Nemesio M. Espinoza

Nemesio was born on December 19, 1929, to parents Panfila and Juan Espinoza in San Bernardino, CA. Although US Citizens, Nemesio and his family were deported during the height of the depression and Mexican Repatriation. He was raised in Mexicali and migrated to harvest crops between Watsonville and the Imperial Valley where he met his wife, Pola Patiño. In 1952 Nemesio landed a year-round job at West Coast Farms, owned by Resetar Bros., a major CA lettuce and celery producer. He no longer had to migrate or follow the seasonal crops, and was able to settle in Watsonville, CA permanently where he purchased a home and lived for nearly 70 years. He made lifelong friends and continued to work for West Coast Farms until their closure in 1977. Nicknamed by a foreman of the company for being one of the fastest lettuce packers in the county, "Speedy" was quickly promoted to Lead Foreman at the young age of 23. In 2019, Nemesio relocated to San Diego to live with his daughters, Paz and Diana.

Nemesio enjoyed playing cards and always seemed to win big! He owned multiple businesses in Watsonville: a catering truck service, a card room and a Mexican restaurant, bar and hotel in Pajaro. He loved visiting casinos, fishing, gardening and watching professional boxing every Saturday night. He was a passionate guitar player and singer who the family could always count on to play music for them at any family gathering.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Pola Ojeda who passed away on September 7, 2016; his brothers Lorenzo, Ramon, Julio and Carlos and sisters, Isabel and Celia. He is survived by his one son, John Espinoza (Lupe), stepson, Jose Patiño (Tina), and seven daughters: Paz (Patrick), Pola (Robert) Anna, Eva (David), Yolonda, Mary Helen (David), Diana. He also leaves behind his three sisters: Lilia, Rosa and Enriqueta, and five brothers: Luis, Juan, Beto, Gustavo, Esteban; 24 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

Viewing will be held at 9:00AM on Saturday, July 16, 2022 at East County Mortuary, 374 N. Magnolia Avenue, El Cajon, CA 92020. A celebration of life will be held on July 16th from 10:00AM – 12:00PM at the Mortuary. A graveside burial at Singing Hills Memorial Park, 2800 Dehesa Road, El Cajon, CA 92019 will commence at 1:00PM.

Published in The Pajaronian · July 14, 2022