Albino Rivera Pineda

On September 14, 2024, Albino Rivera Pineda, civic leader, author, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away peacefully at his home in Santa Paula, California due to complications from a fall at the Santa Paula Labor Day Parade. He was 100 years old. He lived a fulfilled life based on extraordinary faith, which provided him with solace and peace as his journey on this earth ended.

He was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on December 22, 1923, to Emilio and Dolores Pineda. After his father’s premature death, his mother took her young children, including Albino, and returned to Mexico among other Mexican repatriates.

Albino returned to the U.S. in 1942 and made his way to Santa Paula where he met his future wife, Naomi. Shortly after, he was inducted into the U.S. Armed Forces. He served in an Artillery Battalion in WWII in Germany and stayed there until we won the war. During his time in the Army, he taught himself to read and to speak English. Afterwards, he returned to Santa Paula and married Naomi. Albino and Naomi raised their three children, John Al Pineda, Patricia Pineda, and Paul Pineda in Santa Paula.

Albino was a Renaissance Man. Although he had little formal education, as a young man he developed a fervent love of learning and reading. He also meticulously maintained a daily diary throughout his life.

Albino’s first career was spent as one of the first Hispanic heavy equipment operators in the Southern California area. He worked on the construction of Matilija Dam and laying pipelines and storm drains throughout California and Nevada.

After retiring from his heavy equipment operator job in 1991, he was offered the wonderful opportunity of an unexpected second career as the Executive Director of the Hispanic Ministries of the California-Pacific Conference of the United Methodist Church, creating programs to identify and train Spanish-speaking United Methodist ministers and lay-missionaries. After working at this job for eight years, he retired for the second time in 2000 to attend to his terminally ill wife, Naomi.

On April 27, 2002, he married his second wife, Lydia Sanchez, at El Buen Pastor Methodist Church and they continued to reside in Santa Paula.

In his spare time, Albino traveled with his family to Europe, Mexico, and around the U.S. He was very involved in his church, El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church, and served in various lay roles including Sunday school teacher, chair of the Official board, and church historian. He also served as an elected member of the General Board of the Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church.

Albino was very engaged in his community having served as a chair of the Boy Scout’s Troop Parent Committee, an elected member of the Santa Paula Elementary School District Board of Trustees, a member of the Ventura County School Boards Association, a member of the Latino Town Hall, and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Affairs Mercer-Prieto Post 2043 which he was actively involved in until his death.

Perhaps one of his most noteworthy accomplishments was his vision and leadership to create a monument to honor the men and women farm workers of the Santa Clara River Valley with Santa Paula at its geographic core. As someone who had worked the fields in the area during his youth, he believed the back-breaking work of putting fresh produce on our tables was unappreciated and merited recognition. Thus, in 2006, he raised funds and led the effort to build the Santa Paula farm worker monument which is cherished and visited by many.

Around the time of his farmworker monument project, Albino also completed his memoirs entitled “Among the Repatriated: Autobiography of a Mexican-American” which was published in 2008. He wanted to share his life history with his family and believed his life story was the story of so many hard-working Latinos of his generation and today.

Towards the end of his life, Albino loved making primitive masks, tending to his flourishing orange and avocado trees, continuing to read and learn, spending time with family, going to church, giving speeches about his book and the farm worker monument, and holding the flag at burials for veterans.

This year, he celebrated the milestone of his 100th year with family and friends from all over the country. He received many commendations throughout his life but was especially touched to receive earlier this year the Santa Paula Chamber’s Sam Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award and the Bishop’s Award at the California-Pacific Annual Conference for his life-long service to the United Methodist Church. He was looking forward to being honored in October at the Museum of Social Justice in Los Angeles.

Albino was preceded in death by his first wife of 54 years, Naomi Salas Pineda, his eldest son, John Al Pineda, his parents, Dolores and Emilio Pineda, brothers, Manuel, Antonio, and Ysidro, and step-sisters, Luz, Josefa, and Dolores. Pineda is survived by his second wife of 22 years, Lydia Sanchez Pineda, his daughter Patricia Salas Pineda, his son Paul Salas Pineda, son-in-law Eric Klein, daughters-in-law, Mary and Diane Pineda, grandchildren: Jonathan Pineda, Renee Pineda, Daniella Pineda, Elliott Klein, and Anneliese Klein, and great-grandchildren: Naomi Pineda, Rune Klein, Richard Montoya, Rhea Montoya, Roman Montoya, Raeana Montoya, Rico Montoya, and Riker Montoya.

A viewing for friends and family will take place on October 4 from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Funeraria Del Angel, 128 South 8th Street, Santa Paula, California. Albino’s life will be celebrated on Oct 5th at 10:00 a.m. at El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church at 1029 E. Santa Paula Street, Santa Paula, California. A burial will follow at the Santa Paula Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to his beloved church, El Buen Pastor United Methodist Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Mercer-Prieto Post 2043,Tax I.D. 95-605-6084, or the Santa Paula Latino Town Hall for educational scholarships.