In Memory of Rudolfo Sisson Capobres: July 3, 1912 ~ May, 1997

Today is July 3, 2010 - my dad's birthday. He died in May of 1997, but if he had survived, he would be 98 years old today! Still hard to believe that my own father was born in the year 1912.

My dad around the age of 30

I know what some of you may be thinking - how is that possible, you're not even 40 yet? Long story short, my dad was born in the Philippines and was married there with a family of 5 children (my half-siblings -4 of whom are still living.) Family/marital problems arose, so he came to the States to become a doctor in his 40's. He did an internship and residency in Tucson and a surgical residency at the old County Hospital in Phoenix from approximately 1954-1959 (where I believe he met my mom; they married in Dec. of 1959.) Moving often, he worked as a doctor in Oklahoma as a general practitioner; then in Phoenix as a prison doctor in Florence; also in Sunnyslope as a general practitioner and surgeon. After that, he got very sick with Valley Fever and was out of work for about 6 months. Because he was not a native of AZ, the Valley Fever greatly affected him.

My mom and dad then moved to Virginia where my dad worked as a surgeon, but he became extremely ill there and was admitted to NIH (National Institute of Health) where he was a patient for 2 long years. He subsequently went to Manteno State Hospital in Illinois and worked there for about 8 years. My mom said he did everything from general practitioner, broken bones, surgery, etc. because they had so many patients. My twin sister, Esther, and I were born in Kankakee, IL in Oct. of 1972 when my dad was 60 and my mom was 39! (We have 3 full older brothers who are 9, 10 and 12 years older.)

My dad retired in 1974 because of his illness, and we all moved back to AZ. When I was 4, we moved to Mayer, AZ where we spent almost all of my childhood. After retirement, my dad liked to garden, cook, and play the piano, but he was still very ill. Most of my early life I remember him being in and out of hospitals and wondering if he was going to survive.

Because of the illness that left him with a myraid of health issues (including a shunt on his brain to pump off water, kidney problems, and confined to using crutches,) I did not have a good relationship with my dad, and I never really knew his "true" personality. My mom always told us stories of how dad "didn't used to be like this. He was a great surgeon and the life of the party." Years of illness wreaked havoc on our family including lots of dysfunction (but what family is really without that? :-) bankruptcy, and poverty. However,"thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ" (2 Cor. 2:14) and gives us "a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair." (Isaiah 61:3)

I worked through all of that years ago after my dad's death and was joyously reunited with my half-siblings at his funeral. Thanks also to my cousin, Karen, who began to research the Capobres family history years ago, I have a lot more information about my father and paternal grandfather and many old family photos. I thought I'd post some of these pictures here as I take a meandering walk down memory lane.

My dad as a boy (the youngest picture we have of him, thanks to my cousin, Karen.)

My grandfather, Lolo Abdon Capobres, born July 30, 1884 (the gentleman on the far right.)
Although no one in my family can confirm this, we believe he may have been the first Filipino to serve in the US Army.

My father, his first wife, Alfreda, and their oldest daughter Rowena (not sure of the date of this photo)

Rowena as a young woman. Unfortunately, she took her own life at the age of 18.


My half siblings Donnie, May, Rudy, and Alfreda (Poy) with their mother ~ again, not sure of the date!


. . . . as young adults


My dad and mom with my 3 older brothers (obviously when I was still a "dish rag in heaven!")


Another family photo when the brothers were younger - John, the oldest, Phil, the middle, and Steve, the baby.

Donnie, Poy, May, and Rudy at my dad's funeral in May 1997

All of the siblings together: Donnie, Esther, me, Steve, Phil, John, Poy, May and Rudy

Celebrating my dad's life

Happy birthday, dad! I look forward to our reunion in heaven. We have a lot of catching up to do!

The words of Jesus from Isaiah 61:1-3 and fulfilled in Luke 4:

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.