Arturo Monte Almeda's Obituary
ARTURO MONTE ALMEDA
February 2, 1935- June 26, 2020
Our dear Arturo - Art, Daddy or Pappy as we fondly call him, has joined our Heavenly Father in his eternal abode. Art passed on peacefully at home on June 26, 2020 at the age of 85 years.
He is survived by his partner of more than thirty (30) years, Lucy Chua; his children from his wife, Oliva Gayatin Almeda (+) namely – Adolfo, Maria Lourdes, Arturo Jr., Arsenio, Alicia, Allan, and Anna; his grandchildren -- Elisha Crystal, Andre, Bianca, Dominic, Aimee, Arthur John, Nathaniel, Olivia and Alessandra; great granddaughter, Lily Grace and daughters-in-law - Lulu, Cynthia, and Marifel.
The only son and youngest of two offsprings of Dr. Adolfo and Gavina Almeda, Art was born in Sta. Cruz, Manila where he finished his elementary and secondary education at P. Gomez Elementary School with honors. As a recipient of an Australian Scholarship/Grant, he graduated from the Mapua Institute of Technology in 1955 with a degree in B.S. Electrical Engineering, cum laude. He placed 2nd on the 1955 Board Exams for Assistant Electrical Engineers and in 1956, he was the year’s Board topnotcher in the Professional Electrical Engineer category. Art started working for the National Power Corporation in 1957 as a Cadet Engineer. Not wanting to rest on his laurels, Dad further undertook his Master’s Degree at the Ateneo de Manila University Graduate School of Business in 1972 and his Doctorate in Economics at the University of the Philippines.
He started his professional career as a Cadet Engineer at the National Power Corporation where he ascended the ladder of professional career through exemplary performance that won for him a series of well deserved promotions elevating him as Chief, Construction Control; Head, Finance and Investments; Chairman, Inter-Agency Task Force on Mini Hydro; Planning Officer, In-charge of Power Development of Energy; Consultant Technology Center of the Philippines; Deputy Administrator of the National Electrification Administration; and, as Action Officer and Key Man for Power, Ministry of Human Settlements and Ecology Head in 1978 by the former Governor of Metro Manila, First Lady Imelda Marcos that required a high degree of trust, confidence and professional competence. Prior to his retirement at the National Power Corporation, Daddy was the Assistant to the Chairman of the Board, Mr. Geronimo (Ronnie) Velasco, who was then the Secretary of the Department of Energy.
He formally retired from government service in 1982 and joined the United Nations as a Power Economist for the UN Development Programme for 3rd world countries, where he was stationed in Dhaka, Bangladesh for almost five (5) years. After his stint at the UN, he taught at Sutton Business School in New York City. For about ten years, he worked for the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority as Substation Maintainer and prior to his retirement in 2000, as Senior Systems Inspector in Rail Design and Construction.
Always eager to learn, Art loved to travel and explore new things, including food and other countries that he only read about in history books. He and Lucy were seasoned travellers, as the only continent they were unable to set foot was Africa. Braving the rough terrain at the Falklands Islands to catch a rare glimpse of Humboldt and Magellanic penguins, walking endlessly to marvel and appreciate God’s creation.
Often mistaken as snooty, he was, on the contrary, a character who loved life, and cracked silly jokes. Among his many passions, he loved listening to Broadway songs, watching documentaries, and was a wide reader. He also enjoyed daily walks, the pigeons, crossword puzzles, and loved to tinker with his tools.
To celebrate his life, a Funeral service will be officiated by St. Luke’s Catholic Church Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Jonathan Paala on July 6, 2020 at noon in Crystal Springs Chapel, Skylawn Memorial Park, Highway 92 at Skyline Blvd., San Mateo, CA. , followed by his internment at 1:00PM.
The Family requests prayers for the eternal repose of his soul.
To ensure the health and safety of our community, we are following all guidelines set by local, state and CDC officials. If you are planning on attending a service, please contact the funeral home in advance, so that we can plan accordingly.
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