanchez. Rey’s father was an employee of the railroad so they often lived in desolate places. As he was growing up, their family lived a very basic life. The often were not able to have all the nice things in life that all of us desire. While he was growing up he took an interest in the sport of boxing.

   Skipping ahead in time to his high school years, Rey attended Barstow High School and graduated in 1954. While attending high school, Rey lettered in Football. Rey meet Elizabeth Cano (my Mom) in 1956. Rey’s interest in boxing had not waned and eventually led to a Los Angeles Golden Gloves Title. In 1957, Rey entered the US Army and was shipped to The Army Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. On April 5th  1958, Rey and Betty tied the knot in Colorado Springs. On December 30, 1958, the couple were blessed with their first child, Nancy Rae Sanchez.  

 

   Upon Rey’s Honorable Discharge from the Army in 1959, the couple decided to move back to California…..they were tired of the snow. When they arrived in California, Rey began working as an Apprentice Ironworker. On 1/12/1968, they had their 2nd child, Gary Sanchez.

    The first place that I remember living at was on Sunglow St in Pico Rivera. We moved from Pico Rivera in 1972. We moved to a primarily White neighborhood, in La Habra, where we were not very welcome at first. I remember that my dad and I were walking around the neighborhood and someone spit in front of my dad and I. I didn’t really understand why they spit in front of at the time and we just continued walking. Even at such a young age (I was 4 yrs. old), I realized that something wasn’t right. After we returned to our house, I asked my dad why they spit in front of us. His answer was that there are ignorant people in this world and sometimes it is better to be the bigger person and continue walking. He told me that it took more courage to continue walking than to fight in this instance. The one thing I felt during my childhood was safe. I remember many times when he didn’t walk away and chose to fight because he was justified in doing so. Even as I am writing this, I can remember as if it was yesterday, the lessons I learned as to what you stand up for and when to walk away. I didn’t really understand what I was learning at the time, but as I matured I definitely began to understand what he was trying to tell me

   When I was a preteen and teenager, I clearly remember on the weekends that my dad made me get up early and do yard work. Also when there plumbing, painting and other household chores to be done I would have to help. I would see all my friends riding their bikes and playing and I never understood why I could not play as well. So, one day I worked up the courage to ask him why I could not do as my friends were doing. His answer was short and sweet, “Son, when those guys have a house, they will be at the mercy of other people……..You will be able to fix and repair items in your house without calling a repair man. At the time, it really didn’t make me feel better about the situation. Years later, my friends started calling me asking me to help with issues they did not know how to fix in their homes. That’s the day I got it………I remember laughing softly to myself and saying “You were right dad…….as always you were right”. Still, to this day, I run across issues that he talked about when I was a teenager. He would tell me “one day you will understand what I am trying to tell you”. He was right, I am still uncovering lessons that he was trying to explain to me 30 years ago. FOR ALL THAT YOU DID FOR ME DAD, I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO THANK YOU ENOUGH. WE WILL MEET AGAIN. NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT I DON’T THINK ABOUT YOU

Love Gary

1/30/2016