Romy L. Escudero

Romy L. Escudero was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, "take charge" attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. Romy always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, Romy was an individual who enjoyed life's challenges.

      Romy was born on July 17, 1937 at home in Balanga Bataan, Philippines. His parents were Gregorio and Maria Escudero. Romy was raised in Balanga Bataan, Philippines. Always able to express himself well, Romy possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, Romy was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

      Blessed with a balanced attitude, Romy was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. Romy was raised with seven siblings. He had five older brothers, Angel, Frank, Rick, Tony and Leonardo, one younger brother, Freddie, and one older sister, Belen. Romy had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

      As a young child, Romy showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. Romy enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. He took part in basketball. In his spare time he liked raising farm animals, especially his water buffalo, and farm life. Romy's memorable achievements included ranking second in his class.

      Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, Romy was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He attended Sweetwater High School in National City, California. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was History.

      When the goal of college was in sight, it became important to Romy. Again, his direct, "down to earth" approach served him well. He was able to absorb complex concepts and had an acute sense of how things worked. His favorite courses were ROTC and engineering.

      Friends and acquaintances found Romy an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. Romy was uncomplicated and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. While growing up, some of his best friends were Kuya and Rick. Later in life, he became friends with Bert Virginio, Ben Malixi, Danny Gapasin and Rick Escudero.

      On February 16, 1970 Romy exchanged wedding vows with Eulogia Bautista Malixi at the Bel-Air County Courthouse in Bel-Air, Maryland. Romy was attentive to Eulogia's feelings, and he charmed Eulogia and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, Romy was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to the relationship.

      Very much like a kid himself, Romy identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children's personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. Romy was blessed with four children, two daughters, Marites and Florence, and two sons, Fredrick and Ferdinand. They were also blessed with two and 1/4 grandchildren, Michael, Rachel and a pan de sal in the oven, and one great granddaughter, Amaya.

      Romy was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, Romy's strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, Romy was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. Romy could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was Logistics Manager. He was employed for 1 year by the Philippine Army, 20 years by the United States Navy, and 22 years by Lockheed Martin.

      Romy was a Navy veteran. Romy was a cool thinker who could handle himself well in a crisis. He was stationed in Italy, Spain, Germany, Vietnam, Scotland, Guam, Okinawa, Japan, Maryland and San Diego. Romy saw action for the Vietnam War. He achieved the rank of E7 Chief Petty Officer. He received several awards including a recognized by the government of Vietnam, Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Acheivement Medal, Staff Service Medal and a good conduct award. He showed leadership qualities and could make tough decisions when he was called upon to do so.

      Romy enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were cars, sports, the Chargers, the Padres, time with his family, bowling, dancing, watching old movies and story telling. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

      Because he liked to take risks, Romy was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. He was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. In high school, Romy played basketball. Romy was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were baseball and football, especially the Chargers and Padres.

      Romy was a gifted problem solver who worked hard to help accomplish group goals. This skill made him a wonderful asset to the various groups and organizations to which he belonged. Always matter-of-fact about what needed to be done, Romy worked steadily to meet any organization's goals. Throughout his later years, Romy was an active member of the Bataan Association.

      Romy was a generous man who prized that same quality in others. So it's little wonder that he was so active and giving in his community. Romy was a member of several community groups, including serving on committees for St. Joseph's Cathedral, St. Pius Parish and Mater Dei Parish. Politically, Romy was a supporter of the Republican Party.

      Romy held close traditional values and as a result, faith was important to him. He was a member of St. Pius Church for over 20 years.

      Travel and vacations were experiences that Romy truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of "live and let live." He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included family Vegas vacations, Hawaii and especially Europe in his single days.

      Romy was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Romy's favorites were his children's pets, Draven the Bulldog and Mo the Labrador.

      When Romy's retirement finally came in November 2000, he was well prepared. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. His new life involved relocating to San Diego. In retirement, he found new pleasure in staying active in the church, the Chargers and Padres, walking, spending time with his family and driving people around.

      Romy passed away on December 26, 2009 at Birch Patrick Caonvalescent Home in Chula Vista, California. Romy fought a brave battle against cancer. He is survived by his wife Eulogia; his children Fredrick, Ferdinand, Florence and Marites; and his grandchildren Rachel and Michael. Services were held at Mater Dei Catholic Parish. Romy was laid to rest in Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.

      Romy was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If Romy had a theme song written about him, it might well have been "Don't Worry, Be Happy." He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember Romy L. Escudero.