Morales Sr, Mario Soriano's Obituary
Mario Soriano Morales, Sr., a beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on January 1, 2025, in Fremont, California, surrounded by his loving family. He was 91 years old.
Born in Manila, Philippines, on February 11, 1933, to Nicanor Morales and Eugenia Soriano, Mario grew up amidst the challenges of World War II, surviving the invasion of the Philippines. Despite these hardships, he persevered and went on to attend Far Eastern University in Manila, where he majored in Business. He was actively involved in the Philippine Army ROTC program and played as a goalkeeper for the university's soccer team, which won the National College Soccer Championship. Mario graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce in 1958.
From 1962 to 1966, Mario was part of a select group of Filipinos working for U.S. Aid in Laos. Serving as an Assistant Accountant in the Education Division, he was a member of the "Mekong Circle," a Filipino cohort involved in Operation Brotherhood, U.S. Aid, and Air America. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Carmen Dannang, who was also working in Laos as a nurse.
In 1967, Mario and Carmen moved to San Francisco, California, where Mario held various accounting and finance positions. In 1974 they moved to Union City, California. From 1980 to 1988, Mario served as the Controller/Chief Financial Officer for Pakon Industries in Union City until his retirement.
Mario had a passion for gaming and gambling, from horse racing to Texas Hold ‘Em. He loved challenging himself with the latest Chess and Poker video games, often beating the computer at the hardest levels. In addition to his gaming skills, Mario was an exceptional cook, known for his famous BBQ Spare Ribs and his specialty dessert, Leche Flan, which were favorites among family and friends.
Mario is survived by his devoted wife, Carmen Morales, his three sons, Mario Jr., Anthony, and Michael, and his three cherished grandchildren, Brandon, Christian, and Bryson.
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