Isidro Tapia

Visitation May 21 from 5-9. Funeral Mass May 22 at Our Lady of Guadalupe San Diego 10am. Burial at Cypress View Mausoleum.

Isidro Tapia, born in La Noria, Sinaloa Mexico, in 1936 passed away on Monday May 14th, 2012 peacefully and gently at his Eastlake residence in the greater San Diego area. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Margarita Tapia, his four daughters Esmeralda, Margarita, Silvia and Jacquelyn. Isidro is also survived by two of his three sons, Gerardo and Isidro Jr. Now as Isidro climbs the great stairwell into paradise he accompanies his youngest son Humberto Tapia, who tragically passed away on April 7th, 2012 in Tijuana B.C., Mexico. Both men leave their footprint on the family through their unforgettable memories, joyous moments, triumphs and unrelenting love for those near and dear to them. Isidro also leaves behind six brothers and sisters, Juana, Dionicio, Martin, Eva, Reynalda and Florinda as well as thirteen grandchildren; Yessica, Jean-Carlo, Devvon, Talissa, Jovan, Jaelyne, Paulette, Kamryn, Joccelyn, Humberto Jr. Gerardo Jr. Angelina and Aaron.

At the ripe age of 20, Isidro embarked on a life-changing journey to work in the United States as an agricultural worker in the fields of central and southern California, picking everything from oranges, lemons, avocados and tomatoes. This type of backbreaking work is what drove him toward achieving his slice of the American Dream. On April 21, 1964 he married the love of his life, Margarita Tapia and only two years later discovered his passion for the kitchen, becoming a chef for the next 23 years at the Hyatt Islandia, where cooked for the likes of Ronald Reagan, the San Diego Chargers and numerous celebrities. Isidro’s yearly reward for this tireless work was a trip every May, to his native Sinaloa, where he would rekindle relationships with family during his stay and often reminisce on how far he had come, never forgetting his roots.

As a family man, there are very few who can compare to Isidro. He instilled a passion for hard work, discipline, respect and reading into his children. One of his most prominent sayings was “It’s better to arrive an hour early than a minute late” showing his punctuality and responsibility. An avid reader himself Isidro once decided to buy his children a full Encyclopedia in lieu of Christmas presents, with the thought being that knowledge is the greatest present one can give. His children will always have memories of him taking them to wrestling matches, introducing them to continental cuisine and the daily trips to the park after school engrained with them forever.

If there are a couple of things that people will remember Isidro by, they are his unconditional love of family, love for boxing, his story telling and his generosity. The entire family remembers his often asking of where the next boxing event would be viewed. Once the opening bell sounded he would take his seat and not stand until the final bell. He was the type of person who would give the clothes off of his back and the food off of his plate to others, no matter what the circumstances.

For someone who came to this country with nothing but a marginal education at best and big dreams it is safe to say that Isidro Tapia accomplished what so few achieve, the quintessential American Dream. He had the type of articulation about himself, class and wisdom that not even the highest educated possess. He leaves behind an immense legacy and shoes that quite frankly will never be filled. If we all grow to become a fraction of the Father, Husband, Grandfather, Friend, Man and Person he was then we’ll be just fine.