Amancio Garcia Ergina

Amancio Garcia Ergina Passed on from this world on Veteran's Day, Wednesday, November 11th after battling pancreatic cancer and suffering from a major stroke. Amancio Ergina was a war veteran, having served in the US Army as a member of the US Korean Military Advisory Group. Amancio maintained his peaceful humanity at the front line during the Korean War in his role as a medic and adopted two pets: a deer and a rabbit who like most animals gravitated towards his gentle nature. He immigrated to San Francisco in 1950 from the province of Sorsogon, Philippines and received his B.A. in Philosophy from USF in 1954. He also attended the St. Patrick Seminary and his pursuit of becoming a priest was altered when he met the love of his life, Mary Lee, during his service in Korea. Although his education was intermittent during World War II, Amancio received his doctorate in Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences from UCSF. He was affectionately known to his many friends as "Doc." A lifelong public servant, Amancio Ergina served the City and County of San Francisco for many years. In 1971, Mayor Joseph Alioto appointed Amancio Ergina Commissioner of the San Francisco Housing Authority, making him the first Filipino-American to be appointed to the policy-making body of a major US city. He made one of his key contributions to the SF community, The Amancio Ergina Village Foundation, a 72-unit condominium cooperative which has become a national model for affordable housing. He was an active community leader of many civic and business organizations. He served as President of the Filipino American Council of San Francisco, an umbrella organization of 36 Filipino American Associations in the SF Bay Area. Together with Mary, he owned The Bataan Memorial Pharmacy, part of one of the first healthcare facilities in the SF Mission District. Amancio Ergina was a prolific humanitarian with gifts he demonstrated through his dedication to his community. His volunteer work included being a health advocate in his role as a Senior Knight of Columbus at his parish, St. Andrew's Church. Among his many talents was his beautiful singing voice. He was a latent sculptor and carpenter and like his patron St. Francis, a lover of animals. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ergina, and their three children, Dr. Patrick Ergina of Montreal, Dr. Francis Ergina of Pittsburgh, PA and Anita Tabagon of Hercules, CA. He was a loving grandpa and will live in the hearts of his legacy: Malaea, Thia, Sophie, Gian, Sam, Jason and Jacqueline. He will be missed by his many nieces and nephews. He leaves behind his siblings Visitation Ereno of San Jose, Patricio Ergina II and Nannie Lustan of San Francisco and in heaven, he joins his parents, the late Rosario and Patricio Ergina. Visitation for family and friends will begin on Sunday, November 15th at 4 p.m. at Duggan's Serra Mortuary, 500 Westlake Ave., Daly City, CA. A Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 16th at St. Andrews Church, 1571 Southgate Ave., Daly City and The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, November 17th at Saint Ignatius Church, 650 Parker Ave., San Francisco, CA. A Committal will follow at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, 1500 Old Mission Road , Colma, CA.