Robert
was the third child of Eddie & Georgianna.
He was born in Santa Cruz, California on 6-29-1926.
He married Angela Esquivel and together they had
five
children: John Manuel Ortiz (Angela's son from a
previous relationship) and four surviving children. He
remarried and has two surviving step-daughters.
Robert was known by friends
and family as "Bat"
because of his poor eyesight.
During WW2 he served
in the Army from 1944-46
and was stationed in Cal-
cutta, India.
During his time in India Bat and some of
his army buddies were walking back to the barracks
after a night on the town when they were approach-
ed by some local citizens seeking their assistance
with a woman in labor, assuming that any man in a
uniform must have
some child-birthing skills. Bat and
his comrades assisted in delivering a healthy baby
girl in the middle of the night.
In 1955 Bat received an Associate Degree in Air-
craft Mechanics and worked at North Island Naval
Air Station. He had the ability to just listen to the
sound of the engine of a plane flying overhead and
could tell you exactly what type of military aircraft
it was without
even looking at it. He retired in 1988.
For entertainment Bat loved to go dancing, hit the
Aqua Caliente Race Track, practice his guitar and
work on his computer. He died 10-10-1990 at the age
of 64.
|
