Today we’d like to introduce you to Bob Camacho.
Hi Bob, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am second generation Portuguese-American and I was born into our Portuguese tradition and heritage. Where our family helped our parents and grandparents, along with going every weekend to Portuguese Festa which started after Mother’s Day and normally ended in October.
My parents along with my grandparents and great-grandparent where always working at the Portuguese Hall in Santa Cruz, fixing items, setting up tables for events or Cooking for food for those that came and help. We all worked normal jobs, sometimes more than one. My dad always worked two jobs and my mother took care us kids. My dad depending on his board position would also bartend at the Hall on weekends with other members.
My sister, along with my aunts and great aunts were all elected to be either little queens or sr. queens depending on there age. My great grandmother always mad the capes for the events and we would help.
I was born and raised in Santa Cruz, all my life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been some what a smooth road, there is times as a child that you wish you were able to go hang out with friends and go do something different but we go over it. As I stated earlier that with most weekends filled with Portuguese parades and lunching and visiting my grandparents on weekends if they did not go and or bring them food from an event. No understand that not every weekend us kids went to a Festa, Because most of them would slow down after August
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My first job was working in a restaurant for 10 years, and I started at the age of 13. I was raised if you wanted something in life you need to get a job and pay for items you want by yourself, i.e. car, house, or clothes. After leaving that job I went to work for a insurance company and was there for 42 years., I retired 5 years ago at the age of 66. Beside working, I did volunteer for the hall until I was able to because a director/member at the age of 18, I have been involved in the Portuguese Hall all my life, but was not able to be a director/member based on the by-laws until I was 18 years old.
Also after I turned 18, I started coaching youth Football and other sports in Santa Cruz, I have not stopped coaching football and I still do it today
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
For my coaching I was elected as volunteer of the year in 1992 for Pop Warner and this years I was selected into the Pop Warner Hall of Frame this year, I was 1 of 15 others in the Nation
Pricing:
- none
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.santacruzportuguesehall.org/
- Instagram: scportuguesehal
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Santa-Cruz-Portuguese-Hall-CPDES-Hal
- Other: infosantacruzportuguesehall@gmail.com
