Leonard A. Castillon
September 18, 1915 — December 6, 2011
Leonard Castillon was born in Jerome, Arizona on Sept. 18, 1915. One of his favorite sayings was 'I was born during the right time.'
He always said this because as a child he saw technology advance from a slow moving plane flying across the Arizona skies to a man landing on the moon many decades later. Technology amazed him till his very last day.
Those who knew him well could always find him at the Santa Anita Racetrack where he loved to spend the afternoons in the sunshine and get his exercise walking to and from the races.
He leaves behind five generations of family and he was proud to be the oldest member of the Castilllons. He was always concerned about the history of the family Castillon, Ortiz, Arvizu and others. He especially wanted everyone to remember that his part of the family originated from Arizona.
His father was named Leonard and his grandfather was named Leonard. Altogether there were four Leonard Castillon members with his son Leonard Castillon, who passed away in 1996, the last family member before him to carry that name.
He was married to Helen Quesada Castillon who died in 1994 and had two children Virginia and Leonard Jr. They lived in City Terrace a neighborhood in East L.A. for more than 65 years. He passed away in the same home across the street from City Terrace Park. It was a place he never wanted to leave.
Everyone in East L.A. knew him as 'Guy' it was a nickname that was given to him by his family and by those who knew him in the neighborhood, including baseball players that he coached in the 1960s. Family members called him 'Grandpa Guy' and it stuck. Back in the 60s he used to call everyone 'guy' so they called him 'guy' back. The nickname never left him.
Horse racing, baseball, and basketball were his favorite sports. He also loved reading the newspaper every day and spent his last morning on the porch reading the newspaper. It was his favorite form of relaxation along with smoking a cigar.
As a youth, he was a newspaper boy and spent many years selling them on street corners. He loved to talk about those days hawking newspapers during the Roaring 20s. Those were the best of days to him and he spoke fondly of his youth when speak-easys were the norm and motion picture palaces were common.
'They didn't call it the Roaring 20s for nothing guy,' he loved to say.
On Second Street and Main in downtown L.A. he saw many changes and could recall numerous historical events. While selling papers he met heavyweight world champion
Jack Johnson. He worked for many newspapers like the L.A. Record and L.A. Express. Those years spent selling newspapers and shouting out headlines he never forgot.
He also loved to talk about playing basketball with his brothers Augie and Gilbert on the courts of East L.A. The threesome would often beat the competition all day and he was proud of their feats.
When he got older he recounted going to dance halls in Santa Monica, Hollywood and in Lincoln Heights. Dressing up and going to dance were passions that he liked to talk about too. He also enjoyed going to boxing matches at the Olympic Auditorium and Hollywood Legion. It was at the latter that he met Hollywood star Ann Miller.
Music and dancing were a big part of his life before and after he got married. He could recount every dance palace and the bands he sat and listened play during the Depression era. He always claimed that was the best time for music.
During this time he took to riding the trains in search of work around the state and in other places. One time he was caught riding the trains when he found a hiding place and another guy tried to fit in too. The other guy refused to leave so they both ended up getting caught. It was a lesson that stuck with him: that some people refuse to think clearly and are stubborn.
He was married in the 1930s and worked in the CC Camps during this period for a time. It was while in the CC Camps that he came across Robert Mitchum the actor.
When World War 2 erupted and the country declared war both he and his brother Gilbert worked on the docks during the first several years. Then both volunteered for the military and were sent overseas.
'When they joined the army they were sent overseas and didn't know what happened to each other,' said Virginia the oldest of his children. 'It was in the Philippines that he ran into his brother Gilbert. They didn't know they were going to meet there.'
He was a medic in the military and spent time in the Philippines during the war. Often he said he had nightmares about snipers in the jungle but loved that country. He also loved the Filipino people.
Most of his immediate family served in the military. When he returned home the country was changing rapidly but allowed him to thrive. He was always grateful and thankful he was raised in this country. He imparted that to all in his family.
Another joy he had was visiting Arizona where his family was first reared. Trips to Prescott, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson were taken as many as possible. He also enjoyed going to Europe in the 1990s. History was another passion that he had and particularly liked seeing European culture up close.
One other thing he loved to do was see old classic movies. He could spend hours watching the films of the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s. Whether it was Clark Gable, Robert Taylor or Joan Crawford and Vivian Leigh, sitting on the couch and watching the older films and once in a while catching glimpses of an older Los Angeles brought back fond memories of his family and friends. His younger sisters Lydia
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and Arlene are the only surviving members of his Castillon family that arrived from Arizona.
'Don't forget what I told you,' was a common phrase he would tell me. 'Write it down so you won't forget.'
For more than 50 years he told me tales of East Los Angeles, California, Arizona and of another era. He loved the family reunions where he could gab about the past, present and future. Nothing pleased him more than to talk about history. Whether it was family descendants, baseball lore or the history of City Terrace, nothing pleased him more.
Leonard Castillon passed away on Dec. 6. He was 96 years old.
Condolences may be emailed to the family through our Guest Book.
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He always said this because as a child he saw technology advance from a slow moving plane flying across the Arizona skies to a man landing on the moon many decades later. Technology amazed him till his very last day.
Those who knew him well could always find him at the Santa Anita Racetrack where he loved to spend the afternoons in the sunshine and get his exercise walking to and from the races.
He leaves behind five generations of family and he was proud to be the oldest member of the Castilllons. He was always concerned about the history of the family Castillon, Ortiz, Arvizu and others. He especially wanted everyone to remember that his part of the family originated from Arizona.
His father was named Leonard and his grandfather was named Leonard. Altogether there were four Leonard Castillon members with his son Leonard Castillon, who passed away in 1996, the last family member before him to carry that name.
He was married to Helen Quesada Castillon who died in 1994 and had two children Virginia and Leonard Jr. They lived in City Terrace a neighborhood in East L.A. for more than 65 years. He passed away in the same home across the street from City Terrace Park. It was a place he never wanted to leave.
Everyone in East L.A. knew him as 'Guy' it was a nickname that was given to him by his family and by those who knew him in the neighborhood, including baseball players that he coached in the 1960s. Family members called him 'Grandpa Guy' and it stuck. Back in the 60s he used to call everyone 'guy' so they called him 'guy' back. The nickname never left him.
Horse racing, baseball, and basketball were his favorite sports. He also loved reading the newspaper every day and spent his last morning on the porch reading the newspaper. It was his favorite form of relaxation along with smoking a cigar.
As a youth, he was a newspaper boy and spent many years selling them on street corners. He loved to talk about those days hawking newspapers during the Roaring 20s. Those were the best of days to him and he spoke fondly of his youth when speak-easys were the norm and motion picture palaces were common.
'They didn't call it the Roaring 20s for nothing guy,' he loved to say.
On Second Street and Main in downtown L.A. he saw many changes and could recall numerous historical events. While selling papers he met heavyweight world champion
Jack Johnson. He worked for many newspapers like the L.A. Record and L.A. Express. Those years spent selling newspapers and shouting out headlines he never forgot.
He also loved to talk about playing basketball with his brothers Augie and Gilbert on the courts of East L.A. The threesome would often beat the competition all day and he was proud of their feats.
When he got older he recounted going to dance halls in Santa Monica, Hollywood and in Lincoln Heights. Dressing up and going to dance were passions that he liked to talk about too. He also enjoyed going to boxing matches at the Olympic Auditorium and Hollywood Legion. It was at the latter that he met Hollywood star Ann Miller.
Music and dancing were a big part of his life before and after he got married. He could recount every dance palace and the bands he sat and listened play during the Depression era. He always claimed that was the best time for music.
During this time he took to riding the trains in search of work around the state and in other places. One time he was caught riding the trains when he found a hiding place and another guy tried to fit in too. The other guy refused to leave so they both ended up getting caught. It was a lesson that stuck with him: that some people refuse to think clearly and are stubborn.
He was married in the 1930s and worked in the CC Camps during this period for a time. It was while in the CC Camps that he came across Robert Mitchum the actor.
When World War 2 erupted and the country declared war both he and his brother Gilbert worked on the docks during the first several years. Then both volunteered for the military and were sent overseas.
'When they joined the army they were sent overseas and didn't know what happened to each other,' said Virginia the oldest of his children. 'It was in the Philippines that he ran into his brother Gilbert. They didn't know they were going to meet there.'
He was a medic in the military and spent time in the Philippines during the war. Often he said he had nightmares about snipers in the jungle but loved that country. He also loved the Filipino people.
Most of his immediate family served in the military. When he returned home the country was changing rapidly but allowed him to thrive. He was always grateful and thankful he was raised in this country. He imparted that to all in his family.
Another joy he had was visiting Arizona where his family was first reared. Trips to Prescott, Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tucson were taken as many as possible. He also enjoyed going to Europe in the 1990s. History was another passion that he had and particularly liked seeing European culture up close.
One other thing he loved to do was see old classic movies. He could spend hours watching the films of the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s. Whether it was Clark Gable, Robert Taylor or Joan Crawford and Vivian Leigh, sitting on the couch and watching the older films and once in a while catching glimpses of an older Los Angeles brought back fond memories of his family and friends. His younger sisters Lydia
continued...
1
2
Next
...continued
and Arlene are the only surviving members of his Castillon family that arrived from Arizona.
'Don't forget what I told you,' was a common phrase he would tell me. 'Write it down so you won't forget.'
For more than 50 years he told me tales of East Los Angeles, California, Arizona and of another era. He loved the family reunions where he could gab about the past, present and future. Nothing pleased him more than to talk about history. Whether it was family descendants, baseball lore or the history of City Terrace, nothing pleased him more.
Leonard Castillon passed away on Dec. 6. He was 96 years old.
Condolences may be emailed to the family through our Guest Book.
Previous
1
2
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