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Gene Santos
Gene passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 21, 2012, at home, with family at his side. He was a native San Luis Obispo resident born to Manual and Marie Santos in April 1933. He grew up with his two siblings: older sister, Marie and kid brother, Joseph. Gene attended local schools and graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 1952. Right out of high school, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1957 during the Korean War. Gene and Claudia (Silliman) met in 1963 while working at General Fireproofing together. They were married in June of 1968 at the Old Mission Church in San Luis. Gene was baptized at the Mission and Claudia became a member in 1971. They have been parishioners there ever since. Over the next 10 years, they were blessed with four daughters. Gene worked at General Fireproofing from 1959 until the company closed, then went to work for PG&E. He retired in 2000 and volunteered as a freshmen football coach at San Luis Obispo High School until last season. He had a true passion for teaching the "young men" to be respectful athletes and grow as individuals. You could also find him at the Tigers Track and Field and Cross Country meets cheering on the runners. He loved to challenge people to a 50-yard dash as he was sure to win. Camp Fire was a big part of Gene''s life. All four daughters received their Wo-He-Lo medallions. Many summers were spent at Camp Natoma working on various water projects to get camp ready. Gene loved to walk the back-country and check all the springs and water lines. The Rare Fruit Growers group was another way he spent his spare time teaching grafting at local schools and Cal Poly. He loved to share his plums and various fruits with others. Gene was also an active member of the Portuguese Holy Spirit Society. He enjoyed watching his daughters as little and big Queens and was looking forward to doing the same with his granddaughters. He had many hobbies over the years. He enjoyed hunting, backpacking, bee keeping and gardening. Gene is survived by his wife, Claudia Santos; four daughters Leanne Fiorentino of Arroyo Grande, Barbara Russo (Mike) of Bakersfield, Sarah Roldan (Greg) of San Luis Obispo and Heidi Fernandez (Bernie) of Camarillo, Calif. He is also survived by his sister, Marie Dias (Manual) of Hanford, Calif.; sister-in-law, Rose Santos of Paso Robles; and aunt, Angie Exline (Bill) of San Luis Obispo; 10 grandchildren John, Jessie, Yvette, Jenna, Kai, Gabriel, Nakoa, Maile, Noah and Eve; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Manual and Marie Santos; and brother, Joseph Santos. Viewing will start at 2 p.m., with the recitation of the rosary at 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at Reis Family Mortuary, 991 Nipomo in San Luis Obispo. A Mass of Catholic burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 29, 2012, at the Old Mission Church. Internment will follow at Los Osos Valley Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to SLOHS Athletic Department; Hospice Partners of the Central Coast; or a . Gene will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him. Reis Family Mortuary 54407400 San Luis Obispo
Published in San Luis Obispo Tribune on March 27, 2012
Gene passed away peacefully Wednesday, March 21, 2012, at home, with family at his side. He was a native San Luis Obispo resident born to Manual and Marie Santos in April 1933. He grew up with his two siblings: older sister, Marie and kid brother, Joseph. Gene attended local schools and graduated from San Luis Obispo High School in 1952. Right out of high school, he served in the U.S. Navy from 1952 to 1957 during the Korean War. Gene and Claudia (Silliman) met in 1963 while working at General Fireproofing together. They were married in June of 1968 at the Old Mission Church in San Luis. Gene was baptized at the Mission and Claudia became a member in 1971. They have been parishioners there ever since. Over the next 10 years, they were blessed with four daughters. Gene worked at General Fireproofing from 1959 until the company closed, then went to work for PG&E. He retired in 2000 and volunteered as a freshmen football coach at San Luis Obispo High School until last season. He had a true passion for teaching the "young men" to be respectful athletes and grow as individuals. You could also find him at the Tigers Track and Field and Cross Country meets cheering on the runners. He loved to challenge people to a 50-yard dash as he was sure to win. Camp Fire was a big part of Gene''s life. All four daughters received their Wo-He-Lo medallions. Many summers were spent at Camp Natoma working on various water projects to get camp ready. Gene loved to walk the back-country and check all the springs and water lines. The Rare Fruit Growers group was another way he spent his spare time teaching grafting at local schools and Cal Poly. He loved to share his plums and various fruits with others. Gene was also an active member of the Portuguese Holy Spirit Society. He enjoyed watching his daughters as little and big Queens and was looking forward to doing the same with his granddaughters. He had many hobbies over the years. He enjoyed hunting, backpacking, bee keeping and gardening. Gene is survived by his wife, Claudia Santos; four daughters Leanne Fiorentino of Arroyo Grande, Barbara Russo (Mike) of Bakersfield, Sarah Roldan (Greg) of San Luis Obispo and Heidi Fernandez (Bernie) of Camarillo, Calif. He is also survived by his sister, Marie Dias (Manual) of Hanford, Calif.; sister-in-law, Rose Santos of Paso Robles; and aunt, Angie Exline (Bill) of San Luis Obispo; 10 grandchildren John, Jessie, Yvette, Jenna, Kai, Gabriel, Nakoa, Maile, Noah and Eve; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Manual and Marie Santos; and brother, Joseph Santos. Viewing will start at 2 p.m., with the recitation of the rosary at 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at Reis Family Mortuary, 991 Nipomo in San Luis Obispo. A Mass of Catholic burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 29, 2012, at the Old Mission Church. Internment will follow at Los Osos Valley Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to SLOHS Athletic Department; Hospice Partners of the Central Coast; or a . Gene will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him. Reis Family Mortuary 54407400 San Luis Obispo
Published in San Luis Obispo Tribune on March 27, 2012
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