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Community Corner

Obituary

Raul
Tamayo Sr. died Dec. 22 in Redwood City surrounded by his family. He was
78.  He was born in San Francisco on July 15, 1935, where he attended Balboa High School. He served in the U.S. Army as a sharpshooter. After being honorably discharged, he worked as a longshoreman
for 35 years.

He
married Lucy in 1961 and moved his family to Redwood City in 1969 and remained the rest of his life investing in real estate. He was a chess master, and he played in tournaments and used to visit San Quentin to play chess with the inmates. He enjoyed sharpening his chess skills daily with the chess section in the San Francisco Chronicle, while teaching his kids and later his grandchildren the beauty of setting up moves for a checkmate. He could play chess blindfolded and still beat anyone with 20/20 vision.

He
started the sport of judo while in the Army and earned a black belt
degree. He spent several years as the sensei for the Redwood City Police Youth
Club, and taught his own children. He was an accomplished carpenter,
he could build a full kitchen cabinet set, restore Victorian house or build a
patio set.  He was also a devoted 49er fan and could be found every Sunday (or Monday) Watching the game until the last
second. Family
always came first for the father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife Lucy of 52 years, children Romulo, Leticia, Raul Jr.,
Bernadina, Ruben, Aileen and Randy; grandchildren Athena, Vanessa, Rosalinda, Aaron, Andrew, Adam, Julia, Ruby and Aidash; and great
grandchildren Fernando, Aracely, Sergio, Edilberto, Brianna, Carlos, Tom &
Michael;  siblings
Magdalena, Manuel, Irene, Amelia and Julieta.

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Rosary is Jan 2, at Redwood Chapel, Redwood City at 7p, and Mass services Fri Jan 3, 10a at St. Pius Church, Redwood City, followed by burial Holly Cross, in Colma.  

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