The 'Woodjammer'
/At the 1994 National Conference of the Filipino American National Historical Society, members of the Bridge Generation (BG) were defined as: “Children born in America by the end of 1945 to at least one Filipino parent who immigrated to the United States during the early 1900s.” For years, author Peter Jamero has profiled a member of the Bridge Generation in his monthly blog – “Peter’s Pinoy Patter.” As part of a recurring series, PF is pleased to repost his profile of a Bridge Generation Filipino/a American.
Don Velez, 85, Rohnert Park, California
(L-R) Ham Burila, Benny Revillar, George Ramirez, Sam Behic, Gabe Elmidolan, Ted Gabales and Don Velez (Photo courtesy of Don Velez)
Don was born on October 16, 1937, in Stockton, California, the youngest of three children of Fay Russo, of Italian heritage, and Joe Velez a fisherman from Carcar, Cebu, Philippines. His older siblings were Virginia and Joseph. Half-brother Herman Palad was from his mother’s second marriage. Don’s formative years were spent on McDonald Island, one of numerous small islands of the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta surrounding Stockton. His school was in one large room where other elementary grades were taught. Later, as a growing adolescent working in a packing house, he lugged hundred-pound boxes of produce. When Don was a teenager, the family moved to South Stockton where most Filipinos were confined in what then was racially segregated Stockton. The family’s new home was in the half-block neighborhood of Sutter/8th Streets where six other Filipino families also resided — the Laniohans, Sampornas, Inosantos, Caridos, Catanios, and Elmidolans. One of Don’s Bridge Generation contemporaries, Dan Inosanto, later gained fame as a martial arts guru and Hollywood performer in action movies. Another of his neighbors, Gloria (Carido) Nomura, served several terms as Stockton City Councilwoman. The Sutter/8th Street neighborhood was also where Don’s sister, Virginia, met and later married Nick Catanio.
Stockton Junior High and Edison Senior High Schools as well as Stockton Junior College were great opportunities for Don to meet scores of other BG Filipino Americans, including his future wife, Mina Mercado, whom he married in 1962. Don and Mina, devoted jazz aficionados, played tennis at the Filipino Tennis Club of Northern California, enjoyed golf and pickle ball, were regulars at Bridge Generation old timer reunions and, like most grandparents, spoiled their grandchildren. Sadly, Don lost Mina to cancer in 1995. Their 33-year marriage produced two children — Donald Velez, Jr., today a San Rafael attorney, and Danielle Colorado, a physical therapist assistant in San Diego.
Filipino Japanese American, George Ramirez, a teammate on the “Fils,” became one of Don’s best friends. After obtaining jobs in San Francisco, they organized the Bay Area “Bards” that also participated in the F/A basketball circuit. Following in the footsteps of his brother Joseph, Don got a job as a printer with the San Francisco Examiner/Chronicle, where he worked for 40 years until his retirement in 2003. During the early 1990s my office was located only a few blocks away from Don’s, enabling us to periodically catch up over lunch.
In 1999 Don married the former Veronica Davey. Early in their marriage, Veronica was instrumental in introducing him to a new interest. Considering his artistic bent and knowing he was good with his hands, she bought him a lathe for his birthday. Don soon focused on woodworking and attended a craft club, which evolved into creating exquisite wooden bowls. The bowls have been a best seller on Etsy, the online marketplace for handmade, custom and unique gifts. He also sells his wooden bowls at Northern California street fairs and craft shows. I purchased several bowls as gifts. All received glowing reviews from recipients.
Don Velez woodworking (Photo courtesy of Don Velez)
Don’s wooden Bowls (Photo courtesy of Don Velez)
Creating the wooden bowls (he calls it woodjammin’) came at a convenient time for Don. His years as an athlete had played havoc with his knees. In retirement, he was no longer able to skillfully play basketball, golf, tennis and pickle ball or engage in the track and field events of his younger years. But woodjammin’ is not his only interest. When he is woodjammin’ in his home hobby shop, he likely will be listening to straight ahead jazz on his stereo. He also is a fan of Bay Area professional sports teams and faithfully follows the basketball Warriors, football 49ers and baseball Giants. Don observed, “Woodjammin’, jazz, sports and family may comprise my many interests, but woodjammin’ is the only one that brings me spending money!” Happy Woodjammin’, Don!
Reposted from “Peter’s Pinoy Patter” blog, June 2023.
Peter Jamero was born in Oakdale, California in 1930 and raised on a Filipino farm worker camp in Livingston , California. Recipient of a master’s of social work degree from UCLA, he is a trailblazer having achieved many “Filipino American Firsts” in his professional career. He is the author of Growing Up Brown: Memoirs of a Filipino American and Vanishing Filipino Americans: The Bridge Generation. Retired, he lives in Atwater, California.
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