Frederick B. CORDOVA Jr.

CORDOVA, Jr., Frederick B.
Was born abroad in Tampico, Mexico on January 11, 1921, and passed away in his home in Granite Bay on February 5, 2010. He attended Breckenridge High School in San Antonio, Texas, where he was also a Junior Birdman of America and received awards for aircraft design. Aiming for the US Army Air Corps, he joined the Texas National Guard at the age of 17, subsequently winning an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York where he graduated and received a BS degree in engineering in 1946.
He married Joan McGuinness the day after his June graduation and three weeks later they left for his first assignment in Paris, France, with CARE (Cooperative for American Remittances to Europe) where they lived for 13 months and he became father to the first of his 12 children. In September, 1947, he was appointed Chief of the CARE Mission to the British Zone of Germany and he moved his little family to Bremen. After 4 years he became CARE American Zone chief in Bonn, Germany. In 1951, CARE sent Fred to Belgrade, Yugoslavia, to lead a mission team. Marshall Tito recognized his services by awarding him the highest Yugoslave military medal in 1952.
The family, now with 4 children in tow, returned to the US in 1953. Settling in West Covina, California, Fred founded and became CEO of Carrara Marble Company of America, contracting in providing and installing natural stone on commercial projects in California, Washington DC, Colorado, Nevada, Texas and Canada. His engineering background and his mastery of Italian, Spanish and German were primary assets in his becoming an icon in the natural stone industry, renowned for his knowledge and experience - architectural, structural and geological - ingenious in engineering construction. During the 50 years in which he led his company, he also founded Vetrital, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of glass and Byzantine mosaics. In 1974 he also founded AMS Group, LLC, a self-storage and construction company located in Covina.
Fred Cordova was a man of principles faith, family and work. He was financially conservative and astute in risk-taking. In sports he played La Crosse at West Point, and tournament tennis over the later years, especially in Germany. He was a natural dancer, and enjoyed occasional poker game in his retirement years in Granite Bay.
With an ever increasing family, now numbering 12 children, the family moved to San Marino in 1968 and resided there until Fred retired in 2003. Fred and Joan traveled back and forth from San Marino to Granite Bay, California, for over three years until final retirement in Granite Bay.
Fred was a 4th degree Knight of Columbus, a member of the West Point Alumni Association, and an active member of the Legion of Mary. His deep faith as a Catholic convert, inspired him, in 2005, to purchase 38.4 acres of prime land in Loomis, California, and invite the Dominican Sisters of Mary Mother of the Eucharist from Ann Arbor, Michigan, to consider establishing a new community. With the help of contractors and volunteers, a convent, housing four of the sisters, was built and furnished by 2007, and in 2009 the Dominican Sisters took formal ownership of the property.
He leaves Joan, his wife of 63 years, twelve children, 28 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren as listed below. Children: Dr. France A. Cordova, (Foster) astrophysicist, President Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind.
Jeanne R. Cordova, writer, Arcadia, California
William V. Cordova, current CEO of Carrara Marble Co., Diamond Bar, CA
Marianne E. Cordova-Breen, Managing Director, AMS Group, LLC, La Verne, CA
Leslie J. Holleman, Owner of businesses in Pahrump, Nevada
LuMarie Cordova, CEO of Almacen, Chairman of Federal Reserve, 8th District, Boulder, CO
Frederick B. Cordova, III, Colliers International, Los Angeles/Pasadena, CA
Vincent P. Cordova, Manager, Open Heart Ranch, Havilah, CA
Zoe T. Cordova (McCarthy), Chiropractor, Saratoga, CA
Kathleen Cordova Lyon, Atty, Granite Bay, CA
Declan F. Cordova, Owner, Quickstep Organizing, Lincoln, CA
Thomas M. Cordova, Founder, Home Granite, Inc., Long Beach, CA
Grandchildren: Anne and Stephen Foster; Shelley and Billy Cordova; Nickolas Cordova-Dee; Michael and Sean Flannery; Kevin, Amy and Scott Mendel; Teresa Englund; Kimberly, Kaitlin and Karlee Cordova; John, Raymond, Marie and Joan McCarthy; Lorien Melton; Carmen and Daniel Lyon; Cosette, Sabrina and Jessalyn Cordova. Great Grandchildren: 5 Public viewing 5-7 pm, followed by Rosary at 7 pm at Lambert Funeral Parlor at 400 Douglas Boulevard, Roseville, CA 95678, February 12, 2010. Funeral Mass at 10 A.M. at Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church at 4450 Granite Drive, Rocklin, CA 95677. Interment at Calvary Catholic Cemetery at 7101 Verner Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95841.