euskalkultura.eus

Fresno, CA, USA.  Victor Esain was a very well-known and recognized man in the Fresno, California and US Basque communities.  He was also known internationally in the context of Mus tournaments between Basque clubs in which he participated as organizer and collaborator. 

Victor was born in Fresno, California to Basque parents.  His father, Felix emigrated from Navarre while his mother, Lyda, born in California, was also the daughter of immigrants from Behe Nafarroa.  The Esain family managed the Basque Hotel in Fresno, a reference for  many in the central valley Basque community who gathered there.  Victor grew up in this Basque ambience and spoke Basque as well as English. 

In 1978, he was one of five people who founded the Fresno Basque club.  NABO delegate for years, he was named as Mus Chair in 2000, and was a director on the Federation of Mus, where he had previously been involved with his predecessor, Pierro Etcharren, and Jean-Baptiste Aguerre, who worked so hard at the development of this great Basque card game, in local clubs as well as at the international level.

He was a hard worker and was appreciated by all, as well as his many friends.  In Fresno he and his family also managed the Villa Basque restaurant. 

Visitation will take place on Sunday February 23^rd from 12:00-4pm at the Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home (1525 East Saginaw, Fresno) with funeral services being held on Monday February 24^th at 1:3pm at the St. Anthony Chapel at St. Peter’s Cemetery (264 N. Blythe Ave., Fresno). Goian Bego.