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TI: Okay, so we're gonna start, and I always start with just telling where we are and the date. So today is Monday, March 19, 2012, and we're at the Japanese American Museum of San Jose. So we're in San Jose, and we're doing an interview with Larry, and I'm going to let you introduce yourself in a second. But Larry, let me ask the first question, can you tell me when and where you were born?

LP: Yeah, I was born... I don't know what the number is, but not the same number I just gave you. It's on the same property, but it was a different number.

TI: So on Clayton Road?

LP: Clayton Road.

TI: In San Jose. And tell me again the date that you were born?

LP: 11/4/22.

TI: So November 4, 1922.

LP: Six o'clock in the morning.

TI: So that makes you almost ninety years old, you're eighty-nine.

LP: That's right. I'll be ninety November 4th of this year.

TI: So again, as you walked in the door, I was expecting someone looking maybe a little bit older.

LP: Really?

TI: So you're in great shape. And so, Larry, tell me, when you were born, what was the name given to you when you were born.

LP: When they went down and recorded it -- at that time, your family didn't record your name, the doctor got this gal that worked with him to go down and record it. And all they did was put "boy" and of course my parents' name and stuff were on there, and the date of birth. And so my dad wanted to name me Lawrence and my mother wanted to name me Robert, so the doctor didn't put anything down because they had a disagreement about what my first name should be. And I wish she would have won because Lawrence has got too many letters and it's a hard name to write. I don't use it because at school, they started calling me Larry, and so now I write Larry because it's easier. I wish my last name was shorter, too.

TI: And so your father won out --

LP: He won out, yeah.

TI: Lawrence.

LP: Joe could have changed it because it wasn't registered. I could have had any name I wanted to, right?

TI: But then I notice that you have for your middle name...

LP: Robert.

TI: So they got both names in there. So Lawrence Robert Pacheco, good. And was there any significance to Lawrence? Why did your father choose Lawrence?

LP: I don't know. It's pretty much of an English name back in those days, but I don't know if that had any effect on it. I don't know.

TI: So before we go to your life, tell me about your father. What was your father's name?

LP: Manuel.

TI: And where was Manuel from, your father?

LP: M-A-N-U-E-L.

TI: And where did he grow up? Where was he from?

LP: He was born here.

TI: Okay, so also in San Jose.

LP: He was born on Sierra Road.

TI: And before your father, your grandparents on your father's side, where did they come from?

LP: I don't know. I think originally our ancestors were from the Azores Islands, but I never asked any questions about that, so I don't know. Both my grandmothers were born here. My grandfathers I think were born, I think they were born in the Azores Islands, but there are seven islands back there and I don't have a clue which one.

TI: Okay, good. But your mother, what was your mother's name?

LP: Mary.

TI: And same question, where was she born? Was she also born in San Jose?

LP: [Nods].

TI: Wow, so you're like a third generation San Josean, old-time family.

<End Segment 1> - Copyright &copy; 2012 Densho. All Rights Reserved.