Richard Callejo

1930 - 2015

Richard (Ricardo) A. Callejo

February 9, 1930 - June 9, 2015

Richard (Ricardo) A. Callejo died June 9, 2015 in San Francisco, survived by his devoted wife Genevieve, the love of his life for 61 years, cherished daughter Franchesca (Jim Brighton), and beloved grandchildren Victor and Isabel. He was predeceased by his brother William F. Callejo and sister-in-law Adelfa Callejo.

He was born February 9, 1930 in New York City to Fernando Callejo y Correa and Maria Teresa Borges y Delgado. He was the grandson of Fernando Callejo y Ferrer, musician, composer and author of Musica y Musicos Portorriquenos (1915). The Fernando Callejo High School in Manati, Puerto Rico was dedicated in 1962.

Ricardo graduated from American High School in Mexico City, 1948. He worked his way through UCLA, receiving his BA in Philosophy in 1952. In 1953 during the Korean War he enlisted in the US Army and after basic training was transferred to Fort Hood, Texas, due to his exceptional English/Spanish bilingual skills. He was assigned as an interpreter for Mexican generals observing maneuvers, and then became a specialist in the neuropsychiatric medical unit. He realized drafted Puerto Rican soldiers had a higher casualty rate due to their difficulty understanding English commands during combat, and taught them basic English commands and phrases.

Ricardo and Genevieve married in 1954 and moved to San Francisco where he attended Hastings College of the Law, received his JD in 1959 and opened his law practice in 1962. While representing non-English speaking clients, he recognized courts lacked competent interpreters for defendants, litigants, and witnesses. He advocated and lobbied for provision and certification of court interpreters. In 1978 California became the first state to adopt certification and conduct standards for court interpreters.

Ricardo helped draft bilingual education legislation and filed the first Voting Rights lawsuit in San Francisco's Federal District Court in 1966 which led to federal legislation granting voting rights to the non-English speaking.

As the President of the Friends of the Lowell High School Orchestra (1970) and Mayor Joseph Alioto's official representative of San Francisco, Ricardo's leadership was crucial to the success of the orchestra's two week tour to the Osaka, Japan World Expo. He traveled to Japan to arrange housing and concerts for the 102 student musicians, chaperones and conductor Jack Pereira.

From 1979-1983, Ricardo hosted/produced KBHK Bay Area public affairs television program, El Amanecer. Notable guests included Justices Cruz Reynoso and Rose Bird, Dianne Feinstein, Nancy Pelosi, John and Philip Burton, and Tom Bates. In 1981 he traveled to Israel in a delegation of Hispanic journalists invited and hosted by the Israeli government. He also spoke regularly on KIQI Spanish radio on legal issues.

Ricardo's daughter Franchesca joined his solo law practice upon receiving her law degree in 1979. They worked together for 17 years as the only father-daughter bilingual law firm in San Francisco, of which he was very proud. Ricardo suffered a stroke at the young age of 66 which forced him into early retirement.

Ricardo led a life dedicated to his family and a commitment to justice in any language. He served on numerous committees, boards, panels and other legal and community organizations throughout his career. He was a compassionate, poetic, loving man. He traveled the world with his family and learned at least a few words of the language of each place he visited. Some of the happiest times were on safari in East Africa, vacationing on the beaches of Maui, and in Europe. He will be missed by his family, friends and the community he served for over 40 years. His family and friends give special thanks to his grandson Victor and the dedicated staff of North 4 at Laguna Honda Hospital for the exceptional care he received during the last two years of his life.