100 Years of Abuelo José

It's time to party like it's 1922 all over again: Today 100 years ago would result in a blessing for so many, including me way down the line, when, on November 15, 1922, my Grandpa, mi Abuelo, José Rubio was born.

I am delighted to celebrate his remarkable life.

He trod the path so many have trodden to be part of the USA experience.  As a young man, he would spend certain months of the year working in an agricultural setting in New Mexico on a worker's permit.  He eventually settled in the USA and brought his whole family over, which included 9 younger siblings.

Many years ago, I had various discussions with him about his life, and he told me about a woman named Mrs. Podell who rented a room to him in her large house in Chicago.  She traveled to Mexico around the time the Paricutin volcano suddenly formed in 1943.  Some people there helped her when she ventured to see the volcano, and she remained grateful to the Mexican people.  As I understand it, she did so much to help Abuelo gain success in life.

After settling in Chicago, he met and married my Grandma, mi Abuela Vel, and raised his family, including my Dad.

Abuelo gained quite a multifaceted experience from running a tavern, JV Liquors, for many years on Diversey Avenue in the Logan Square neighborhood.  He heard many interesting jokes there, including one about "brains", which became a running inside joke between us.  I can still picture him in a comfy blue chair in the living room at 5445 N. Lamon, turning red from laughing so hard.

Additionally, he enjoyed animals.  I remember how he endeared himself to three Shih Tzu mix dogs, including Daisy, Mei Mei, and especially Buddy.  He knew Buddy was the one when he and Abuela went to Orphans of the Storm, and Abuelo said, "He's my Buddy."  I remember one amusing instance the summer after they brought him home: The three of us came back to their house and Buddy kind of cornered Abuelo in a doorway.

Perhaps there's something about animals that tapped into his very relaxed demeanor.

I'm fairly certain Abuela took this photo of Abuelo out on the front steps with Buddy.  Most likely, all photos in this post are Abuela's, expect when otherwise noted.

I also regard him as someone knowledgeable, who deeply sought out knowledge.  When I was thinking of people to interview for each of the gifts of the Holy Spirit while preparing for Confirmation, Mom, who was helping me think of people, suggested Abuelo Jose for the gift of knowledge.  I called him, and we had quite an interesting conversation.  He was in his element as he answered my questions.

He demonstrated the importance of knowledge as a pursuit all through life.  After he retired from the tavern business in the 1990's, he went to the City Colleges of Chicago to get a degree.  I have a faint memory of attending the graduation ceremony when I was about 4 or 5 years old, and he spoke.  During his coursework, he wrote a composition on Abraham Lincoln, a person he greatly admired.

Above all, he was a person of deep faith.  I have great memories of accompanying him to Mass at his parish, Queen of All Saints Basilica on the far north side of Chicago.  His understanding of faith factored deeply into many of his conversations.  He was even involved in the Cursillo movement.  At a retreat, someone mistakenly thought he was the Holy Spirit coming into a bedroom at night since he had a towel wrapped over him to keep warm when the heat wasn't working.  Abuelo was also the sponsor for a friend, Scott Buhrmaster, when Scott joined the Roman Catholic Church.

Seeing how he imparted faith is something that makes his presence timeless, especially today, 100 years after his birth.

One year, on Christmas/Nativity Eve, my Dad got his parents a copy of The Advent Book.  Here's Abuelo flipping through it shortly after opening it. He definitely enjoyed this chair.

For his 80-year birthday, which was 20 years ago, Abuela cooked up quite a surprise for Abuelo.  She hired a limousine to drive us to Lawry's.  Abuelo is clearly still floored in this photo by the surprise while we ride in the limo.

Abuela was keen on getting each of us to pose during various celebrations.  Here, I pose with Abuelo, likely on one of his birthdays.

Here I am posing with Abuela and Abuelo at a meal they hosted for my birthday, though I'm not sure what year. I think Dad might have photographed this photo.

After posing for a photo with my Uncle Bernie, my sponsor, and BIshop Kane, likely taken by my Dad, Abuelo decided to jump in for a photo at the reception following my Confirmation Mass.  He appears to the left of me in the photo, and Bishop Kane on the right.