Antonio Alcal

Antonio Alcal passed away in Whittier, California on September 29, 2018 at the age of 96. He was born on September 2, 1922 in Morley, Colorado and would later join his fathers dance band at the age of 9 as a drummer performing alongside his brothers. Antonio later moved to Cueva Grande, Zacatecas, Mexico at the age of 10 during the Great Depression and continued to play music. The family band Tamborazo de Guadalupe Alcal played music known in the region as Tamborazo. Antonio would continue to grow in his musical talents while in Mexico by learning to play the clarinet and the saxophone and would even continue to play music later in life under the name Tamborazo Zacatecano de Los Hermanos Alcal in the 1970s.

Antonio married the love of his life, Marie Leone Carrillo on August 5, 1942 in Adjuntas del Refugio, Zacatecas, Mexico. They were married for 74 years until Marie passed in 2016. Antonio returned to the United States in 1945 to present himself before the Selective Service Board in Los Angeles where he was rejected due to flat feet. He then went on to work for the Department of Defense in the ship yards. Antonio and his wife and two small children would later settle in Los Angeles. While in Los Angeles Antonio attended night school at Los Angeles Trade Technical College where he achieved an Associates Arts Degree by mastering sign lettering, decal design, printing and other technical arts. The family remained in Los Angeles until they relocated to Pico Rivera in 1969. Antonio lived the rest of his life residing in Pico Rivera while working in the freight industry for 44 years as the sign shop foreman and later retired at the age of 70 as a truck mechanic.

Antonio was an avid reader, an artist and was known by many as a jack of all trades. He was a devout 49-year parishioner of St. Marianne de Paredes Church in Pico Rivera and a 70 year member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union.

Antonio is preceded in death by his wife, Marie Leone; his son, Hector and daughter-in-law, Alice. He is survived by his daughters Lee, Anna (Tomas), Terry (Richard), Laura; brother Onesimo; 11 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on.