Ernest Estrada Sanchez – Retired Navy and Grandfather
I realize I’m straying from my original thoughts on presenting photos, history, stories.. I just that I know so much more about my Father’s life as his youngest son. The photos help explain the man I knew as I grew up and before I was born. Above Left-Click to Enlarge. In this Sanchez family photo I look maybe 5 years old, so we were probably in Virginia in 1964. In 1965, our family moved back to San Diego. Right- I’m guessing 1985, 20 years later. From my haircut, I just graduated with a geology degree. This was my family. My Father learned to assimilate well in the Navy. My Mother was his anchor.
To get an idea who my Dad was when he married my Mom on Sept. 17th, 1949, read the link (My Mom’s written description of their unlikely encounter and whirlwind courtship). My Dad was on leave from San Diego when he had a chance encounter with my Mom in Tucson. Two weekends later, after four dates, my Dad proposed and they got married in New Mexico. My Father adopted my Mom’s little girl Cecilia after they were married.
To give an idea of how our family evolved, see the photo at left below. I heard that she and my Mom moved a lot in the years following their marriage: San Francisco, Long Beach and many other places. Then my brother came along in 1952. My sister was 12 years older than me and she helped raise me. In 1962, we moved to Virginia Beach. Below Right. 1965: Our return to San Diego without my sister. She married and stayed in Virginia. By the time I became of age, my brother David and I lived with my parents in our home in San Diego (photo 1967-1968?). As I grew up, Cecilia would stay with us for weeks annually. She took the photo below. She was very close to my Mom and Dad despite the distance.
India Street San Diego
We start with Little Italy, a neighborhood east of the San Diego airport (Lindberg Field). Unlike the other places, I got the feeling this this is where they started, some 8 years before I was born. Many of the photos I have are from at least 1952 as they show my brother David. Below are photos they took of Little Italy back then.
My sister has shown me the apartment they rented in the back of house on India Street. One story I remember is that my Dad went out and bought a new car to surprise my Mom. She made my Dad return it. It is well known that my Dad deferred to my Mom on finances.
Below. Holy cow. My dad is twenty-something. We don’t know who the young men are in the left photo (Click to Enlarge). But he’s hanging with his Navy buddies while he’s in port. Middle (Click to Enlarge). My Dad and Cecilia under the clothes line in their front yard in Little Italy (behind the front house). My sister lived with my Grandmother Laborin for a while before she joined them in Little Italy. She looks to be about 6 years old. Below right (Click to Enlarge). And then my brother David came along in 1952. My sister tells me that a Navy friend’s family would invite our family over to watch I Love Lucy at their house on Fridays. Good times. I believe the family’s surname name below right is the “Rules”. They would eventually become my God-parents in 1958.
Below. More pictures from India Street. Looks like the family: Ernie, Isabel, Cecilia and David. Who took the picture? I think my Tia Rose (I’ve misplaced the photo). I remember my Mom telling me that they really had to watch their pennies. Below Middle and Right. My Grandparents Antonia and Dionicio Laborin appear to have made a trip with my Tio Tom and Tia Carmen to San Diego. My Mom was close with all her sisters and Mom and Dad. That continued throughout my life and until my Mom died in 2019. I never got to meet my Grandfather Dionicio. He passed away from a heart attack in 1963 while we were living in Virginia. When I was 7 or 8 years old I shared a bunk bed with my “Mama Grande” (Antonia).
Below. My Dad holding David in front of their car. I don’t know exactly where my parents were living in these photos. But my brother and sister are getting bigger. And I do remember they moved from India Street to another community in San Diego: Linda Vista. The house design is different. As I wasn’t born, I don’t know much. I know they made life-long friends in Little Italy and Linda Vista. The Rules. The Englebrechts. The Olivers. I wouldn’t be born until David turned 6 years old. We are still in the mid-1950’s
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