Amado De Jesus Jr.

Amado De Jesus, Jr. age 76, of Fontana, CA passed away on Aug 16,2025, with his family nearby praying fervently for him as he battled a short but catastrophic illness from which he succumbed.

Born on Oct 12, 1948 in the city of Caloocan in the Republic of the Philippines, Amado - aka Jun or Boy, as he was fondly called - was a man of strong opinions and even stronger integrity. He was the third oldest child among 6 children. He completed his high school education at Caloocan High School and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of the East. Through sheer talent, ability and drive, he rose to the rank of Senior Executive for a multinational pharmaceutical company called Upjohn, Inc. prior to moving to Southern California. He immigrated to the United States in the mid 90s with his family in search of the American dream.

In the US, he began his journey as a store manager at Florsheim Shoe Company.  Although wildly different from his previous endeavors, he treated this with importance and performed his job with dignity and pride.  He also used this as an opportunity to connect with people in his new environment.  In true Amado De Jesus Jr. fashion, he was easily able to adapt to new challenges and uncertainties.  

After that, he worked tirelessly in civil service for more than two decades for the California Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) as an Eligibility Worker. He worked diligently his entire life and believed in doing things the right way. He was very meticulous, organized and detail-oriented not only at work, but at home as well. He always jokingly asked people if they're "working hard or hardly working", but those who truly know him know that he was a firm believer of hard work.  This is a trait that he has instilled in his children.  Though he could be stern and argumentative, those qualities were rooted in his deep sense of responsibility and love for his family.  He was a man of principle and held himself to high standards and expect it of others, especially his family.

He was a passionate individual whose interests included gardening, dancing (as his form of exercise), watching tennis and Family Feud (while participating from the comfort of his couch), and strategically solving puzzles in a phone app game called Woody. He also spent a lot of his weekends planning for his retirement with his wife. He loved coming up with ways to save their money and gathered vacation ideas for him and his wife when he successfully retires.

He was an avid fan of tennis, both as a player of the game and its promoter. One of his legacies was spearheading a nonprofit organization that supported promising junior tennis players in Cebu City (Cebu Youth Tennis Development Foundation - CYTDF) where he and his family previously resided.

He was a devoted husband to Teresita with whom he shared a bond full of loyalty, humor, and the occasional “spirited debate.” Anyone who knew them knows they could argue about almost anything — but they always stood side by side, with love at the center of it all.  As a father and grandfather, he was proud beyond measure. He never wavered in his support for his children and grandchildren, and he delighted in their accomplishments. His family was his greatest source of pride and the legacy he cherished most.  

To friends, co-workers and even casual acquaintances, he was known as approachable, funny, and generous with his time. He could strike up a conversation with anyone, and more often than not, he’d leave them laughing.

He leaves behind his beloved wife Teresita, his children and their spouses, Walter (Geraldine), Jhoanne (Scott), Anna Pauline (Nick) and Martin (Jessica), grandchildren, Noelle, Sebastian, Evelyn, Eric, Adrian, Camila, Andrew and Alyna and many other relatives and friends who will miss his humor, his stories, and his unwavering values and beliefs. He definitely lived his life on his own terms. He manifested the words of the great Frank Sinatra, "I did it my way."

Viewing and Memorial Services will be held at Forest Lawn Covina Hills on Friday, Aug 29, 2025, from 5 to 9 PM. Burial will be held at the same place on Saturday, Aug 30, 2025 at 3 pm (maps shown below). In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Amado in a way he would appreciate: by working hard (not hardly working), telling the truth, and holding your loved ones close.  He always encouraged his family to do tree plantings during his birthday, so if you'd like to plant a tree in your backyard to celebrate his life, he would love that very much.

Though we will miss him dearly, we smile knowing that somewhere beyond, Amado is already making friends — and probably educating someone about the “right way”.