Brentwood, Calif. – Alvino Domingo Ortega, 68, formerly of Shrewsbury, passed away peacefully Tuesday July 5, 2011, surrounded by family and friends, in Castro Valley, Calif., after suffering a stroke. He is survived by his wife, Cathlyn White Ortega, a former Santa Paula High School classmate, whom he married Oct. 10, 2010, in Northborough.
He is survived by his four children, Alvino C. Ortega and wife Jennifer of Danville, Calif.; Elizabeth (Ortega) Menees and husband Robert, of Bakersfield, Calif.; Gabriel Ortega of San Francisco, Calif. and Marcos Ortega of Santa Paula, Calif. He leaves two step-children, Turquoise Taylor Grant of Ventura, Calif. and Ethan D. Upper of Worcester. He is survived by seven grandchildren, Krista Wallem, Sophia and Ethan Ortega, and Tristen, Tanner, Riley and Erik Menees. He adored his grandchildren and delighted in taking walks with them to get ice cream. He is also survived by Lily Mendoza Ortega of Santa Paula, whom he married in 1969; his sisters, Caroline Luna and Juanita Velazquez; his brothers, Arthur and Leonard Ortega; godson Michael Lara; and many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Ortega was born Jan. 10, 1943, the youngest of eight, in Santa Paula, Calif. to Arturo and Clara Gonzales Ortega. He was a graduate of Santa Paula High School, class of 1960, where he developed a passion for cross-country running and was a county stand-out. He served in the U.S. Army in post-war Korea, later working in construction on then-new Santa Paula freeway. He attended Ventura College and lived most of his life in Santa Paula. He had a 25-year career as a civil servant for the U.S. Department of the Navy, Pt. Mugu, especially enjoying his years in missile logistics.
He loved jogging on the beach until 1991, when Lupus impaired his ability to run. He enjoyed 16 years as an AYSO youth soccer coach and felt he had much to live for. He held the rank of fourth degree in the Knights of Columbus and, as Grand Knight, led his council to a second-highest ranking in the State of California. He truly believed a trip to Lourdes, France, helped save and extend his life, and solidified his deep and abiding faith in Christ. He enjoyed small-group prayer and Bible studies.
Mr. Ortega's ability to initiate and complete projects was legendary despite his health challenges. He used his skills in construction, masonry, mechanics and cooking to help his family and community. He loved music and art museums; his garden and fruit trees. He devoured the Wall Street Journal and loved a lively discussion. He had an often-outrageous sense of humor and delighted in running into friends and talking at length. He looked forward to serving in food and shelter ministries when he became settled in his new community of Brentwood. He will be dearly missed.
Donations to Oxnard Healing Rooms in Mr. Ortega's memory are welcomed. They can be reached at www.oxnardhealingrooms.com.
July 11, funeral services honoring the life of Mr. Ortega were held with the recitation of the rosary, followed with the celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Santa Paula, Calif. Interment followed at Pierce Bros. Santa Paula Cemetery. Military honors were provided by Mercer-Prieto VFW Post 2043 & the Korean War Veterans Assoc. Chapter 56. Funeral arrangements were under the direction of the Robert Rey Garcia Jr. Funeral Services of Santa Paula, CA.
To sign the family's online guest book, share stories and post pictures, please visit www.mysantapaulafuneralhome.com.
