Showing posts with label latino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label latino. Show all posts

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Jenna Ortega, Jenna Marie Ortega family tree, ethnicity, ancestry, heritage, parents by Mary Cummins

jenna ortega, wednesday, jenna marie ortega, mother,father,mary cummins, family, ancestry, latino, mexico, puerto rico, genealogist, los angeles, california, edward ortega, natalie lopez
jenna ortega, wednesday, jenna marie ortega, mother,father,mary cummins, family, ancestry, latino, mexico, puerto rico, genealogist, los angeles, california, edward ortega, natalie lopez. Image: Family tree made by Mary Cummins. Photos are copyright free from Wikipedia or fair use of images for noncommercial education. Images came from government border crossing images, public images and other public sources. 

Family tree of Jenna Ortega, Jenna Marie Ortega. Full birth dates of living people are not included. Only birth years are used to differentiate between different people.

Jenna Marie Ortega was born in 2002 in Coachella, Riverside, California. Her parents are Edward Anthony Ortega and Natalie Marie Lopez both born in Riverside, California. Her father's side is from Mexico. Her mother's side is from Puerto Rico and Mexico.I just started the tree and will post the full tree when I finish.

Paternal Family

Paternal grandfather was Anthony "Tony" Ortega. Below is his obituary.

"Indio - Anthony "Tony" Larriva Ortega was born February 8, 1948 in Indio CA, to Jose Maria Ortega and Josephine Ortega and passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on January 19, 2022 in Indio, CA. He graduated from Coachella Valley High School in 1966 and served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1970. Tony will be remembered by all as a person that loved his family. Tony was proceeded in death by his parents Jose Maria and Josephine, and his sister Estella O. Cruz of Indio, CA.

Tony is survived by his wife Rosemary Palomares Ortega of Indio, CA, sons Edward Ortega of La Quinta, CA, Eli Ortega of Indio, CA, and daughter Monika Ortega of Indio, CA. Also surviving is his sister Julieta O. Arias of Indio, CA, and his grandchildren Mariah, Isaac, Mia, Jenna, Markus, and Aliyah. His great-grandchildren include Damian and Cash and too many nieces, nephews, and other loving family members, by blood, marriage, and choice, to possibly list.

Tony raised his 3 kids on a 5 acre ranch he owned for 23 years and built his dream home on. He was a tile setter and owned C.V. Raisins, his favorite line was "Hey I know what I'm talking about I'm a tile setter!"

Some of our best memories of our Fadda are of traveling, camping, shooting and treasure hunting all while listening to his oldies something everyone in the family got to enjoy with him, and something Tony really loved. We learned so much from our Fadda and we miss him so much already."

Grandmother is Rosemary Palomares Ortega who survives.

Great grandfather was Jose Maria Ortega. Below is his obituary.

"Jose Maria Ortega, 78, co-owner of businesses Services (or Jose Maria "Chema" Ortega), 78, of Indio will be held at 9 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Indio. Mr. Ortega, a native of Chihuahua, Mexico, died Sunday at his home. He was a 70-year resident of the Coachella Valley. He was co-owner of Indio Cab Co. from 1946 to 1963, co-owner of El Patio Inn in Indio from 1948 to 1985 and co-owner of Coachella Valley Raisin Co. from 1981 to 1987. He was a member of Sociedad Progresista Mexicana No. 63 in Coachella. Survivors include two daughters, Julieta O. Arias and Estella O. Cruz, both of Indio; a son,Anthony L. Ortega of Indio; five sisters, Jesusita Mufioz of Mexico, Maria Gas-telum and Lucina Martinez, both of Indio; Elena Galvez of La Quinta and Elvira Larriva of San Diego; four brothers, Antonio Ortega, Francisco Ortega, Carlos Ortega and Rafael Ortega, all of Mexico; 12 grandchildren; and 15 greatgrandchildren. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. today . at FitzHenry Funeral Home in Indio. A rosary will be said at 6:30 p.m. .Burial will be at Coachella Valley Cemetery in Coachella."

Great grandmother Josephine Ortega. Obituary is below,

"Josephine Ortega Services for Josephine Larriva "Josefa" Ortega, 70, of Indio, will be at 8:30 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Indio. Mrs. Ortega, a native of Anthony, N.M., died Monday in Indio. She was a member of the Sociedad Protectora Femenil and the owner of the El Patio Inn in Indio. She donated many hours to the Girls Club of the Coachella Valley Thrift Shop and worked as a volunteer at election precincts. Survivors include her husband, Joe; a son, Anthony Ortega of Indio; two daughters, Estella Cruz and Julieta Arias, both of Indio; a sister, Hortencia Rey of Indio; two brothers, Frank Larriva of San Diego and Julio Larriva of Indio, 13 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the FitzHenry Funeral Home in Indio. A rosary will be said at 7:15 p.m. Burial will be at the Coachella Valley Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Diabetes Association."

Great grandfather Felizardo Palomares obituary is below.

"Felizardo E Palomares, 96 Bagdasarian worker. Services for Felizardo E Palomares 96 of Indio will be at 9 am Monday at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Indio. Mr Palomares a native of Mexico died Thursday at Rancho Milage Health Care Convalescent Hospital in Rancho Mirage. He worked for Qoacbella Valley grower Richard Bagdasarian. Survivors include seven sons PALOMARES fyavid Palomares of Los Angeles, Mike Palomares of Huntington Beach, Harold Palomares of San Bernardino, Frank Palomares of Corona and Paul Palomares Er-i$st Palomares and Robert Palomares all of Coachella, seven daughters Cleo Palomares of Escondido, Rosie Smith of Ventura, Henrietta Hampton of Illinois, Rachel Palomares of Palm Desert, Jennie Fares and Ruby Bracamonte and Rosemary Ortega all of Indio, two stepsons Manuel Perez of Brawley and Tony Perez of Morgan Hill three stepdaughters, Helen Dominguez of Thousand Palms, Eugenia Ysiano of Cabazon and Margaret Aragon of Pomona; 70 grandchildren and 52 greatgrandchildren. Visitation will be from noon Sunday at FitzHenry Funeral Home Chapel in Indio A vigil service will be at 4 pm Burial will be at Coachella Valley Cemetery in Coachella."

Maternal Family

Grandfather was Robert Bob Lopez. Obituary is below.

"Robert Lopez worked in pool maintenance, 42. Services for Robert Lopez 42 of Palm Springs will be at 7 pm today at the Palm Springs Mortuary Chapel. Mr Lopez a native of Puerto Rico died Tuesday at Desert Hospital in Palm Springs. He was self-employed in pool maintenance. Survivors include his mother Felicita Cruz of New York City, a daughter Natalie Lopez of Indio, a son Christian Lopez of Indio, a sister Evelyn Winthrop of Torrance and his friend Richard Lloyd of Palm Springs. Burial will be private."

Grandmother is Maria Morales who is alive.

I'll post more of the family tree after I finish. I started only an hour ago.

Finished paternal side. Still stumped on parts of maternal side which is from Puerto Rico and Mexico. 





Genealogist at Geneanet and Geneastar
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 Mary Cummins Investigative Reporter
https://marycumminsrealestatemarycummins.blogspot.com
 Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser
http://www.marycummins.com
 Mary Cummins
http://www.mary.cc
 Mary Cummins Biography, History in Wikipedia format
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 Mary Cummins on LinkedIn 

Saturday, August 6, 2022

James Franco Latino Actor Ancestry Genealogy Ethnicity DNA by Mary Cummins genealogist

James Franco, James Edward Franco, actor, family tree, ancestry, genealogy, heritage, ethnicity, dna, parents, mother, father, brother, grandparents, portuguese, latino, portugal, jewish, russian, swedish, douglas franco, betsey verne, daniel franco, marjorie peterson, daniel verne, verovitz, marjorie levine, fidel castro, cuban


UPDATE: 08/13/2022 Bill Maher talks about ridiculous John Leguizamo. He noted that "John played a Venetian, a little person and a fictional Italian plumber." He also played a drag queen. Good quotes, "Can trans actors only play trans actors because that's not gonna be a good deal for them." "A black George Washington in Hamilton" (black playing white) which we all know was very successful. "All gay actors would have to out themselves (and only play gay roles.)" "This is not progress. This is the opposite. This is regression." He said "Steven Spielberg redid Westside Story and bent over backwards to respect ethnicities and pleased nobody." "Westside story was originally made by three gay Jews." The author was also Jewish who wrote about Puerto Ricans. Should the Jewish author have stayed in his lane and only written about Jews? My fear is directors, producers, investors will see these outraged "woke" Latinos telling people to boycott films because not everyone involved passed the DNA, ancestry and look test and not want to make any Latino, Black, Asian, Gay ... films. People argued about colorism and microethnicities in Westside Story. "Where are the darker Latinos, Afro Latinos, she got the role because she's lighter..." These outraged Latinos are shooting themselves in the foot. I wouldn't blame producers for intentionally not wanting to make any Latino films. He summed it up by saying "get rid of the prejudice but keep the roles." https://www.tmz.com/2022/08/13/bill-maher-real-time-appropriation-hollywood-actors/

Leguisamo has a Colombian tomi tattoo on his arm from the chibcha. Was he a member of that tribe? No. His indigenous relative was from the 1600's and worked with the Spaniards to control Colombia against the other indigenous people. Colombia was part of Spain with Bogota as the capital where Leguisamo's family had lived for years. Colombia didn't become independent until well after 1821. Leguisamo is descended from one of the early Spanish conquistadors, colonizers of Colombia. He's probably less indigenous than I am. His ancestors conquered and killed indigenous people. He is white. His parents are white. He is the light white Latino taking roles from darker indigenous Latinos that he complains about all the time. Most in Mexico and South America are descended from the Spaniards who conquered those areas. All of us Latinos live with this fact. We're mainly Spanish and not Aztec or Mayan. Leguisamo looks like a white European Spaniard because he is mainly Spanish. So am I. Based on the data in Franco and Leguisamo's trees, I would bet that Franco has more indigenous and other than Leguisamo.

08/11/2022 John Leguizamo is really off now. He posted this on Instagram. He now thinks roles for Spanish, Cuban characters should be given to Latin Americans of mixed race who are not descended from people in Europe. Guess whose ancestors are from Europe? John Leguizamo! So he shouldn't get any roles either. He's since added that white roles should be given to Latinos. So only Latinos can be actors now? I'll be posting his tree next. No need to post his tree. He's mainly Spanish. Finding Your Roots did a show on him. Talk about a hypocrite! He's no Latino! He's as "Latino" as James Franco!

FTR most people in Mexico are mainly European Spanish.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexicans#Population_genetics_&_phenotype The same goes for South America. All you "Latinos" are mainly European Spanish. Mexicans, Colombians, Spaniards all have the same ancestors. We're also all related by language, culture, food, religion... 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America#Ethnic_demographics This is not a Latino issue but an issue about some people not having the success they want in the entertainment industry demanding movie roles. As I've told my Latino friends and family for years especially since #oscarssowhite, you want a Latino movie with Latinos, go make it. Don't wait around ranting about others not giving you what you want. 

James Leguizamo's ancestry. He lied about being Puerto Rican and Italian. Maybe he lied about being Italian to get the part of the fictional character in Super Mario Bros ;-) Even his father said he lied about being Puerto Rican. This man needs to sit down and shut up.

"Research by the genealogy show Finding Your Roots indicated that Leguizamo does not have Puerto Rican, Italian, and Lebanese ancestry, as he has sometimes stated.His family is Colombian, and a DNA test found that his genetic ancestry includes European (mostly Spanish), along with Indigenous and distant African roots.[1] His paternal grandfather was a wealthy Colombian landowner, and his great-great-grandfather, Higinio Cualla, was Mayor of Bogotá for sixteen years in the late 1800s, and was considered an important modernizer of the city.[1] Leguizamo had always declared that he was Puerto Rican on his father's side, which was one of the reasons he was selected as the Puerto Rican Day Parade Global Ambassador of the Arts,[11] and marched in the parade on June 12, 2011.[12] Going further back in time, it was determined that Leguizamo's maternal lineage includes the 16th-century Spanish conquistador Sebastián de Belalcázar, as well as Jerónimo Betuma, a 17th-century indigenous Colombian of noble birth."

Here's the video from the show where he's told he's Spanish. He knew he was Spanish. Even his father stated they weren't Puerto Rican but Colombian and Spanish. Gates even said Leguizamo was fabilizing about his ancestry and Leguizamo agreed. His true Spanish ancestors melted down the Aztec golden religious items and destroyed their history. His ancestry is anti Latino, anti Indigenous. This is from about January 2022 and aired February 15, 2022. https://www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/watch/extras/john-leguizamos-lineage-is-traced-back-17-generations

Luguizamo continued. 

"Portuguese are not Latin nor are Spaniards they are white peoples from Europe! Latin people are from Latin America and the 90% r of us of mixed race! And That is why we are discriminated against!" Leguizamo is the white European he's whining about.

He went on to say, “I don’t got a prob with Franco but he ain’t Latino!” he wrote on social media.
On Saturday, Leguizamo posted a video to Instagram clarifying his comments.Stressing again that he had “no problems with James Franco”, he said: “I grew up in an era where Latin people couldn’t play Latin people on film. Where Charlton Heston played a Mexican, where Eli Wallach played Mexican, where Pacino played Cuban and Puerto Rican. Where Ben Affleck, even, in Argo, played a Latin guy and Marisa Tomei played Latin women.

“We couldn’t play our own roles. There was brown face, people painting themselves to look Latin in West Side Story, Eli Wallach in The Magnificent Seven. That’s the era I grew up in. The era where they tell you to change your names, stay out of the sun, that only white-passing Latinos would get jobs.”Explaining how he’d heard the excuse that there was “no Latin actor who can carry” big films, Leguizamo continued: “Yeah, because you’re never given the opportunity to play anything that had worthy value… Appropriating our stories? No more of that. I’m done with that.
“I’ve been told so many times, ‘you can’t have two Latin people in a movie’. That’s what goes on in this industry.”

Captioning the video, Leguizamo wrote: “Latin exclusion in Hollywood is real! Don’t get it twisted! Long long history of it! And appropriation of our stories even longer!y can’t Latinxers play Latin roles? Why can’t we play lead roles? Why can’t they flip white roles to Latin guys and gals?” 

Here is the video. It's just a rant. Maybe he should make Latino movies and hire Latinos instead of just ranting. You can't just demand that other people make shows about you, for you and hire you for the roles. John has even played white people and Italians. He's a white passing Latino. Using his logic why didn't he give those roles to white people and Italians? https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg-BFjyJnVx/

Clearly John Luguizamo is just ranting about his own treatment of Latinos in the past. It has nothing to do with this movie or role. This movie is like 99% Latino and he's attacking it. This would be a good reason for people not to do movies about or with Latinos. Damned if you do. Damned if you don't. Luguizamo is hurting his own cause. I now think he wanted the role or something.

John Leguizamo the mainly Spanish actor's family tree. I did this in an hour so it's not complete.

John Leguizamo family tree, John Alberto Leguizamo family tree,mother, father,brother, sister, spain, puerto rico,italian, mary cummins, genealogist, actor, basque, 



ORIGINAL: Recently there was a dust up by Latino actor John Leguizamo who said James Franco should not play Cuban Fidel Castro because Franco is not Latino. Leguizamo said only Latinos should play Latinos. One of the producers responded,

"The producer on the upcoming film Alina of Cuba, John Martinez O’Felan, has responded to the recent controversy regarding the casting of James Franco as Cuban revolutionary Fidel Castro. In a statement provided to The Hollywood Reporter, O’Felan labeled the comments “culturally uneducated.”

“A guy like John Leguizamo has historically been looked up to by Hispanics as one of America’s earliest actors of Latin descent since the 90s and I’ve always admired him as a fellow underdog," O’Felan admitted. "But his comments are culturally uneducated and a blind attack with zero substance related to this project.”

O’Felan continued: “The reality of the ignorance piece falls within his statement suggesting his personal view on being ‘Latino,’ because a land mass or living area does not determine a person’s blood history or genetics."

O'Felan went on to say that the movie is about Latinos, produced by Latinos, directed by Latinos, has Latino actors, Latino subject matter, Latinos working behind the camera... My comment: Will Leguizamo only be satisfied if every single person involved is 100% Latino with a Latino name, family tree, DNA test, speaks Spanish as a first language...? We should be happy it's mainly Latino considering all the productions with absolutely no Latinos at all or non-Latinos in Latino character roles. FTR I'm Latino. Family name is Rivera. I probably wouldn't be Latino enough in the eyes of Laguizamo to work on the film even as a volunteer extra, crafts services or gofer.

I see a lot of Latinos commenting saying that "Latino" means someone from Latin America as if that's only North and South America. It's not. Here's a definition of Latin Americans which includes Portuguese. "Latin Americans do not take their nationality as an ethnicity, but identify themselves with a combination of their nationality, ethnicity and their ancestral origins. Aside from the Indigenous Amerindian population, all Latin Americans have some Old World ancestors who arrived since 1492. Latin America has the largest diasporas of Spaniards, Portuguese, Africans, Italians, Lebanese and Japanese in the world."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_Americans If these Latinos are from Mexico, most Mexicans today and their descendants are mainly descended from Spaniards and are not indigenous. Castro's father and ancestors were born in Galicia, Spain right next to Portugal. Galicia and Portugal were once the same country.

James Franco's paternal side "Franco" is Portuguese. The name "Franco" is Spanish and means "free," "free man" or "freedom." The name is found in Spain specifically Galicia, Portugal and Italy. Portuguese can be considered Latino because they speak a Latin language. Spanish and Portuguese are both Latin languages. They used to be the same language  many years ago but the languages diverged. Spain and Portugal have been closely tied for a long time because they were once the same country. They are now right next to each other. Portugal and Spain both had colonies in South America. Portuguese later immigrated to North America and had early settlements. Portuguese were previously considered Hispanics in the US census even though they didn't speak Spanish. I don't have a problem recognizing Franco as a Latino. Plus, we're talking about an acting character. I think he'd make a great Fidel. 

I did Fidel's tree. Link and image is at bottom of this post. Fidel Castro's family is from Galicia, Spain which borders Portugal. Portugal used to be part of what is now Galicia, Spain. Galicia had it's own language similar to Spanish but more similar to Portuguese called Galicia-Portuguese. They diverged when Portugal became independent from Galicia. Franco is probably related to Castro. Maybe that's why they look similar. Who the hell is anyone to say Franco can't play Castro because of a few people's definition or understanding of the word "Latino?"

Franco's family is from Madeira Island, Portugal. The original inhabitants in the 1400's were Portuguese who were descended mainly from Spaniards at that time. Spain ruled the island for many years. It's name "madeira" means "wood" or heavily forested as in "madera" which is Spanish for wood. If Franco were to post his DNA, you would see Spain and Portugal just like me. I can't find any Portuguese in my tree but my Mexican side of the family originally came from Galicia, Spain. Castro's daughter should also post her DNA report which I'm sure would be very similar to Francos. 

Recently someone stated an unknown Latino should play Castro instead of Franco. If people want the movie to be seen, they need a bigger well known actor as a draw. You can't get financing, other actors, viewers, producers, directors...without a bigger name involved. Would they rather have a movie with 100% DNA certified Latino cast that no one watches or a 99% Latino cast that many people watch which gets awards and shares the Latino story? And this is why Hollywood is hesitant to hire some Latinos. Who would hire any if they will receive this type of treatment. This is beyond wokeness. It's shoot yourself in the foot craziness. It makes me think that Leguizamo made this stink because he's jealous and wanted the part. 

James Franco, James Edward Franco is an actor born in 1978 in California. James Franco is 1/4 Portuguese and 1/4 Swedish on his paternal side and 1/2 Russian Jewish from his maternal side. His parents are Douglas Franco 1948-2011 and Betsey Lou Verne 1947. His paternal grandparents were Daniel Franco 1925-1993 of Portuguese descent and Marjorie Jane Peterson 1926-2018 of Swedish descent. His paternal great grandparents were Daniel Franco born in Portugal 1886-1961, Eugenia Baptista born in Portugal 1891-1979, Claus Peterson 1898-1988 and Martha Louis Rehn 1898-1965 from Sweden. 

James Franco's maternal grandparents were Daniel Verne 1921-1996 and Marjorie Levine 1922-2016. His maternal great grandparents were Carrol Verovitz 1891-1956 of Russian descent, Bessie Surad 1894-1978 of Russian descent, Judge Manuel Levine born in Russia 1880-1939, and Jessie Bialosky 1886-1972 of Russian descent. 

Biographies, obituaries

Father Douglas Franco's pseudo obituary,

"Doug Franco, father of actor James Franco, died of a heart attack at the age of 63, according to The Daily Post, an independent, locally-owned Palo Alto and Mid-Peninsula paper. James’ mother Betsy Verne Franco, a children’s author, tweeted late last night:

“It is true that my sweet, generous husband passed away. He gave so much to his three sons and me, and to many other people, too.”

The 63-year old Franco worked in Silicon Valley, holding positions at IBM, HP and Xerox. He also founded Secure Box, a company that is developing a shipping container security device.

He was also charitable, starting Orchard International, a nonprofit that has sent $15 millions worth on medical supplies, food and clothing to those in need in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, India, Iraq and the Phillipines. It has also provided aid to Native American and migrant communities in California."

Paternal grandfather Daniel Franco Jr,

"FRANCO Daniel Franco. Jr.. age 68, of Glencoe, beloved husband of Marjorie, nee Peterson; loving father of Douglas (Betsy), Joyce (Glenn) Magnus and Peter John Franco; dear grandfather of Teddy, Tommy and David Franco, Elizabeth and Daniel Magnus; fond brother of Beatrice Hargraves; former principal of Lincoln Elementary School, Oak Park, IL. Interment at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu ot flowers contributions to the American Cancer Society appreciated."

Paternal grandmother Marjorie Peterson Franco,

"Marjorie Franco nee Peterson, age 92, of Lincolnwood and formerly of Glencoe, IL. Beloved wife of the late Daniel Franco, Jr. Loving mother of Joyce (Glenn) Magnus, Peter Franco, and the late Douglas (Betsy) Franco. Proud grand- mother of Elizabeth and Daniel (Maggie) Magnus; Ted, Thomas, and David Franco. Dear sister of the late Lucille (the late Vic) Adams and the late Rehn (the late Martha) Peterson. Fond aunt of five nieces and nephews. Interment private Memorial Park Cemetery, Skokie, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Cancer Society."

Paternal great grandfather Daniel Franco Sr. He was a decorating painter per the census.

"Franco. Daniel Franco, of 102 Glencoe road, Glencoe, beloved husband of Eugenia: fond father of Mrs. Beatrice Hargraves and Daniel Franco Jr.; five grandchildren. Resting at Robert V. Wilson chapel. Linden avenue at Tower road. Winnetka, after 3 p.m.. Tuesday. Services Wednesday. Oct 25, at 2 p. m. Interment Memorial Park cemetery. HI 6-3436."

Mother Betsy Verne's biography,

"Betsy Verne majored in painting at Stanford, where she met her future husband, a math major who also excelled in painting. (After graduation, Doug Franco, '70, got a master's degree in business from Harvard. He runs a nonprofit agency that helps women and children in Third World countries and a company called Secure Box, which is developing a security device for shipping containers.) In the early years, Betsy Franco juggled jobs that included "answering customer complaints for Ma Bell" and teaching elementary school. "But with three very adorable, rambunctious young sons in the house, I couldn't even set up my paints," she recalls. "I knew that I needed to find something creative to do, or I would wither." So she deliberately tried another form of expression. "I reasoned that writing would be simpler with young children because all I would need was a pencil."

Maternal grandmother Mitzie Levine Verne.

"MITZIE R. VERNE (nee Levine), beloved wife of the late Dr. Daniel Verne. Loving mother of Betsy (Douglas, deceased) Franco, Heidi (Hari Kaur) (Sat Sangat Singh) Khalsa and Michael Verne. Devoted grandmother of Brian and Kevin Verne, James, Tom and Dave Franco and Bandi Chorh Sing Khalsa. Dear sister of the late Bob and Alfred Levine. Services will be held Tuesday, May 3 at 2:30 p.m. at the ANSHE CHESED FAIRMOUNT TEMPLE, 23737 Fairmount Blvd., Beachwood, OH. Interment Mayfield Cemetery. Friends who wish may contribute to the Case Western Reserve University - Asian Studies Program or the Cleveland Museum of Art."

Maternal great grandfather Judge Manuel Levin from the Ohio encyclopedia.

"LEVINE, MANUEL V. (25 May 1881-6 May 1939), lawyer and judge, was born in Vilna, Russia, to David J. and Michelle (Corban) Levine. He immigrated to Cleveland in 1897 and was a star alumnus of the English-language and naturalization classes at HIRAM HOUSE. Levine graduated from Western Reserve University Law School with the LL.B. degree and was admitted to the Ohio bar in June 1902. Appointed assistant police prosecutor and assistant solicitor to NEWTON D. BAKER in May 1903, Levine targeted employment offices that bled foreigners seeking their first jobs of a large portion of their wages. Very much aware of the necessity for immigrants to learn English, he taught evening naturalization and English classes at Hiram House. Levine was elected police judge in 1908, municipal judge in 1911, and common pleas court judge in 1914, with reelection in 1920. In 1923, he became a judge on the Ohio Court of Appeals, twice selected as chief justice. As a judge, Levine displayed understanding, great sympathy, and empathy for those in distress. His philosophy was to place human rights above property rights, and he sought to guard the individual against any unlawful intrusions. Levine seldom hesitated to strike out against social conditions he saw as breeding grounds for CRIME. He instituted the Domestic Relations Bureau in common pleas court, established the state's first probation department, and pioneered court-sponsored domestic conciliation efforts. Levine married Jessie Bialosky in Mar. 1910 and had 3 children, Robt. M., Alfred D., and Mitzi. Levine was buried in the Mayfield Jewish Cemetery."


Fidel Castro tree which I made for Geneastar. 





Genealogist at Geneanet and Geneastar
https://en.geneanet.org/profil/marycummins
 Mary Cummins Investigative Reporter
https://marycumminsrealestatemarycummins.blogspot.com
 Mary Cummins Real Estate Appraiser
http://www.marycummins.com
 Mary Cummins
http://www.mary.cc
 Mary Cummins Biography, History in Wikipedia format
http://wikipedia.marycummins.com/
 Mary Cummins on LinkedIn 

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Alex Villanueva family tree, ancestry, ethnicity, heritage, DNA from Poland, Puerto Rico by Mary Cummins

alex villanueva, alexandro villanueva, alejandro villanueva, poland, polish, aguadilla, puerto rico, sheriff, latino, mary cummins, genealogist, los angeles, california, police, office, los angeles county, board of supervisors, mother, father, siblings, sister, brother, grandparents, abuelos, padre, madre, chicago, illinois, rochester, new york,
alex villanueva, alexandro villanueva, alejandro villanueva, poland, polish, aguadilla, puerto rico, sheriff, latino, mary cummins, genealogist, los angeles, california, police, office, los angeles county, board of supervisors, mother, father, siblings, sister, brother, grandparents, abuelos, padre, madre, chicago, illinois, rochester, new york,


Sheriff Alex C Villanueva (Alexandro, Alejandro, Alexander) was born February 1963 in Chicago, Illinois. Alex Villanueva's parents were Victor Manuel Villanueva Laguer born 3 Jul 1941, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, died 9 Dec 2000; and Mary Anne Zgonina born 10 Mar 1937, Chicago, Illinois, died 25 Feb 1989, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. They are both buried in Monte Cristo Memorial Park in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

FATHER: Alex Villanueva's father ran a Spanish language newspaper called "La Voz de Pueblo" in New York around 1966. He was also involved in the Inter-American Unity Council and the Center for Brain Research, University of Rochester according to himself in two newspaper articles via newspapers.com, see references. 

"Puerto Rican Leaders Publishing Spanish-Language Newspaper. Here A group of local Puerto Rican leaders, in an attempt to encourage their countrymen to participate more fully in community affairs, have begun publishing a bi-monthly Spanish-language newspaper. "We're hoping to help the Puerto Ricans develop the feeling that Rochester is their city," the paper's editor, Victor Villanueva, said yesterday. "So far there has been a sense of disassociation. We want them to think of themselves primarily as Americans, not just Puerto Ricans."

As evidenced by this 1968 Letter to Editor Victor Villanueva was well spoken and appeared to care about his fellow man. This letter is important because Alex Villanueva's paternal great grandparents are black if Villanueva is his father. His father was actually confused about terms used in an article which came from a statistics report by the D&C and not the school. His use of the word "Negro" was appropriate for the time which was 1968. It was not considered racist at that time. "Colored" means "mulatto" or mixed with black. These were just the terms used in 1968 and were not considered racist at the time.

"I AM WRITING about the article, "10 P.C. Non-White,-Parish Schools Imbalanced" (D&C March 13). If for some statistical reason it happens that the majority of Puerto Ricans attending these schools happen to be from mixed families, your statement should be applied in terms of those who are actually mulattoes, but to generalize by saying that all Puerto Ricans are non-whites is false because of its superficiality. Since the island is only 24 per cent colored, this shows your generalization is in error. We reject the designation of non-white, not because those of us who, in fact, are non-white are ashamed of it, but because we reject the state of mind behind it which is really saying that we are not equal to others. We will not do this because man's scientific knowledge has shown that one group of humans is not superior to another and if we did we would retard the fight for equality which is moving forward all over America. I believe that the struggle for school integration at this Stage is a basic part of the struggle of the American Negro to secure the self-respect and dignity due him as a human. We have had this dignity and self-respect for centuries, VICTOR VILLANUEVA, Center for Brain Research, University of Rochester."

Victor Villanueva was in the US Army in Vietnam. His enlistment was 19 Jul 1961 and was discharged 23 Jul 1963. Victor Villanueva married Mary Anne Zgonina in Buffalo, New York November 8, 1963 nine months after Alex was born in Chicago, Illinois after he was discharged. Based on Victor Villanueva's military service dates he may have been in Vietnam nine months before Alex was born. Alex may have a different father than his siblings, see below. 

MOTHER: Alex Villanueva's mother was Mary Anne Zgonina Golubski. She was born in Chicago, Illinois and attended two years of college. Her first husband was G. Christopher Verduin. They were married 3 Sep 1958 in Chicago, Illinois. It's possible G Christopher Verduin is the father of Alex who was born before Victor and Mary Anne married. Verduin is an English Norman name. That would mean Alex Villanueva is Polish and maybe English but not Latino. Perhaps that is why he changed his name from Alex to Alexandro then to Alejandro when he came to California. I'm Latino and I've never seen it spelled "Alexandro" which is very different than "Alejandro." It's also possible that Mary Anne was pregnant by Victor before they married perhaps when he was on leave from Vietnam if he was. Only a DNA test knows for sure. Either way he's not a legitimate child of Victor Villanueva in the eyes of the law and Catholic church. In Latino communities this used to be shame upon the family though it doesn't matter as much today. Below are the combined marriage certificate entries of Villanueva and Zgonina.




Mary Anne Villanueva died of colon cancer at home in Puerto Rico in 1989, redacted death certificate below. She may have gone to California in 1988 for treatment. The certificate is signed by Alex's sister Bernadette Villanueva Lopez Miranda who was born in 1965 in New York. Bernadette and her father took care of the mother while she was sick even though Alex was the oldest child. Bernadette appears to still own the family house in Puerto Rico.


In 2000 Bernadette then a music teacher in New York wrote a song about her mother's death. 

"CD of music, poems helps pupils, staff cope. Bernadette Villanueva had been stoic for a long time, but sitting by the bed in what she knew would be her mother's final hours, she was overcome by grief. "I couldn't take it anymore and I broke down and I ran out of the room," Villanueva said, recalling the sad day in 1989. "But my mother called me back and she said, 'Don't worry about me; everything is going to be OK,' and she consoled me and she held me. ... It was painful, but at the same time very beautiful" Now, more than 10 years after her mother died of colon cancer, the 35-year-old Irondequoit woman is sharing her grief and her mother's words of comfort with others. An original song written and performed by Villanueva in memory of her mother is included on a new CD put out by the Rochester School District's Grief Resource Network." 

Mary Anne Villanueva moved with her family from New York to Aguadilla, Puerto Rico about 1973. She stayed there until her death in 1989. Alex left Puerto Rico via the military like most leave Puerto Rico. For some reason I don't see records for Alex until 1991. Maybe he was using a different name.

PATERNAL: Alex Villanueva's full paternal side was born in Puerto Rico. Alex's paternal grandparents were white, black and "colored" or "mulatto." 

In Puerto Rican census documents it's shows as "B" for blanco, white, "N" for "negro," black, and "C" for "colored," "mulatto." Don't confuse "B" for black like in US census documents. I am using, quoting the same exact words from the PR census to stay consistent with the records. I never use the words "negro," "colored" or "mulatto" normally.

In Puerto Rico they list couples as "married," or "consensual." They list parents as married even if they're married to other people besides the parent of their child. You end up with multiple spouses and potential parents. Some of these people on that Villanueva side were not married but "consensual partners." 

Spanish language names include the last name of the mother and father. The father's last name is the first last name and the mother's is the second last name. My family's last name was Rivera Baz. Sometimes the census flips, confuses them or cuts one off. I read, write, speak Spanish so I translated the original documents. The tree I made for Alex Villanueva has 113 people and 204 documents which are all publicly available. 

Alex's paternal grandparents were white Andres Villanueva Galicia, 12 Jun 1912 Aguada Aguada P.R, died 4 Aug 1995 Aguadilla, Aguadilla, Puerto Rico; and "colored" Manuela Laguer Pellot, 28 Ene 1916 Isabela, Puerto Rico, 15 Mar 1992 Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. They were sugar cane farm laborers, laundresses and carpenters with limited education per the census. Villanueva Galicia's parents were white. Laguer Pellot's parents were black. 

MATERNAL: Alex Villanueva's great great grandparents are from Poland. His mother to great grandparents were born in Chicago, Illinois. They were not recent immigrants. The maternal side is taller, white with light skin and generally blue eyes. 

Alex's maternal grandparents were John Walter Zgonina, 8 Jun 1906 Radom, Washington, Illinois, USA, 18 Dec 1977 Hot Springs, Garland, Arkansas, USA; and Adeline Mary Golubski, 31 Jan 1901 Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, 2 Aug 1996, Montgomery County, Maryland, USA. His grandfather John Zgonina was a 5'11" blue eyed fair skinned mail carrier who was in the military. Below is John Zgonina, Zgonena's obituary which mentions Mary Ann and Victor Villanueva.

"(sic) ZGONENA (ZGONINA) John W. (sic) Zgonena, passed awav Dec. 17, at Hot Springs, Ark., beloved husband of Rosetia; loving father of Leonard (Merle) Zgonina, Raymond (Marie) Zgonina and Mary Ann (Victor) Villanueva of Puerto Rico; dear brother of Joseph (Clementine), Herman (Helen) and Michael (Barbara) Zgonina and Helen (Joe) Buck; grandfather of 12; also nieces and nephews." 

Alex Villanueva has a son named Johannes Jared Villanueva who has been in the news. He was born 1985 in Los Angeles, California. His mother is Echavarria per his birth certificate. I can't find a marriage or divorce document for Echavarria so Johannes may be the illegitimate son of Alex Villanueva. I saw reference to Alex being "divorced" but can't find that document. 

Alex Villanueva married Vivian E Lopez born January 1967 in 1997. It appears they were living together in Vivian's mother's?, sister's? small old home in Los Angeles. They finally bought their own home in 2003. This is the home where it was stated that Alex allegedly tried to build a helicopter pad on property owned by the utility company. That would need a conditional use permit besides other permits. He is on the planning commission for La Habra Heights but that would still be difficult. 

Based on my research Alex Villanueva is either Polish English or he's half Polish and half Puerto Rican with white and black ancestry. His maternal Polish side arrived in the 1870's, was educated and at least middle class. Based on photos and descriptions he appears to very closely resemble his maternal side which is taller and lighter. His paternal side if it's Puerto Rican was mainly poor mixed farm laborers and laundresses. The father Villanueva and maybe a couple of the father's male siblings have advanced education maybe via the military and the GI Bill. At least a few of Alex's siblings went to college including at least one brother and sister. 

Alex Villanueva has repeatedly stated he's the first Latino and first Spanish speaking Sheriff of Los Angeles County. That's not true. Tomas Avila Sanches was the first Latino and Spanish speaking Sheriff in 1860 158 years earlier. Alex's first language was English like his mother. Alex is max half Latino if he's Latino at all.

If anyone has any other information, please, send it to me. This tree will probably be updated as more information becomes available. I asked Alex and others for comment, gave them 24 hours but no response as of the publishing of this article. 

References

"Puerto Rican Leaders Publishing Spanish-Language Newspaper," Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York,12 Jun 1966, Sun, Page 46. 

"Don't Generalize on Puerto Ricans," Letters to Editor, Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, 24 March 1968, Sun, Page 123.

"CD of music, poems helps pupils, staff cope." Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, New York, 19 Apr 2000, Wed, Page 110.

Obituary John W Zgonina, Zgonena, Chicago Tribune, Chicago, Illinois,20 Dec 1977, Tue, Page 37.

California Birth Index, 1905-1995, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., Lehi, Utah, http://www.ancestry.com 

Puerto Rico, Civil Registrations, 1885-2001

U.S., Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 2

Census Records, Ancestry Operations Inc.,. United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration.

U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index.

Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File



Photo is from Wikipedia fair use non-copyrighted in the public domain. Official portrait of 33rd Sheriff of Los Angeles County, California, Alex Villanueva. Other photos from Ancestry.com license for use. All uploaded content to Ancestry is non-copyrighted. 




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Mary Cummins Genealogist at Geneanet and Geneastar
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