Anthony was born in San Jose, CA on April 19, 1924 to Antone Joseph Peters Sota and Mary (née Machado). His family was very active in parish of Five Wounds Portuguese National Church and the Portuguese Hall and grew up in downtown San Jose. Anthony’s paternal and maternal grandparents immigrated to the United States from the Azores at the beginning of the Twentieth Century. His paternal grandfather, Jose Pereira Socia, from Flores and his paternal grandmother Irene Silviera from Fayal. His maternal grandfather, John Machado, and grandmother Mary Freitas were both from St. George.
When Anthony’s Father unexpectedly passed away he and is brothers stepped into to help pay for his family’s expenses by working a number of jobs. His favorite job was that of a golf caddie at the San Jose Golf and Country club along with his two brothers. He had the great privilege of being the caddie for a number of golf pro celebrities, like Ben Hogan and Sam Snead which sparked his deep love for the game of golf. His first of many wins was at the annual caddie event at the country club at the age of fourteen and was crowned King of the Caddies. He went on to play golf for the San Jose High School Bulldogs and was the team captain. In 1941 the Bulldog golf team won the PAL Championship with Anthony as team captain shooting an 86. Anthony continued to play golf for the military and during his college years at Oxnard and Santa Clara university. He was a scratch golfer the majority of his life and was still playing a winning game at 90 years old! During his high school years Anthony wrestled and played baseball. He never forgot his love of those sports and continued to follow them all right up to his passing.
During World War II in 1942 Anthony enlisted into the Marine Corp and
attended Occidental college and Quantico and graduated from Platoon
Commanders school as a 2nd Lieutenant. At the end of the war he went
into the reserves and later was called to active duty in 1950 as a First
Lieutenant and was sent to Korea to fight as part of Dog Company Second
Battalion. He was wounded in action the latter part of 1950 and
received his Purple Heart.
Through the Military he went to Oxnard and the Santa Clara University
law school to get his law degree. After leaving school he went to work
for the city as a clerk until he was recruited in 1953 By San Jose
Abstract Title company in Los Altos where he became the youngest Branch
Manager in the history of the company. He was later lured away by First
American Title Company as an Escrow officer; in 1977 he became a company
Vice President. Anthony’s career as a Title and Escrow officer,
handling multi-million-dollar property exchanges, continued until he
retired at age 59.
Anthony was married to his longtime sweetheart, Evelyn Stevens Sota for 53 years until her passing from Breast cancer at 73 years old. He had three beautiful daughter he raised in Campbell, CA. He moved to Hollister California to be near his family to help care for Evelyn during her illness.
Anthony had a very strong belief in God and devotion to the Catholic Church throughout his life, he supported that faith through good works for the Church and tirelessly fundraising to help build St. Martins Church in San Jose, St. Lucy’s in Campbell and finally St. Benedict’s Church in Hollister. He and his second wife, Alma, spent hours and hours serving the Hollister community by working every week at the local community pantry giving out food to the needy and continued doing so into their late eighties. They were a very active couple who traveled and loved to be part of everything.
Despite having spine surgery at 78 and a year later open-heart
surgery at 79, Anthony lived a strong life until passing away peacefully
from end stage heart failure at 94 years old. He lived a very long,
full and rich life and he will be forever remembered as the strong vital
man he was right up to the end of his life.
Anthony Sota was survived by his three Daughters; June Huie, Laurette
Chandler, Anntoinette Fuentes, three son in laws Ben Huie, Gregg
Chandler, Ron Fuentes, four Grandchildren, Jolene Burt, Eric Chandler,
Anthony Huie, Alexandra Fuentes, eight great grandchildren, Nathan,
Kenneth, Andrew, Sammantha, Elizabeth, Parker, Elle and Emerson. He is
also survived by three of his Siblings, Gloria McCarroll, Irene Machado
and William Sota, and a large number of nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 21st, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home.
On Friday, February 22nd, visitation will be from 09:00 a.m to 11:00 a.m. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 a.m. Entombment, with full military honors will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
A reception will follow at Paine’s Restaurant, 421 East Street, Hollister.
