Obituary of Carolina Enriquez Atacador

Carolina Enriquez (Carol) Atacador, 75, of Richmond, California passed away peacefully on March 23, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Carol was born in Bauan, Bantangas, Philippines to Tranquilino and Natividad Enriquez Atacador on April 18, 1944. She attended high school at St. Theresa's Academy in Bauan in the early 1960's, and went on to earn a BA Degree from the College of the Holy Spirit, Mendiola, Manila in 1963. After college Carol taught at the Ateneo de Manila Grade School before heading to the US to attend Georgetown University, where she earned an advanced degree in linguistics. Except for brief employment on Wall Street at Chemical Bank as a systems analyst, and at Capitol Records Studio NY, Carol's 40-year career was devoted to the education of youth. She taught for more than a decade at Immaculate Conception School in the South Bronx before moving to California in 1983. There, she continued her teaching and administrative career in the Diocese of Oakland, that spanned over the next two decades. St. Patrick, West Oakland; St. Jerome, El Cerrito; Principal, St. Paul, San Pablo, and St. Joseph the Worker, Berkeley. Carol's most notable bequest to the field of education was her give-back legacy to the Philippines. During the 2000s, under the auspices of the Ayala Foundation, Carol, as Director and Co-founder, forwarded the expansion of CENTEX (The Center of Excellence in Public Elementary Education), a unique school system for gifted children from economically disadvantage families in Tondo, Manila and Bauan, Batangas, Philippines. She enjoyed writing, poetry, watercolor painting, photography, and mahjong. She was an international motivational speaker and frequent keynote lecturer at educational conferences. She received special recognition for her contribution to the 1990s Oakland Diocesan Strategic Plan and in 2011 the Archbishop Alemany Award for Christian Service. She was an Honorary Advisory Board Member of F.A.C.E (Financial Aid – Catholic Education). Carol is preceded in death by her parents Tranquilino and Natividad Enriquez Atacador, sister, Norma Dimaculangan, and brother Ruben Atacador; and she will be sadly missed by her devoted friend, Julia, her sisters Cecilia Reyes, Charito Viray, Nicetas Santos, Josefina and Carmelita Atacador, brother-in-law, Abelardo Santos, her sorta sons, Kevin and John Kunishi, her many nieces, nephews, friends, colleagues, and students around the world. Kraft and Sussman Funeral Services will be handling the funeral arrangements. Services are TBD at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, Las Vegas. Burial is being planned at Heritage Park, Bayani Rd, Taguig, 1630 Metro Manila, Philippines. Memorial donations may be made in Carol's memory to FACE: Family Aid – Catholic Education. Family Aid – Catholic Education 2121 Harrison Street, Suite 100 Oakland CA, 94612, click on the following link: https://www.oakdiocese.org/face-donation The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the exceptional team of caregivers at Aegis in 2015 who provided a safe and loving environment for Carol; the Grace of Monaco-Angel Park Home Care, and the angels of Encompass Health Hospice.