Domingo Navata Navasca

Domingo Navata Navasca passed away peacefully on Monday, 1 March 2021 at approximately 10:55 PM at Laguna Honda Hospital in San Francisco, CA of natural causes. He was interned at Laguna Honda Hospital for the past 6 years due to complications from a stroke.


Domingo was born 15 March 1936 in Agno, Philippines to parents Macario and Basilisa. He was the 4th of 11 children: Santos, Rudolfo, Pablo, Domingo, Efren, Petronilo, Pedro, Ramon, Genoveva, Almeida, and Anecito. He spent his early years as a farmer, fisherman, and student, and also spent time working at Corregidor post WWII. In 1962, Domingo moved to the United States which became his permanent home. After arriving in the US in San Francisco, The Navasca's (Macario, Efren, Domingo) shared a single room at the International Hotel on Kearny Street for a week. Then, they made their way to Delano and worked the fields for 3 years. The San Francisco Giants played in the World Series that year, and although they lost to the New York Yankees, he became a lifelong fan of the team, and all San Francisco Bay Area based sports teams.

In 1965, Domingo followed his brothers to San Francisco where they found jobs in the restaurant industry. They lived with a fellow Agnoan on Rausch Street for a few months. Then, they rented an apartment on Eddy Street for a couple of years. From there, the Navasca's bought a house on Alemany Street. They all flourished at separate restaurants, with Domingo landing a busboy position at the St. Francis Yacht Club.

In Jauary1972, Domingo went back to the Philippines and married Lillian Espanol, daughter of Reynaldo and Rosita Cabantac Espanol in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Quezon City and with a reception at D'Aristocrat Restaurant, Quezon City. Domingo brought his wife back to the United States in April 1972 and had three children: Dominic, Leslie, and Darryl. Moving through the ranks since the late 60's at the St. Francis Yacht Club, Domingo became a Sous Chef at work, and his family's personal cook-to-order chef. Rarely taking a vacation, Domingo would use his vacation time to work independently as a chef with the Bohemian Club for extra funds. With Domingo and Lillian's humble salaries, they sacrificed comfort and vacations to privately pay for their children's education. Although the results were varied, Domingo was proud that all three of his children earned university degrees (eventually), something he never had the opportunity to accomplish himself. This gave him much joy and validated his move to the United States.

Domingo retired from the St. Francis Yacht Club in 2007 and took his loving wife on vacation across the country and to Canada. Then on to Europe, Cancun, and the Philippines. Bored from retirement, Domingo took on small temporary jobs to stay busy; he no longer needed to provide for his family, but he could not sit idle. He took on temporary jobs as a San Francisco school janitor, a salmon canner in Alaska, and the occasional Bohemian Club event as a cook. However, in 2010, Domingo (finally) became a Grandfather with the birth of Madilyn Rose Navasca. Once again, his hands were busy, and his task list was full.

On September 19, 2014, Domingo suffered a stroke that nearly took his life. He survived, but not without consequence, and was permanently interned as a resident. Although this time was difficult, he managed to see his youngest child, Darryl, get married, and produce another grandchild with whom bears his name, Myles Domingo Navasca.

Throughout his life, Domingo helped families transition with moving from the Philippines to the United States. He gave advice on citizenship, voting, employment, taxes, unions, and credit. He opened his home to new immigrants and students; it was rare that his home was not occupied with extended family. Domingo had a blessed life and lived the American dream.