Jose Pimentel Albano, Sr., beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather went home to his Maker on Sunday, April 27, 2014 surrounded by his loving immediate and extended family.
Born on March 13, 1919 in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte in the Philippines, he and his late wife, Simeona, were married for 68 years when she passed away on Nov. 15, 2012.
   He graduated from Ilocos Norte Normal School in Laoag, Ilocos Norte with a bachelor’s degree in Education after the birth of their first child. He was a distinguished college student, both in academic and extracurricular activities, and was an editorial writer for his college paper. He started teaching right away after graduation. While teaching and raising a growing family, he pursued his master’s degree at Northwestern College, also in Laoag. He was later promoted to school principal.
   After a combined 60-plus years of teaching, he and his wife retired and immigrated to the United States, arriving in California in 1974, to join their oldest daughter and her family in Fremont. In California, he was a substitute teacher and later worked for the United States Postal Service in Oakland until he retired.
   He was a longtime member and former president of the Filipino Circle Club based in Fremont, and a lifelong member of the United Bacarreneos of America (UBA). He was part of the UBA effort in establishing the Sister City cultural exchange between Lathrop, Calif. and the town of Bacarra in the Philippines. He founded the UBA Newsletter and edited the paper for many years. He was a recipient of the UBA Outstanding Men award, and of the Filipino Circle Club’s Outstanding Leadership Award.
   Even after he retired from teaching, he remained an educator at heart. In California, he gained an entirely new set of pupils - his grandchildren - whose home-based early education was infused with lots of love generously sprinkled with the family’s long-held values - faith in God, the belief that the family that prays together stays together, the value of education and honest hard work, to give without counting the cost expecting nothing in return, and to help those who are most in need. He was always there for his children, grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren.
  His biggest smile was ever-present in every photograph that marked their milestones in life. When he could not fly to the East Coast for his granddaughter’s graduation from Columbia due to his advanced age, she flew back home to have her picture in cap and gown with her beloved grandparents. His generosity and moral support were likewise extended to distant relatives in the Philippines who needed help in their quest for higher education.
  The son of Fructuoso and Timotea Albano, Jose Pimentel Albano, Sr. was the youngest of five siblings. His two brothers and two sisters - Alfredo, Vicenta, Servando, and Remedios - preceded him in death. Preceding him also in death were his beloved sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Maria Cirila and Dominador Acosta, and son-in-law Antonio Castro.
He leaves behind his children: Gloria (the late Antonio) Castro of Fremont; Cesar (Violet) Albano of Lathrop, CA; Mindy (Vill) Galang of Fremont; Bella (Florante) Asis of Fremont; Rose (Anthony) Risso of Manteca, CA; and Jose Albano, Jr. of Fremont; grandchildren: Caroline (Jonas) Abulencia of Danville; Cynthia (Richie) Dela Cruz of Fremont; Anthony Castro of Fremont; Vince Albano of Lathrop; Ryan Albano of Seattle, Wash.; Alvin (Jennifer) Galang of Morgan Hill; Jeffrey John Galang of Fremont; Aileen Asis, Anne Liezel Asis, and Alexander Asis, all of Fremont; Kristopher Risso and Anthony Giovanni Risso, both of Manteca; great-grandchildren: Jaiden and Aria Abulencia; Ellison, Jonah and Ava Dela Cruz; and Carmina Isabel & Tyler Alvin Galang; nephew Aurelio (Nerie) Acosta of Lathrop; grandniece Renelle and grandnephew Derryl Acosta; grandniece Gloria Aquino of Weston Ranch; great-grandchildren Sergio and Stephanie Aquino, and many more relatives in Hawaii, Chicago, California and the Philippines.
   Family and friends are invited to a viewing/visitation Sunday, May 4, 2014, 1 to 4 p.m., with rosary and prayer service 4 to 8 p.m. at Fremont Memorial Chapel, 3723 Peralta Blvd., Fremont. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, May 5, 2014, 12 o’clock (noon) at Holy Spirit Church, 37588 Fremont, Blvd., Fremont. Interment will follow at Chapel of the Chimes (Mausoleum), 32992 Mission Blvd., in Hayward.

Manteca ( Calif.) Bulletin
Friday, May 3, 2014
Saturday, May 4, 2014