Herman Aristides Bustamante

Herman Aristides Bustamante Sr. left us for heaven peacefully on Dec 6, 2023, after a brief illness. He is survived by his sister Irma Selva (Max), eight children, Diane Bustamante Middleton (Tim), Edgar Bustamante (Tina), Mario Bustamante (Julie), Herman Bustamante Jr, (Mary), Maria Bustamante Snedeker (Randy), John Pribela (Teri), Gerilynn Marburger (J,T,), and Joanna Curran (Craig), 18 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, 2 more great-grandchildren on the way and his dear friend Barbara DeMarco. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Sylvia Zelaya Bustamante, his second wife, Gerri Pribela Bustamante, his brother Robert Bustamante and his grandson Ryan Curran. Herman was born on Oct 21, 1931, in San Salvador, El Salvador. He immigrated to San Francisco, California with his parents, Bernardette Elvira and Ramon Aristides Bustamante in 1935 where he grew up amongst many aunts, uncles and dear cousins. He served in the US Army in Germany from 1953 to 1955 and married Sylvia Zelaya as soon as he returned from overseas. After graduating from UC Berkely in Engineering, he and Sylvia started their family of five children, and he began his career in satellite telecommunications in the LA area. They moved to what became the Silicon Valley area in 1958 and he worked for various firms including Stanford Telecommunications Inc. of which he was a founding member. In 1980, Herman lost Sylvia, the first love of his life to cancer but due to the tragedy which abruptly took Joe Pribela from his family later that same year, he discovered and married the second love of his life, Gerri, in 1981. When he married Gerri, he also became the proud stepfather to her three children. While his new blended family had some rough patches at the start, through lots of love and perseverance, he and Gerri had 37 happy years together filled with a loving family of 8 children and 18 grandchildren. In 2010, Herman and Gerri moved to Georgia to be near two of their daughters, Gerilynn and Joanna. After Gerri’s death he moved back to California and in 2022 he moved into an independent living retirement community in Vallejo, California near the home of his son, Herman Jr. and his wife Mary. Through Mary’s encouragement he joined Toastmasters. Herman became very active in the life of his retirement community. There, he also met his third love, Barbara DeMarco. Herman had a strong faith in God and Christian teachings. His serious side enjoyed engaging in lively political debate and managing his stock portfolio. On the lighter side, he enjoyed traveling, dancing, the music of Michael Feinstein and playing Rummy Tiles. Throughout his life he loved learning new things and teaching others. Education was very important to Herman, and he made sure to help ALL his children complete their college educations. He also enjoyed teaching his children, grandchildren, and anyone with an interest everything from auto mechanics to stock management to engineering basics. However, most of all, he loved and enjoyed being with his family and close friends. There will be a rosary for Herman at Twin Chapels Mortuary, 1100 Tennessee St. Vallejo CA on Jan 26, 2023, at 6 pm and a funeral mass at St. Basil the Great Catholic Church, 1200 Tuolumne St. Vallejo CA on Jan 27, 2023, at 11 am. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials be sent to “For the Love of Ryan” at https://fortheloveofryan.com/, the non-profit inspired by his grandson Ryan’s death in 2018.

Herman Aristides Bustamante

October 21, 1931 - December 6, 2023