Art passed away on March 26, 2009 . He had been struggling with lung cancer for 16 months.
Art was born under a tree in the small farming community of Kerman, California to Antonia Aguirre Garcia and Panfilo Garcia.
Being born into a migrant farming family consisting of five siblings, Art was raised primarily in Brawley, California, attending Sacred Heart School, Brawley High School, and graduating from Coalinga High School. He then moved on to earn an AA degree from Coalinga Junior College.
Upon completing his two year commitment serving our country in the United States Army, Art pursued his dream of becoming a banker. It was a dream he had told his mother about at age five. Art worked his way up the corporate ladder by entering his chosen field as a teller and eventually becoming the first Mexican-American Branch manager for Wells Fargo Bank. His career spanned 35 years working in the banking business which included heading the SBA program as well as helping create the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He opened the Wells Fargo-Fashion Fair branch and later retired from the Wells Fargo-Clovis branch as one of the highest producing managers in the entire system. His compassion, influence and knowledge will live forever in the lives of the people he touched.
Upon his retirement Art spent much of his time writing his memoirs reflecting on his American dream of rising from migrant farm laborer to corporate officer of one of the largest banking institutions in the nation. He had a passion for history and trivia and would continuously quiz family and friends. He recently received certification from Wells Fargo historians that he was in fact the first Mexican-American branch manager. This was his latest "million dollar" question.
He was preceded in death by both of his parents; and his aunt, Martha Aguirre; and his cousins, Fernando, Johnny, and Armando Aguirre.
He is survived by his children, Audrey Garcia, Mark Garcia and his wife Lori of Fresno, Jill Vanni and her husband Chris of Gilroy;.Grandchildren, Gregory and Ian Dewitt, Avery Johnston, Alexandra and Holly Garcia, Michaela, Natalia, Juliana, and Gianluca Vanni,Sisters, Willie Ellias, Irma Brown and Norma Garcia; brothers, Eddie Garcia and Lee Garcia; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home, on Thursday, April 2, 2009, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, on Friday, April 3, 2009, at 11:00 a.m.
Interment to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.
WHITEHURST Sullivan, Burns & Blair
1525 East Saginaw Way
Fresno, Ca. (559)227-4048
Published in Fresno Bee on 4/1/2009
Art was born under a tree in the small farming community of Kerman, California to Antonia Aguirre Garcia and Panfilo Garcia.
Being born into a migrant farming family consisting of five siblings, Art was raised primarily in Brawley, California, attending Sacred Heart School, Brawley High School, and graduating from Coalinga High School. He then moved on to earn an AA degree from Coalinga Junior College.
Upon completing his two year commitment serving our country in the United States Army, Art pursued his dream of becoming a banker. It was a dream he had told his mother about at age five. Art worked his way up the corporate ladder by entering his chosen field as a teller and eventually becoming the first Mexican-American Branch manager for Wells Fargo Bank. His career spanned 35 years working in the banking business which included heading the SBA program as well as helping create the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He opened the Wells Fargo-Fashion Fair branch and later retired from the Wells Fargo-Clovis branch as one of the highest producing managers in the entire system. His compassion, influence and knowledge will live forever in the lives of the people he touched.
Upon his retirement Art spent much of his time writing his memoirs reflecting on his American dream of rising from migrant farm laborer to corporate officer of one of the largest banking institutions in the nation. He had a passion for history and trivia and would continuously quiz family and friends. He recently received certification from Wells Fargo historians that he was in fact the first Mexican-American branch manager. This was his latest "million dollar" question.
He was preceded in death by both of his parents; and his aunt, Martha Aguirre; and his cousins, Fernando, Johnny, and Armando Aguirre.
He is survived by his children, Audrey Garcia, Mark Garcia and his wife Lori of Fresno, Jill Vanni and her husband Chris of Gilroy;.Grandchildren, Gregory and Ian Dewitt, Avery Johnston, Alexandra and Holly Garcia, Michaela, Natalia, Juliana, and Gianluca Vanni,Sisters, Willie Ellias, Irma Brown and Norma Garcia; brothers, Eddie Garcia and Lee Garcia; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home, on Thursday, April 2, 2009, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, on Friday, April 3, 2009, at 11:00 a.m.
Interment to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.
WHITEHURST Sullivan, Burns & Blair
1525 East Saginaw Way
Fresno, Ca. (559)227-4048
Published in Fresno Bee on 4/1/2009
Art passed away on March 26, 2009 . He had been struggling with lung cancer for 16 months.
Art was born under a tree in the small farming community of Kerman, California to Antonia Aguirre Garcia and Panfilo Garcia.
Being born into a migrant farming family consisting of five siblings, Art was raised primarily in Brawley, California, attending Sacred Heart School, Brawley High School, and graduating from Coalinga High School. He then moved on to earn an AA degree from Coalinga Junior College.
Upon completing his two year commitment serving our country in the United States Army, Art pursued his dream of becoming a banker. It was a dream he had told his mother about at age five. Art worked his way up the corporate ladder by entering his chosen field as a teller and eventually becoming the first Mexican-American Branch manager for Wells Fargo Bank. His career spanned 35 years working in the banking business which included heading the SBA program as well as helping create the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He opened the Wells Fargo-Fashion Fair branch and later retired from the Wells Fargo-Clovis branch as one of the highest producing managers in the entire system. His compassion, influence and knowledge will live forever in the lives of the people he touched.
Upon his retirement Art spent much of his time writing his memoirs reflecting on his American dream of rising from migrant farm laborer to corporate officer of one of the largest banking institutions in the nation. He had a passion for history and trivia and would continuously quiz family and friends. He recently received certification from Wells Fargo historians that he was in fact the first Mexican-American branch manager. This was his latest "million dollar" question.
He was preceded in death by both of his parents; and his aunt, Martha Aguirre; and his cousins, Fernando, Johnny, and Armando Aguirre.
He is survived by his children, Audrey Garcia, Mark Garcia and his wife Lori of Fresno, Jill Vanni and her husband Chris of Gilroy;.Grandchildren, Gregory and Ian Dewitt, Avery Johnston, Alexandra and Holly Garcia, Michaela, Natalia, Juliana, and Gianluca Vanni,Sisters, Willie Ellias, Irma Brown and Norma Garcia; brothers, Eddie Garcia and Lee Garcia; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home, on Thursday, April 2, 2009, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, on Friday, April 3, 2009, at 11:00 a.m.
Interment to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.
WHITEHURST Sullivan, Burns & Blair
1525 East Saginaw Way
Fresno, Ca. (559)227-4048
Published in Fresno Bee on 4/1/2009
Art was born under a tree in the small farming community of Kerman, California to Antonia Aguirre Garcia and Panfilo Garcia.
Being born into a migrant farming family consisting of five siblings, Art was raised primarily in Brawley, California, attending Sacred Heart School, Brawley High School, and graduating from Coalinga High School. He then moved on to earn an AA degree from Coalinga Junior College.
Upon completing his two year commitment serving our country in the United States Army, Art pursued his dream of becoming a banker. It was a dream he had told his mother about at age five. Art worked his way up the corporate ladder by entering his chosen field as a teller and eventually becoming the first Mexican-American Branch manager for Wells Fargo Bank. His career spanned 35 years working in the banking business which included heading the SBA program as well as helping create the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He opened the Wells Fargo-Fashion Fair branch and later retired from the Wells Fargo-Clovis branch as one of the highest producing managers in the entire system. His compassion, influence and knowledge will live forever in the lives of the people he touched.
Upon his retirement Art spent much of his time writing his memoirs reflecting on his American dream of rising from migrant farm laborer to corporate officer of one of the largest banking institutions in the nation. He had a passion for history and trivia and would continuously quiz family and friends. He recently received certification from Wells Fargo historians that he was in fact the first Mexican-American branch manager. This was his latest "million dollar" question.
He was preceded in death by both of his parents; and his aunt, Martha Aguirre; and his cousins, Fernando, Johnny, and Armando Aguirre.
He is survived by his children, Audrey Garcia, Mark Garcia and his wife Lori of Fresno, Jill Vanni and her husband Chris of Gilroy;.Grandchildren, Gregory and Ian Dewitt, Avery Johnston, Alexandra and Holly Garcia, Michaela, Natalia, Juliana, and Gianluca Vanni,Sisters, Willie Ellias, Irma Brown and Norma Garcia; brothers, Eddie Garcia and Lee Garcia; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Whitehurst, Sullivan, Burns & Blair Funeral Home, on Thursday, April 2, 2009, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., followed by Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 7:00 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, on Friday, April 3, 2009, at 11:00 a.m.
Interment to follow at St. Peter's Cemetery.
WHITEHURST Sullivan, Burns & Blair
1525 East Saginaw Way
Fresno, Ca. (559)227-4048
Published in Fresno Bee on 4/1/2009
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