Obituary for Rosario Fernandez Santillan
Born by the side of a river in Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico on March 22, 1952 to Rufina Fernandez and Martin Quintero Santillan, Rosario Fernandez Santillan was born with a fighting spirit. He resided in Mexicali until he was nine when his family moved to Bakersfield after being granted their green cards for permanent residence in the United States of America.
Soon after graduating from high school, Rosario enlisted in the United States Marine Corps from February 1971 to February 1974. He proudly served in Vietnam as part of Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 3rd Marine Division. He applied and successfully completed the process to become a United States citizen a year after receiving his honorable discharge from the Marines. A first-generation immigrant from Mexico, he was the first member of his family to receive a college degree- a feat which he would gratefully recognize as coming on the supportive shoulders of his older siblings. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Bakersfield College in June 1976 and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at California State University, Bakersfield in June 1978.
A non-exhaustive list of his previous associations includes: Employment Development Department; Chief Steward for AFSCME AFL-CIO State Bargaining Unit 19; Kern, Inyo, and Mono Central Labor Council (KIM-CLC) representing AFSCME; Past State President and founding member of CAFE de California Inc.; elected member of the Kern County Democratic Central Committee and Co-Chair of the KCDCC Immigration Committee; member of the UFW, Dolores Huerta Foundation and California Department of Corrections Retiree Committee, etc. Recruited by the California Department of Rehabilitation, Rosario enjoyed a successful career as a Farm Labor Specialist before transitioning to the Department of Corrections, Division of Adult Parole Operations where he retired as an Assistant Unit Supervisor after twenty-two years of service.
He is survived by his three loving children: daughter, Renee Santillan; daughter, Rosalina Santillan; son, Rosario J. Santillan and daughter-in-law Cassandra; eight grandchildren, Seth Myrow-Santillan, Eric Veleta, Emma Santillan, Joshua Santillan, Abigail Santillan, Raymond Santillan, Emily Santillan and Luke Santillan; brother, Martin Santillan; brother, Crescencio Santillan and sister-in-law, Jesse; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends who loved him greatly. The youngest of five siblings, he was preceded in death by his parents: mother, Rufina Fernandez; father, Martin Q. Santillan; his sister, Manuela Bernal and brother-in-law Jacobo; sister-in-law, Mary Lou Santillan and his brother, Raymond Santillan.
Rosario spent his life in service to others. He enjoyed the movies, reading, music, travel, the Raiders, Tombstone, his Harley Davidson motorcycle clubs and most of all, his familia. He was an adoring Grandpapa (Grandpa-Grandpa) and resolute father. He touched the lives of so many people and he will be deeply missed. Once a Marine always a Marine, Rosario manifested the USMCs motto through his unwavering commitment to his family. Semper fi.
Soon after graduating from high school, Rosario enlisted in the United States Marine Corps from February 1971 to February 1974. He proudly served in Vietnam as part of Battalion Landing Team 1/4, 3rd Marine Division. He applied and successfully completed the process to become a United States citizen a year after receiving his honorable discharge from the Marines. A first-generation immigrant from Mexico, he was the first member of his family to receive a college degree- a feat which he would gratefully recognize as coming on the supportive shoulders of his older siblings. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Bakersfield College in June 1976 and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at California State University, Bakersfield in June 1978.
A non-exhaustive list of his previous associations includes: Employment Development Department; Chief Steward for AFSCME AFL-CIO State Bargaining Unit 19; Kern, Inyo, and Mono Central Labor Council (KIM-CLC) representing AFSCME; Past State President and founding member of CAFE de California Inc.; elected member of the Kern County Democratic Central Committee and Co-Chair of the KCDCC Immigration Committee; member of the UFW, Dolores Huerta Foundation and California Department of Corrections Retiree Committee, etc. Recruited by the California Department of Rehabilitation, Rosario enjoyed a successful career as a Farm Labor Specialist before transitioning to the Department of Corrections, Division of Adult Parole Operations where he retired as an Assistant Unit Supervisor after twenty-two years of service.
He is survived by his three loving children: daughter, Renee Santillan; daughter, Rosalina Santillan; son, Rosario J. Santillan and daughter-in-law Cassandra; eight grandchildren, Seth Myrow-Santillan, Eric Veleta, Emma Santillan, Joshua Santillan, Abigail Santillan, Raymond Santillan, Emily Santillan and Luke Santillan; brother, Martin Santillan; brother, Crescencio Santillan and sister-in-law, Jesse; as well as many nieces, nephews and friends who loved him greatly. The youngest of five siblings, he was preceded in death by his parents: mother, Rufina Fernandez; father, Martin Q. Santillan; his sister, Manuela Bernal and brother-in-law Jacobo; sister-in-law, Mary Lou Santillan and his brother, Raymond Santillan.
Rosario spent his life in service to others. He enjoyed the movies, reading, music, travel, the Raiders, Tombstone, his Harley Davidson motorcycle clubs and most of all, his familia. He was an adoring Grandpapa (Grandpa-Grandpa) and resolute father. He touched the lives of so many people and he will be deeply missed. Once a Marine always a Marine, Rosario manifested the USMCs motto through his unwavering commitment to his family. Semper fi.