South San Francisco, CA June 30, 2022 Submitted by Garden Chapel Funeral Directors
Our beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, David Antonio Barradas, passed away peacefully at the age of 87 on Sunday, June 12, 2022 at home surrounded by family.
David was born in Hong Kong on March 22, 1935. He lived a vibrant life riding motorcycles and swimming in the bay. He was a bodybuilder, a catcher on a softball team, loved to play harmonica, ukulele, and piano, and enjoyed waterskiing. David was a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Judo and taught Martial Arts to the Police Academy in British Guyana, South America. Through Catholic Digest, he gained an international penpal, Selene Kwok, with whom he wrote for 5 years. David and Selene soon fell in love over their letters and pictures and he moved to British Guyana to be with her. In July 1959 David and Selene got married and a year later, their son Mark was born. David brought his fledgling family to The United States in 1962, first to Charleston, South Carolina and then San Francisco where their two daughters, Katherine and Monica were born. His work took the family to Los Angeles for a few years before settling in Daly City, California where they have lived in the same home since 1973.
David worked in banking, taking many extra courses to eventually become VP of International Banking at CIBC. In his spare time he was an aficionado and ardent propagator of orchids, including Cattleyas, Paphiopedilums, Dendrobiums, Epidendrums, and Phalaenopsis. His specialty however were Cymbidiums, and at one point David housed more than 400 of them in his backyard.
David was a kind-hearted and godly man. He was a parishioner of Our Lady of Mercy Parish for 49 years. He was an exemplary father who sacrificed to put all 3 of his children through private school. David adored his family and always put his beloved wife, Selene, first.
Throughout his extraordinary life and multiple medical events, David embodied patience, humility, acceptance, faith, and resilience. He always had a wonderful sense of humor, graced people with a genuine and generous smile, and graced individuals with a love that surpasses words.
With great pride and love for our beloved David, we will try to emulate him for the rest of our days. We thank you all for being here in support to help us honor and celebrate the beautiful and admirable life which David lived and led. He will be forever loved and missed by his family and friends.
We love you David…Dad, Daddy, Grandpa, Papa, Avo. We miss you. May you Rest In Peace and watch over us forever and always!