Pete was raised in the Hemet area and at one time lived on Balboa Island before relocating to Borrego Springs in the 1980's.
____________________________
Long-term Borrego Resident has recently passed away. Pete was an incredibly charismatic individual who exemplified and personified the spirit of a true gentleman.
Pete was raised in rural California in the Hemet area. His mother worked hard to raise Pete along with his 4 brothers and 2 sisters. These early lessons stuck with him all his life. He loved the early days of Rock and Roll and attended many dance concerts - seeing Fats Domino, Little Richard and others early in their career. He spent many memorable years living on Balboa Island in the late 60's to the early 80's. He arrived in Borrego in the 1980's.
Perhaps he is best known for his work at La Casa Del Zorro. For nearly 25 years, he worked at the Resort holding various positions. His warmth and kindness
was equally and freely given to all with whom he came in contact. The charm of Borrego Springs was due in large part to this wonderful man.
Pete continued to live in the area until April of this year. His unexpected and sudden bout with cancer ended relatively quickly. He was 75.
____________________________________
Euology by Ray Flores:
We’re all just passing through this life. Do the very best you can and Enjoy every day. If you don’t succeed, try again. If you don’t achieve what you are aiming for, it wasn’t meant to be because there is something better waiting for you.
These were just some of the great words of Pete Cervantes.
Pete loved life and for the past 25 years he was a part of the desert. He felt a deep connection to this desert. He noticed everything and appreciated it every minute of every day. He also had the remarkable ability of communicating that feeling of appreciation, of peace and joy to anyone with whom he met. His wonderful smile, his great looks, the impeccable way he dressed, and his warm heart drew you in.
I remember when I first stood next to him, I said to myself, this man knows something. I wondered what it was. For the next 22 years, he taught me. I learned many things from Pete. Watching television with him, the news, any program for that matter was an education. He saw the city world as basically an injustice. Sitting with him in his living room was like viewing the planet earth from another planet. It was so peaceful out there, that all the city influences that enable most of us to tolerate, smog, traffic, crime, was far far away. Prejudice, greed, people trapped in their own lives. He despised these things. He wasn’t running from the city life, he merely saw through it. He already succeeded in city life, so had nothing to prove. But, he realized that there was no fulfillment in that life. That only nature held the key to such happiness and enlightenment. And he found it. “I like my own high!” he said. Every morning, he’d wake up early, ready to embrace the day. From the vast expanse of the farm, you could see for 15-100 miles in every direction. He particularly loved the sunrise and the sunsets. Those long Sunday afternoons in the shade.
But Pete didn’t just dream his time away out here, he paid attention to the news and world events. While driving in his car – and he drove about 40,000 miles per year, he’d listen to public radio. He spent a lot of time thinking and staying informed.
He never paid attention to celebrities. He never wanted to donate any of his energy, neither physical, monetary nor psychic to Hollywood people who lived such chaotic lives. When he did watch movies, it was usually based on a person who possessed a strong moral character. That he related to.
He lived on his own planet out there on the farm. There wasn’t a neighbor to be seen anywhere. He was like an old Spanish padre in the California Mission days.
Pete never judged people by their finances. Only by their character. It didn’t matter if a person was famous or whether they were picking lettuce on the farm, he would speak and treat them always equally. He never spoke down to anyone.
I believe that this is due to his humble roots. Pete was proud that he was Mexican American. He hated the word Hispanic. He sometimes said, I’m Indian. And he’d take an insult from some gringo just so they could see their error in their thinking. He would tell people that he picked potatoes when he was a kid. But then again, he always let everyone know that he loved his fine sportscars too. Everyone has a vice he said. But he made people think. And think well of him they did. But, Pete could also size people up too. He could read people immediately. Their body language, their attitude, the way their wives spoke to them. How other people spoke to their family. He was always using his mind.
In town if I ever mentioned his name, people would respond, a real gentleman.
Whenever there were throwaways, blankets, furniture from La Casa Del Zorro, he’d drive it down to Mexicali to give it to the poor. He was always giving.
The high point in his life, as I knew him was working at La Casa Del Zorro. Whenever he came into town, several people would come up to him and talk. When is La Casa Del Zorro going to open again. Although he shied away from going into town often times, once people engaged him, he would light right up. Everyone was so happy to see him.
Unfortunately, none of us are able to share a smile anymore with him. But we can share a smile with everyone else we meet. We can’t enjoy the beauty of nature with him. But, we can look deeply at the natural surroundings and listen to the song of a bird, the beauty of a tree or a mountain vista. Those are the things that he loved most. We can do that each one of us. And when we do, from time to time, let’s think of Pete and what it meant to him. To enjoy the real world and what’s real in it.
He stood tall. But his outward appearance was merely a reflection of how tall he stood on moral high ground.
It is hard, very hard to think how life will be without my mentor and friend. I will spend the rest of my life trying to live up to the high standards he lived by.
~ Ray Flores
____________________________
Long-term Borrego Resident has recently passed away. Pete was an incredibly charismatic individual who exemplified and personified the spirit of a true gentleman.
Pete was raised in rural California in the Hemet area. His mother worked hard to raise Pete along with his 4 brothers and 2 sisters. These early lessons stuck with him all his life. He loved the early days of Rock and Roll and attended many dance concerts - seeing Fats Domino, Little Richard and others early in their career. He spent many memorable years living on Balboa Island in the late 60's to the early 80's. He arrived in Borrego in the 1980's.
Perhaps he is best known for his work at La Casa Del Zorro. For nearly 25 years, he worked at the Resort holding various positions. His warmth and kindness
was equally and freely given to all with whom he came in contact. The charm of Borrego Springs was due in large part to this wonderful man.
Pete continued to live in the area until April of this year. His unexpected and sudden bout with cancer ended relatively quickly. He was 75.
____________________________________
Euology by Ray Flores:
We’re all just passing through this life. Do the very best you can and Enjoy every day. If you don’t succeed, try again. If you don’t achieve what you are aiming for, it wasn’t meant to be because there is something better waiting for you.
These were just some of the great words of Pete Cervantes.
Pete loved life and for the past 25 years he was a part of the desert. He felt a deep connection to this desert. He noticed everything and appreciated it every minute of every day. He also had the remarkable ability of communicating that feeling of appreciation, of peace and joy to anyone with whom he met. His wonderful smile, his great looks, the impeccable way he dressed, and his warm heart drew you in.
I remember when I first stood next to him, I said to myself, this man knows something. I wondered what it was. For the next 22 years, he taught me. I learned many things from Pete. Watching television with him, the news, any program for that matter was an education. He saw the city world as basically an injustice. Sitting with him in his living room was like viewing the planet earth from another planet. It was so peaceful out there, that all the city influences that enable most of us to tolerate, smog, traffic, crime, was far far away. Prejudice, greed, people trapped in their own lives. He despised these things. He wasn’t running from the city life, he merely saw through it. He already succeeded in city life, so had nothing to prove. But, he realized that there was no fulfillment in that life. That only nature held the key to such happiness and enlightenment. And he found it. “I like my own high!” he said. Every morning, he’d wake up early, ready to embrace the day. From the vast expanse of the farm, you could see for 15-100 miles in every direction. He particularly loved the sunrise and the sunsets. Those long Sunday afternoons in the shade.
But Pete didn’t just dream his time away out here, he paid attention to the news and world events. While driving in his car – and he drove about 40,000 miles per year, he’d listen to public radio. He spent a lot of time thinking and staying informed.
He never paid attention to celebrities. He never wanted to donate any of his energy, neither physical, monetary nor psychic to Hollywood people who lived such chaotic lives. When he did watch movies, it was usually based on a person who possessed a strong moral character. That he related to.
He lived on his own planet out there on the farm. There wasn’t a neighbor to be seen anywhere. He was like an old Spanish padre in the California Mission days.
Pete never judged people by their finances. Only by their character. It didn’t matter if a person was famous or whether they were picking lettuce on the farm, he would speak and treat them always equally. He never spoke down to anyone.
I believe that this is due to his humble roots. Pete was proud that he was Mexican American. He hated the word Hispanic. He sometimes said, I’m Indian. And he’d take an insult from some gringo just so they could see their error in their thinking. He would tell people that he picked potatoes when he was a kid. But then again, he always let everyone know that he loved his fine sportscars too. Everyone has a vice he said. But he made people think. And think well of him they did. But, Pete could also size people up too. He could read people immediately. Their body language, their attitude, the way their wives spoke to them. How other people spoke to their family. He was always using his mind.
In town if I ever mentioned his name, people would respond, a real gentleman.
Whenever there were throwaways, blankets, furniture from La Casa Del Zorro, he’d drive it down to Mexicali to give it to the poor. He was always giving.
The high point in his life, as I knew him was working at La Casa Del Zorro. Whenever he came into town, several people would come up to him and talk. When is La Casa Del Zorro going to open again. Although he shied away from going into town often times, once people engaged him, he would light right up. Everyone was so happy to see him.
Unfortunately, none of us are able to share a smile anymore with him. But we can share a smile with everyone else we meet. We can’t enjoy the beauty of nature with him. But, we can look deeply at the natural surroundings and listen to the song of a bird, the beauty of a tree or a mountain vista. Those are the things that he loved most. We can do that each one of us. And when we do, from time to time, let’s think of Pete and what it meant to him. To enjoy the real world and what’s real in it.
He stood tall. But his outward appearance was merely a reflection of how tall he stood on moral high ground.
It is hard, very hard to think how life will be without my mentor and friend. I will spend the rest of my life trying to live up to the high standards he lived by.
~ Ray Flores
Pete was raised in the Hemet area and at one time lived on Balboa Island before relocating to Borrego Springs in the 1980's.
____________________________
Long-term Borrego Resident has recently passed away. Pete was an incredibly charismatic individual who exemplified and personified the spirit of a true gentleman.
Pete was raised in rural California in the Hemet area. His mother worked hard to raise Pete along with his 4 brothers and 2 sisters. These early lessons stuck with him all his life. He loved the early days of Rock and Roll and attended many dance concerts - seeing Fats Domino, Little Richard and others early in their career. He spent many memorable years living on Balboa Island in the late 60's to the early 80's. He arrived in Borrego in the 1980's.
Perhaps he is best known for his work at La Casa Del Zorro. For nearly 25 years, he worked at the Resort holding various positions. His warmth and kindness
was equally and freely given to all with whom he came in contact. The charm of Borrego Springs was due in large part to this wonderful man.
Pete continued to live in the area until April of this year. His unexpected and sudden bout with cancer ended relatively quickly. He was 75.
____________________________________
Euology by Ray Flores:
We’re all just passing through this life. Do the very best you can and Enjoy every day. If you don’t succeed, try again. If you don’t achieve what you are aiming for, it wasn’t meant to be because there is something better waiting for you.
These were just some of the great words of Pete Cervantes.
Pete loved life and for the past 25 years he was a part of the desert. He felt a deep connection to this desert. He noticed everything and appreciated it every minute of every day. He also had the remarkable ability of communicating that feeling of appreciation, of peace and joy to anyone with whom he met. His wonderful smile, his great looks, the impeccable way he dressed, and his warm heart drew you in.
I remember when I first stood next to him, I said to myself, this man knows something. I wondered what it was. For the next 22 years, he taught me. I learned many things from Pete. Watching television with him, the news, any program for that matter was an education. He saw the city world as basically an injustice. Sitting with him in his living room was like viewing the planet earth from another planet. It was so peaceful out there, that all the city influences that enable most of us to tolerate, smog, traffic, crime, was far far away. Prejudice, greed, people trapped in their own lives. He despised these things. He wasn’t running from the city life, he merely saw through it. He already succeeded in city life, so had nothing to prove. But, he realized that there was no fulfillment in that life. That only nature held the key to such happiness and enlightenment. And he found it. “I like my own high!” he said. Every morning, he’d wake up early, ready to embrace the day. From the vast expanse of the farm, you could see for 15-100 miles in every direction. He particularly loved the sunrise and the sunsets. Those long Sunday afternoons in the shade.
But Pete didn’t just dream his time away out here, he paid attention to the news and world events. While driving in his car – and he drove about 40,000 miles per year, he’d listen to public radio. He spent a lot of time thinking and staying informed.
He never paid attention to celebrities. He never wanted to donate any of his energy, neither physical, monetary nor psychic to Hollywood people who lived such chaotic lives. When he did watch movies, it was usually based on a person who possessed a strong moral character. That he related to.
He lived on his own planet out there on the farm. There wasn’t a neighbor to be seen anywhere. He was like an old Spanish padre in the California Mission days.
Pete never judged people by their finances. Only by their character. It didn’t matter if a person was famous or whether they were picking lettuce on the farm, he would speak and treat them always equally. He never spoke down to anyone.
I believe that this is due to his humble roots. Pete was proud that he was Mexican American. He hated the word Hispanic. He sometimes said, I’m Indian. And he’d take an insult from some gringo just so they could see their error in their thinking. He would tell people that he picked potatoes when he was a kid. But then again, he always let everyone know that he loved his fine sportscars too. Everyone has a vice he said. But he made people think. And think well of him they did. But, Pete could also size people up too. He could read people immediately. Their body language, their attitude, the way their wives spoke to them. How other people spoke to their family. He was always using his mind.
In town if I ever mentioned his name, people would respond, a real gentleman.
Whenever there were throwaways, blankets, furniture from La Casa Del Zorro, he’d drive it down to Mexicali to give it to the poor. He was always giving.
The high point in his life, as I knew him was working at La Casa Del Zorro. Whenever he came into town, several people would come up to him and talk. When is La Casa Del Zorro going to open again. Although he shied away from going into town often times, once people engaged him, he would light right up. Everyone was so happy to see him.
Unfortunately, none of us are able to share a smile anymore with him. But we can share a smile with everyone else we meet. We can’t enjoy the beauty of nature with him. But, we can look deeply at the natural surroundings and listen to the song of a bird, the beauty of a tree or a mountain vista. Those are the things that he loved most. We can do that each one of us. And when we do, from time to time, let’s think of Pete and what it meant to him. To enjoy the real world and what’s real in it.
He stood tall. But his outward appearance was merely a reflection of how tall he stood on moral high ground.
It is hard, very hard to think how life will be without my mentor and friend. I will spend the rest of my life trying to live up to the high standards he lived by.
~ Ray Flores
____________________________
Long-term Borrego Resident has recently passed away. Pete was an incredibly charismatic individual who exemplified and personified the spirit of a true gentleman.
Pete was raised in rural California in the Hemet area. His mother worked hard to raise Pete along with his 4 brothers and 2 sisters. These early lessons stuck with him all his life. He loved the early days of Rock and Roll and attended many dance concerts - seeing Fats Domino, Little Richard and others early in their career. He spent many memorable years living on Balboa Island in the late 60's to the early 80's. He arrived in Borrego in the 1980's.
Perhaps he is best known for his work at La Casa Del Zorro. For nearly 25 years, he worked at the Resort holding various positions. His warmth and kindness
was equally and freely given to all with whom he came in contact. The charm of Borrego Springs was due in large part to this wonderful man.
Pete continued to live in the area until April of this year. His unexpected and sudden bout with cancer ended relatively quickly. He was 75.
____________________________________
Euology by Ray Flores:
We’re all just passing through this life. Do the very best you can and Enjoy every day. If you don’t succeed, try again. If you don’t achieve what you are aiming for, it wasn’t meant to be because there is something better waiting for you.
These were just some of the great words of Pete Cervantes.
Pete loved life and for the past 25 years he was a part of the desert. He felt a deep connection to this desert. He noticed everything and appreciated it every minute of every day. He also had the remarkable ability of communicating that feeling of appreciation, of peace and joy to anyone with whom he met. His wonderful smile, his great looks, the impeccable way he dressed, and his warm heart drew you in.
I remember when I first stood next to him, I said to myself, this man knows something. I wondered what it was. For the next 22 years, he taught me. I learned many things from Pete. Watching television with him, the news, any program for that matter was an education. He saw the city world as basically an injustice. Sitting with him in his living room was like viewing the planet earth from another planet. It was so peaceful out there, that all the city influences that enable most of us to tolerate, smog, traffic, crime, was far far away. Prejudice, greed, people trapped in their own lives. He despised these things. He wasn’t running from the city life, he merely saw through it. He already succeeded in city life, so had nothing to prove. But, he realized that there was no fulfillment in that life. That only nature held the key to such happiness and enlightenment. And he found it. “I like my own high!” he said. Every morning, he’d wake up early, ready to embrace the day. From the vast expanse of the farm, you could see for 15-100 miles in every direction. He particularly loved the sunrise and the sunsets. Those long Sunday afternoons in the shade.
But Pete didn’t just dream his time away out here, he paid attention to the news and world events. While driving in his car – and he drove about 40,000 miles per year, he’d listen to public radio. He spent a lot of time thinking and staying informed.
He never paid attention to celebrities. He never wanted to donate any of his energy, neither physical, monetary nor psychic to Hollywood people who lived such chaotic lives. When he did watch movies, it was usually based on a person who possessed a strong moral character. That he related to.
He lived on his own planet out there on the farm. There wasn’t a neighbor to be seen anywhere. He was like an old Spanish padre in the California Mission days.
Pete never judged people by their finances. Only by their character. It didn’t matter if a person was famous or whether they were picking lettuce on the farm, he would speak and treat them always equally. He never spoke down to anyone.
I believe that this is due to his humble roots. Pete was proud that he was Mexican American. He hated the word Hispanic. He sometimes said, I’m Indian. And he’d take an insult from some gringo just so they could see their error in their thinking. He would tell people that he picked potatoes when he was a kid. But then again, he always let everyone know that he loved his fine sportscars too. Everyone has a vice he said. But he made people think. And think well of him they did. But, Pete could also size people up too. He could read people immediately. Their body language, their attitude, the way their wives spoke to them. How other people spoke to their family. He was always using his mind.
In town if I ever mentioned his name, people would respond, a real gentleman.
Whenever there were throwaways, blankets, furniture from La Casa Del Zorro, he’d drive it down to Mexicali to give it to the poor. He was always giving.
The high point in his life, as I knew him was working at La Casa Del Zorro. Whenever he came into town, several people would come up to him and talk. When is La Casa Del Zorro going to open again. Although he shied away from going into town often times, once people engaged him, he would light right up. Everyone was so happy to see him.
Unfortunately, none of us are able to share a smile anymore with him. But we can share a smile with everyone else we meet. We can’t enjoy the beauty of nature with him. But, we can look deeply at the natural surroundings and listen to the song of a bird, the beauty of a tree or a mountain vista. Those are the things that he loved most. We can do that each one of us. And when we do, from time to time, let’s think of Pete and what it meant to him. To enjoy the real world and what’s real in it.
He stood tall. But his outward appearance was merely a reflection of how tall he stood on moral high ground.
It is hard, very hard to think how life will be without my mentor and friend. I will spend the rest of my life trying to live up to the high standards he lived by.
~ Ray Flores
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
