Saratoga News

Photograph by Robert Scheer

Nearly 30 years ago, the city of Saratoga held a job open for three months for temporary employee Al Fregoso, so he could work on getting his citizenship. On Dec. 24, nearly 30 years after he joined the city staff, he's retiring from his job in the public works department.

Al Fregoso says it's been a great 30 years

By Sarah Lombardo

Al Fregoso began working for the city of Saratoga as a temporary employee. But at the City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m., on Dec. 17, Fregoso will be recognized and thanked for his nearly 30 years with the city in the Public Works Department. The man responsible for painting the crosswalks children use walking to school, the warning signs on the roads alerting drivers and virtually every other road marking in the city will retire next week, on Christmas Eve.

"And you can be sure he'll show up for work that day, too," said Brian McQueen, leads worker in public works services and one of Fregoso's supervisors. "Most people would just say, 'Aw, I'm not going in on my last day,' but not Al."

Fregoso said he decided earlier this year that this would be his last with the city. His retirement will come two months and three days after his 70th birthday. If not for his age, he joked, he would stay.

"Five years ago, I could have retired when I was 65, but everybody treats me well here, and I'm still doing my job, so I said, 'Well, I'll stay another year,' " he said. "Then it was another and another year. ... Finally, I told my boss, 'That's it. I think this year is the last year. I'm going to quit.' And he said, 'Well, you don't have to,'... but I think I'm ready for me just to take off and go out and spend more time with my family."

And it seems that family will keep him busy just due to its size alone: Fregoso and his wife of 48 years, Josephine, have 11 children--eight daughters and three sons--and 30 grandchildren. About two or three grandchildren are at Fregoso's Los Gatos home on any given weekend, he said. "Those are my intentions, to spend more time with the kids when I retire," Fregoso added.

It was trying to earn enough money for his children that led Fregoso to take a temporary job with the city in the first place. After arriving in Saratoga from Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1948 and working in local orchards for close to 20 years, Fregoso was forced to seek new employment when the orchard at which he worked was put up for sale. "I used to work long, long hours seven days a week when I was [at the orchard] to support my family," he said. "And then the hours were cut because [the owner] was selling the ranch, and I didn't have enough money to support my kids. So I said, 'Well, I think I'd better look for another job.' "

He had worked for the city for a few months, he said, when he was approached by his supervisor and offered a permanent position. Only one thing stood between Fregoso and the city job: citizenship. Fregoso said he told his boss the situation and was told that the job would be held for him until he could study for and pass his citizenship test--which he did.

"They held that job open for me for three months," he said. "And I got that job, and I kept that job."

Although obviously pleased that his work was appreciated by his employers enough that they waited for him, Fregoso chalks up his success to luck.

"I have been very lucky with the people who work around me," he said.

Over the years, Fregoso has received a promotion and several awards commending his work. Each award, Fregoso said, hangs proudly in his home--except one. A trophy that Fregoso received is also displayed in his house. It was the city's first "Most Dedicated Employee" award, and Fregoso got it.

McQueen, who has worked with Fregoso for about 25 years, said he, for one, fully expected Fregoso to receive that award. "When he was nominated, I thought, 'If anyone else gets it over him, I'll know it's a sham,' " he said.

Fregoso also credits his eagerness to learn for his value as an employee. He asks questions, he said, and isn't afraid to learn what is expected of him. It's a trait he said he has tried to teach his children. He said his bosses early on in his career with Saratoga also helped make his job easy. "When you have somebody to show you the way, and you are willing to learn, I think [a job] is not that difficult," he said.

Fregoso said he sometimes uses his trophy to make his point to his kids. "I tell my kids, 'When you do the job, when you follow orders, see what you get? You get something for the memories,' " he said.

Over the years, his supervisors may have changed as employees came and went, but the impression that Fregoso makes on them remains constant.

"He's going to be greatly missed by everyone here," McQueen said. "He's a good co-worker and a good friend."

[ Back to Contents Page | Saratoga News Home Page | Archives ]