Lasting Memories

Raul Tamayo Sr
July 15, 1935-Dec. 22, 2013
Redwood City, California

Raul Tamayo Sr. died Dec. 22 in Redwood City surrounded by his family. He was 78. He was born in San Francisco on July 15, 1935, where he attended Balboa High School. He served in the U.S. Army as a sharpshooter. After being honorably discharged, he worked as a longshoreman for 35 years. He married Lucy in 1961 and moved his family to Redwood City in 1969 and remained the rest of his life investing in real estate. He was a chess master, and he played in tournaments and used to visit San Quentin to play chess with the inmates. He enjoyed sharpening his chess skills daily with the chess section in the San Francisco Chronicle, while teaching his kids and later his grandchildren the beauty of setting up moves for a checkmate. He could play chess blindfolded and still beat anyone with 20/20 vision. He started the sport of judo while in the Army and accomplished a black belt degree. He spent several years as the sensei for the Redwood City Police Youth Club and taught his children, which lead one of his sons Raul Tamayo Jr. becoming currently head coach (Sensei) at Stanford University. He was an accomplished carpenter -- he could build a full kitchen cabinet set, restore a Victorian house or build a patio set. He was also a devoted 49ers fan and could be found every Sunday (or Monday) watching the game until the last second. Family always came first for the father and grandfather. He is survived by: children Romulo, Leticia, Raul Jr., Bernadina, Ruben, Aileen and Randy; grandchildren Athena, Vanessa, Rosalinda, Aaron, Andrew, Adam, Julia, Ruby and Aidash; great-grandchildren Fernando, Aracely, Sergio, Edilberto, Brianna, Carlos, Tom and Michael; siblings Magdalena, Manuel Irene, Amelia and Julieta.