Maria Zaldivar Johnson

María Antonieta Leopoldina Zaldívar León Martínez Frayde was born in Camagüey, Cuba, on September 30, 1949. Her childhood was full of gatherings with cousins, and she loved her time at her parent’s cattle ranch “El Escudo” where she rode horses. Johnny was the name of her childhood pony.

The Cuban revolution disrupted life for María and her family. Happy moments were intermingled with uncertainty and violence, as life as she knew it changed forever. In 1968, at the age of 18, María Antonieta left alone in the middle of the night to Barcelona, Spain, where she lived with cousins for a year before immigrating to the United States.

There was a part of her that always wanted to go back to Cuba, but María worked towards building a life here in the US. She landed in Ohio, where her brother lived. She worked hard and put herself through school, graduating from West Virginia University with a degree in medical technology. She worked in Charleston, West Virginia, and Miami, Florida, before moving to Houston, Texas.

María always knew she wanted children, and when she met her future husband, Ed, at a workplace lab party, they discovered many shared values despite growing up in different cultures. In 1984, they married in Houston, Texas. Six years and three children later, they moved to Temple, Texas together. Their house was filled with books and music in multiple languages, and her children absorbed a love and open-mindedness for other cultures, travel, learning, and people.

Despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 1998, María had a second career as a preschool Spanish teacher at Christ Episcopal Church in Temple. She loved singing and playing Cuban music with her students, and was able to share her language, her culture, and a love for learning with them, just as she had with her own children. She retired in 2009, but found other ways to continue being active, vibrant, feisty, and connected to people.

She enjoyed community and friendship through her Monday Bible Study, the VA Women’s Club, and the Bell Area Parkinson’s Support Group. Exercise – especially with other people – was one of her daily joys, and kept the advancement of Parkinson’s symptoms at bay. She exercised with friends at Sammons Park indoor pool every week, and was able to get stronger even with advanced Parkinson’s. María also enjoyed yoga, painting, listening to music, and spending time with her children. She was known for her bright smile and vibrant laughter.

María is predeceased by her parents, Antonio “Nico” and María Luisa “Cusa.” She is survived by her husband, Ed of Temple; her daughters, Maureen of Oakland, California, and Rachel of Washington, DC; her son Daniel of Austin, Texas; her brothers Antonio Zaldívar and George (Sue) Zaldívar; and numerous beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.

The visitation will be Friday, November 8, 2024 from 5 - 7 pm at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home in Temple. The funeral service will be held at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Temple on Saturday, November 9, at 1 pm. To honor her legacy, memorials may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. María’s joy for life was immeasurable, and the family also suggests you honor her legacy by listening to music, dancing, and finding joy in everyday life.