Donato Magat Mendoza

Donato Magat Mendoza was born on April 7th, 1954 and departed this earthly life just two days shy of his 69th birthday on April 5th, 2023. Don or Danny, as many knew him, is preceded in death by his parents Leon O. Mendoza and Leonila M. Mendoza who were born and grew up in the Philippines at a time when it was a US Territory. Donato was born in Angeles, Philippines. However, his parents moved to California circa 1964 where Don lived the rest of his life. He grew up in Alameda, California, and attended middle school and high school at Encinal, class of 1972. Following high school, Don served as a paratrooper in the US Army’s 1-509th Infantry Regiment, including tours in Germany and Italy. Afterwards, he bought a home in Milpitas and worked as a computer technician for Shugart Associates in Sunnyvale, a manufacturer that dominated the floppy disk drive. Here he met his wife, Helen, and they would later marry in 1981. Donato would work for Shugart until it ceased operations circa 1991. Donato and Helen raised their children in Milpitas and have been parishioners at St. John the Baptist church and members of the Knights of Columbus ever since. Don and his wife are also members of the Secular Augustinian Recollect Fraternity (SARF) and cherished members of the community, as they always opened their home to welcome and help acclimate church persons to California life. Donato and Helen loved to travel with their kids, and always found themselves returning to Hawaii and Mexico. So, they bought a time-share, and every summer they would take their kids to the different places and sometimes extended family and friends would join. In addition, Don also enjoyed skiing in Lake Tahoe and camping at the various National Parks, and passed on this passion to his kids, taking them skiing in the winter and camping in the summer any chance he could get. Don was a loving father, devoted husband, and a member of the Roman Catholic church. He is survived by his wife Helen Ventura Mendoza, and three children: Darlene Mendoza Wiedemann, Leonie Mendoza Heinaman, and Daniel Ventura Mendoza. Donato was a husband, father, brother, cousin, uncle, and friend to many, and will be missed by all.

Donato Magat Mendoza

April 7, 1954 - April 5, 2023