Hector

Castaneda

Hector Castañeda Obituary
March 23, 1950-June 14, 2021

Hector Castañeda was an exceptional man who lived an extraordinary life. He took an interest in electronics as a young child which became his aspiration. With this passion, Hector went on to attain a degree in Electronics and Computer Science. After graduation, he quickly went into a career with Hollex McCormic then went on to work for the Stanford Research Institute. He continued his career in electronics as he moved to Hewlett Packard, Connor Peripherals, Sony Electronics, and finally worked for Apple Inc. in the Silicon Valley, pioneering the first Apple iPhone and helped with the design of the magnetic traffic stop lights.
Hector was a perfect example of perseverance. When he was a child, Hector would wake up early to work in the agriculture fields while on his crutches with his brothers and sisters while also attending and completing high school. Hector traveled the country with his electronic ideas and even created his own inventions, like his own hand brake for his first car, "Gigi," a green 1961 Chevrolet Impala which gave him the ability to cruise the streets.
Hector conquered every hardship that was thrown at him and became successful throughout his career in electronics. He was dedicated to the growth of the technology industry and pushed his nieces and nephews to continue school and achieve their dreams. Hector loved and admired his family and always looked over his younger siblings, his six sisters and his two brothers; Olivia, Jose Marcos, Ana Maria, Aracelia, Leticia, Norma, Sylvia and Daniel. Each family gathering consisted of food, laughter, sibling stories and music. Jose Marcos would tell his siblings, "Si yo pudiera, le prestaría mis piernas para bailar."
Hector also loved spending time with his daughter, Cheryl, her husband and Hectors' two grandchildren, supporting their extracurricular activities, Facetiming them and seeing their successes and their academic achievements.
Regardless of all the hurdles thrown, Hector was determined to live his life to the fullest and always kept in his mind what his parents always told him, "No tendrás piernas pero si tienes las manos y la mente para hacer cosas." Hector lives through his success, his siblings, his daughter and grandchildren and his many nieces and nephews and would always make it a point to let all know, "I am a God-Damn Marvel of Modern Science."