Marcelino Cortez Cudiamat

Marcelino Cortez Cudiamat passed away on October 21 at the age of 87, in Granada Hills, California. He was born October 3, 1929, in Besalan, Santa Cruz, Philippines, one of nine children of Nemecio and Pelagia Cudiamat.
Marcelino graduated as Valedictorian for the class of 1950 from Candon High School, Philippines. He went on to the University of the Philippines, earning a degree in law in 1956. Soon thereafter, he earned a position as special attorney on the Commission on Elections in Manila, Philippines, then travelled extensively in Asia while serving as Commercial Attaché for the US Embassy.
Marcelino married his high school sweetheart, Paciencia in 1960, beginning his life as husband and father. In 1973, Marcelino, his seven children (ages 12 to 3), and Paciencia's mother, joined Paciencia in California, who had moved to Los Angeles in 1972 to pursue a nursing opportunity at the Veterans Administration Hospital in West Los Angeles. Marcelino and Paciencia built a home and raised their family in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles before moving the family to Granada Hills in 1983. Marcelino worked for the Internal Revenue Service. For many years, he served as a senior investigator for the California Department of Insurance until his retirement in 1991.
Marcelino maintained an active life, playing tennis. A member of tennis clubs throughout his life, he enjoyed both the social and physical benefits of the game and shared it with his friends and his children. He was an avid tennis player, active in the sport for most of his life and playing almost every weekend. Tending to his vegetable garden was a passion, growing them from seeds and meticulously caring for it which yielded bountiful harvests for cooking and sharing. He loved to cook for impromptu and traditional gatherings, and was well known for his signature, hard to replicate, one of a kind, Pilipino dishes.
Marcelino was generous with his time and his experiences as an attorney, playing an important role in supporting relatives navigate the challenges of life and establish themselves in the United States. Family was at the center of Marcelino's life, bringing him joy and satisfaction as he watched his children grow and raise families of their own. He cared deeply and was proud of his children, Celia (Joe) of Riverside, Rene (Diana) of Granada Hills, Lilia (Jeff) of Pomona, Dante (Alicia) of Granada Hills, Estela-deceased (Robert) of Las Vegas, Alma (Glen) of Simi Valley, and Sonia (Luis) of Chatsworth; and grandchildren Andres, Danilo, Roman, Jennifer, Carlyn, Cameron, Robert, Kelli, Bryan, Jude and Xavier.
He is survived by his loving wife, Paciencia, sister Cenona and brothers Emilio, Jose, Moises, Crecencio, Cresteto, and Demetrio; as well as his many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
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