What Retirement?
Despite a rewarding 22-year career with the United States Navy, that took him all over the world, Dad's relentless curiosity, drive to help others, and desire to experience life as fully as possible only meant a new round of adventures for him (and his sometimes less daring family) after 1995.
All his life, Dad had been a provider; naturally, he wasn't ready to stop working at 45. So, his post-Navy career included management and supervisory positions at:
All his life, Dad had been a provider; naturally, he wasn't ready to stop working at 45. So, his post-Navy career included management and supervisory positions at:
- The Mission Cafe - Dad left such an impression here, that head chef, Faye Nakashima, named a beverage, the "Vincent Vega," after him :) Dad accidentally created this concoction after trying to sweeten a too-strong cup of coffee with Coca-Cola. This left his drink too sweet, so he added some vanilla syrup. When Faye tasted Dad's drink, she asked him for the "recipe;" shortly thereafter, the Vincent Vega became a part of The Mission's regular menu! You can still taste Dad's legacy if you visit any of The Mission's restaurants today.
- North American Communications - Dad worked here for several years until his first heartattack in 2001. While here, Dad was responsible for hiring a cohort of experienced and reliable employees (many of whom were retired Filipino American servicemen), who not only helped him improve operations and efficiency for the company, but also helped to strengthen the sense of community and camaraderie within it.
- St. Paul's Senior Home and Services - After his first heartattack, Dad was advised not to return to work for at least six months... but he just couldn't resist. After only three months, Dad convinced doctors to approve his return to work, by finding a job that didn't require rigorous physical labor, and that allowed him to help others.
The Adventurers
Dad finally truly retired after a second heartattack in 2003.
In 2004, Mom was also forced into retirement, due to Ménière's disease affecting her balance and stability. After a brief adjustment period, they embraced life without 9-to-5 jobs. Once, after they spontaneously joined Evelyn during a conference in Honolulu, to ease her worries about their getting on board a Space A flight back to San Diego, Dad said, "Don't worry about us-- we're 'The Adventurers'!" This didn't do much to reassure their overprotective daughter... but it was completely true.
It would take a whole other website to chronicle the adventures our parents had together during their retirement-- the places visited, near and far; the parties they brought the life to, the countless movies they loved watching together at North Island, and the lives they touched. But here are a few photos of Dad during some of their escapades (can you guess where they are?):
In 2004, Mom was also forced into retirement, due to Ménière's disease affecting her balance and stability. After a brief adjustment period, they embraced life without 9-to-5 jobs. Once, after they spontaneously joined Evelyn during a conference in Honolulu, to ease her worries about their getting on board a Space A flight back to San Diego, Dad said, "Don't worry about us-- we're 'The Adventurers'!" This didn't do much to reassure their overprotective daughter... but it was completely true.
It would take a whole other website to chronicle the adventures our parents had together during their retirement-- the places visited, near and far; the parties they brought the life to, the countless movies they loved watching together at North Island, and the lives they touched. But here are a few photos of Dad during some of their escapades (can you guess where they are?):
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2007
Mom and Dad's escapades abruptly ended in 2007, with the sudden death of our mother, Editha Ibatan Rodriguez, on April 4-- three days before their 32nd Wedding Anniversary.
You Can't Cage a Tiger
Losing Editha was the second great tragedy of Vicente's life (losing his mother was the first). It was heartbreaking to see Dad lost without his co-adventurer; so even though we fought to keep him with us in California after her death, we finally had to accept that we had to let him continue to explore the world-- even if it sometimes meant having him far away from us.
Dad visited the Philippines from August to October 2007. He told us he wanted to undertake a pilgrimage to the annual Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, a celebration of the patron saint of his home-province, Bicol. And he did-- to pray for the Virgin's intercession, and to visit our family's graves. While there, he reflected on what he could still do in this life.
Later, when Dad was back in San Diego, we learned that, before he left the Philippines, he had started building a medical clinic in Valenzuela City, a municipality north of Manila. This wasn't intended to be a money-making enterprise: Dad often accepted whatever it was that patients-in-need could offer him in return for medical treatment from his staff. We were shocked and frustrated that Dad had decided to invest so much time and energy away from the US; but, looking back, we realize we shouldn't have been so surprised-- Dad's history, after all, was one of taking profound tragedy to deepen his passion to help others-- especially those in the greatest need, and his fellow Filipinos. After 2007, Dad returned to the Philippines every Summer and Fall, to help oversee and manage his clinic, and to participate in the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
When he wasn't in the Philippines, Dad tried new adventures with us: taking Vicky on a cruise to Mexico for her 30th birthday (one of the few times Dad was just riding-- instead of engineering-- a ship), giving Evelyn away to be married to Tenoch in Hawai'i, surviving sepsis in 2009 (Dad was a fighter!), filming an interview segment for a KPBS documentary on San Diego's military, and being a grandfather-figure to Pedro's son, Pedrito.
Some photos:
Dad visited the Philippines from August to October 2007. He told us he wanted to undertake a pilgrimage to the annual Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia, a celebration of the patron saint of his home-province, Bicol. And he did-- to pray for the Virgin's intercession, and to visit our family's graves. While there, he reflected on what he could still do in this life.
Later, when Dad was back in San Diego, we learned that, before he left the Philippines, he had started building a medical clinic in Valenzuela City, a municipality north of Manila. This wasn't intended to be a money-making enterprise: Dad often accepted whatever it was that patients-in-need could offer him in return for medical treatment from his staff. We were shocked and frustrated that Dad had decided to invest so much time and energy away from the US; but, looking back, we realize we shouldn't have been so surprised-- Dad's history, after all, was one of taking profound tragedy to deepen his passion to help others-- especially those in the greatest need, and his fellow Filipinos. After 2007, Dad returned to the Philippines every Summer and Fall, to help oversee and manage his clinic, and to participate in the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
When he wasn't in the Philippines, Dad tried new adventures with us: taking Vicky on a cruise to Mexico for her 30th birthday (one of the few times Dad was just riding-- instead of engineering-- a ship), giving Evelyn away to be married to Tenoch in Hawai'i, surviving sepsis in 2009 (Dad was a fighter!), filming an interview segment for a KPBS documentary on San Diego's military, and being a grandfather-figure to Pedro's son, Pedrito.
Some photos:
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2010
On March 22, Dad turned 60-- which, according to the Lunar Calendar marks a full lifetime. To help celebrate this (because, as hard as we tried, we couldn't keep Dad in San Diego for this milestone), we traveled with Dad to be with him for this occasion in the Philippines: Evelyn traveled from San Francisco; Vicky and Dad traveled from San Diego; and we all rendezvous'd at LAX to embark for Manila. During out short visit, we met Dad's new partner, "M"; stayed in Alabang to visit family; touristed in Tagaytay and Bato Springs, stayed in Valenzuela City to see Dad's clinic, apartment, and neighborhood; and attended his 60th Birthday party with family and friends. Even on our last day there, Dad thoughtfully made sure we got to see as much of his homeland as possible: he took us to visit the campus of the Philippines' oldest university, the University of Santo Tomas; he brought us to the Philippine National Museum; and he took us to dinner at the Mall of Asia, before dropping us off at the airport. Although we never dreamed that this would be our final day with Dad, there was sadness in having to leave him: M had been texting Dad the entire day, insisting he return to Valenzuela City; so, we told Dad we were okay with him dropping us off for our flight several hours early. We saved our tears for later-- we didn't want to add to Dad's stress. Evelyn got vertigo on the flight home.
As much as we could, when Dad wasn't home, we called and Skyped (video-chatted). It was always a relief to reach Dad, to hear his voice, and, even better, to see him at the computer, with his indefatigable "pomp" of hair, the twinkle in his eyes, and his mischievous grin. The plan had been for Dad to return to California before October 1, to attend a Gala Evelyn was planning at the University of San Francisco. But, after being unable to reach him for most of August, we found out mid-September that Dad had undergone a second angioplasty in late August, attended the Feast of Peñafrancia in September, and been unable to get the go-ahead from his cardiologists for air-travel back to the US. Then, while Vicky and Pedro were visiting San Francisco on October 17, we reached Dad via Skype, and were all shocked to learn he had acquired an upper-respiratory infection, and seemed frail. We tried to Skype him every night the rest of that week. We felt helpless-- but hopeful, because Dad was scheduled to visit the US Veteran's Health Clinic on October 22.
When Evelyn last Skyped him on the night of October 21 (reporting that the Giants had won Game 3 of the NLCS against the Phillies!), and Vicky last Skyped him on the morning of October 22, we were sure that our next conversations would be with a healthier Dad. But the earth fell from beneath us when M called Vicky just hours later to tell her that Dad had died.
As much as we could, when Dad wasn't home, we called and Skyped (video-chatted). It was always a relief to reach Dad, to hear his voice, and, even better, to see him at the computer, with his indefatigable "pomp" of hair, the twinkle in his eyes, and his mischievous grin. The plan had been for Dad to return to California before October 1, to attend a Gala Evelyn was planning at the University of San Francisco. But, after being unable to reach him for most of August, we found out mid-September that Dad had undergone a second angioplasty in late August, attended the Feast of Peñafrancia in September, and been unable to get the go-ahead from his cardiologists for air-travel back to the US. Then, while Vicky and Pedro were visiting San Francisco on October 17, we reached Dad via Skype, and were all shocked to learn he had acquired an upper-respiratory infection, and seemed frail. We tried to Skype him every night the rest of that week. We felt helpless-- but hopeful, because Dad was scheduled to visit the US Veteran's Health Clinic on October 22.
When Evelyn last Skyped him on the night of October 21 (reporting that the Giants had won Game 3 of the NLCS against the Phillies!), and Vicky last Skyped him on the morning of October 22, we were sure that our next conversations would be with a healthier Dad. But the earth fell from beneath us when M called Vicky just hours later to tell her that Dad had died.
Eternal Rest(lessness)
After six decades of finding and bringing delight to every puzzle, person, and circumstance set before him, our father let go of this life, to finally be reunited with his mother and our mother, and to amuse all the angels with his insatiable curiosity, thirst for adventure, and beguiling tiger's grin.
Those of us who know him already miss his unfaltering friendship, fascinating storytelling, and ceaseless appetite for learning. We are inspired by the courage and faith with which he seized every moment, and by the way he never let tragedies diminish his enthusiasm for living, and for helping others to live safer and healthier lives-- as a father, husband, sailor and veteran, engineer, clinic founder, neighbor, compatriot, and friend. We can only imagine the liveliness and laughter he's brought to Heaven, and the fun in store for the angels charged with keeping up with him :)
Those of us who know him already miss his unfaltering friendship, fascinating storytelling, and ceaseless appetite for learning. We are inspired by the courage and faith with which he seized every moment, and by the way he never let tragedies diminish his enthusiasm for living, and for helping others to live safer and healthier lives-- as a father, husband, sailor and veteran, engineer, clinic founder, neighbor, compatriot, and friend. We can only imagine the liveliness and laughter he's brought to Heaven, and the fun in store for the angels charged with keeping up with him :)
