[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 23 (Wednesday, March 6, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                TRIBUTE TO ABELARDO ``ARBIE'' VILLARREAL

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 6, 2002

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, today I pay tribute to the memory of a man who 
was very special to me and to the entire Inland Empire community, 
Abelardo ``Arbie'' Villarreal, a longtime professor at San Bernardino 
Valley College.
  Like a ray of sunshine, Arbie came to San Bernardino Valley College 
(SBVC) in 1971 to teach English, mainly to foreign students. A tall, 
thin, meticulously groomed man with sharp, angular features and a ready 
smile, Arbie was easily recognized on campus. He was the first ESL 
teacher at SBVC, and he was able to reach out to the community by 
establishing ties between the college and the area's rapidly growing 
Spanish-speaking population.
  Arbie was a great asset to Valley College and was recognized as 
``Outstanding Professor.'' He was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship/
Fellowship to teach abroad, which allowed him to live and teach in 
Switzerland for two years. His knowledge of foreign languages easily 
opened doors for him in Europe. He spoke Spanish and Italian fluently 
and managed in French and Portuguese.
  Last summer, Arbie was awarded a faculty fellowship to spend six 
marvelous weeks in Washington, D.C. working at the US Department of 
Agriculture. He was surprised to reunite with several friends now 
settled in Washington who he met almost 40 years ago during a training 
program to join the new and exciting Peace Corps. Arbie spent two 
unforgettable years in Columbia with the Peace Corps.
  Arbie was born in Texas but raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His 
mother, Amelia, and his older brother, Gilbert, still live in New 
Mexico. Arbie's twin, Hilly, also moved to California like his brother 
to teach at Cal State Los Angeles. Arbie's youngest brother, Albert, 
followed his beautiful Texan bride back to Texas.
  Arbie was exuberant, well-prepared, good-looking, fun to be with, and 
curious about the world. He was so curious, in fact, that in order to 
learn more about Italy, he married his Italian student Maria, his wife 
of 28 years. Together they enjoyed their friends, travels, romantic 
candlelight dinners in their patio, the theater, music, Victorian 
dances, and books that they read to each other.
  Arbie was loved, admired and respected by his adoring students, the 
faculty and staff of Valley College, and by his countless friends 
spread across two continents. Arbie's illness and death hit the San 
Bernardino Valley College campus very hard. During his hospitalization 
in September 2001, students organized a blood drive in his honor. More 
than 50 people donated blood while some people had to be turned away 
because turnout was so high.
  Arbie's widow, Maria said that her husband loved life and battled his 
disease courageously. While he was in Washington over the summer, he 
developed pain in his lower back. Initially, this was the only symptom, 
and as he was a healthy man, he though it was just a strained muscle 
until he was diagnosed with kidney cancer.
  Arbie passed away on Wednesday, February 27, 2001 surrounded by his 
loving family. The Villarreal family set up the Abelardo ``Arbie'' 
Villarreal Memorial Scholarship Fund for students at San Bernardino 
Valley College. Friday, March 8, 2001, the college will hold a memorial 
service in his honor.
  And so Mr. Speaker, I submit this loving memorial to be included in 
the archives of the history our country. It is men like Arbie who make 
this nation great. Arbie leaves a legacy of lives filled with education 
and enrichment of knowledge for those whose lives he touched.

                          ____________________