A Tribute to My Abuelo Don Pablo Ceja during Dia De Los Muertos
Photographer Norma I. Quintana (Forget Me Not Portrait Series)
Today our familia honors our loved ones during Dia de Los Muertos. In loving memory of Don Pablo Garcia Ceja (1933 - 2024) Father of brothers and founders, Pedro and Armando Ceja.
Pablo was born in Aguililla, Michoacan, Mexico. In 1953, he married Juanita and shortly after he ventured north to Los Estados Unidos. Pablo was a non-stop, hardworking migrant farm worker with a dream to build a better future for his familia.
Through the Bracero program, he worked “Las Corridas” up and down CA to WA State for years following the harvest crop cycles of the West Coast. In the early 1960’s, while harvesting grapes in Napa Valley, Pablo fell in love with this wine growing region and knew he wanted to bring his family from Mexico and live there permanently.
In 1967 his focus and hard work ethic paid off and brought Juanita and his family to live in Napa Valley. Years later, with the help of his sons Pedro, Armando and their wives, they purchased a small plot of land in Carneros to develop and nurture their own vineyards.
Pablo is survived by his wife Juanita, 9 children, 25 grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, and 1 great, great grandchild.
“In his best years, Pablo had a strong presence, like that of those legendary vineyards — hard, firm and well planted. And, like all the vineyards, he also had exceptional seasons, its harvests unforgettable, those that leave a lasting mark on all of us who are here. Although his time on earth has left we know that he leaves a great legacy. His harvest is still alive, not only in his children and grandchildren, but in each vineyard that continues to grow in the fields that he cared for so much. His spirit, his strength and his memory will continue to feed those vines, which symbolized his entire life.” -Jose Luis Castañeda
Please join me in raising a glass of Ceja wine and paying tribute to the late, Don Pablo Ceja. Today and everyday we honor and remember our loved ones that have passed on - inspiring profound impact and contributions to our lives. Muchas gracias Papa Pablo, descansa en paz, pero siempre en nuestros corazones.
Con Amor,
Dalia