A Reunion for One of Carlsbad's Oldest Families

Descendants of Guadalupe and Margarita Gastelum came to Carlsbad on July 23-24 to share and celebrate and, in the process, strengthen family ties.

The reunion began Saturday evening with a dinner at Camp Pendleton's South Mesa Club and ended Sunday with an all-day family picnic at Carlsbad’s Magee Park. As the definition of reunion suggests, the Gastelums had plenty of time to be “brought together again as a unified whole.” This is the family's second reunion in Carlsbad; the first was in 2004. The Gastelums have also gathered for reunions in Tucson and Napa.

Gastelums have been in Carlsbad since 1923 and are considered one of the city’s oldest families. Their story goes back to an immigrant ancestor’s journey from the Basque region in Spain to Alamos in Sonora, Mexico, in the 18th century, when Mexico was still the property of the exploration powerhouse.

In 1818, Ramon Gastelum moved to Tubac in what is now Arizona. Due to a dwindling Tubac population—the Gold Rush and fighting with indigenous peoples had taken their toll—the Gastelum family returned to Sonora at the end of the 1840s. Ramon’s son, Guadalupe, later returned to Tubac with his wife, Margarita Ochoa, and their family, but now as an American citizen since Arizona had become part of the United States. The Gastelum family (including eleven children) settled into the ranching lifestyle. In 1920, three of the now-grown children—Bibiano, Leon and Santiago—decided to head farther west to California. Their sister Ana Maria would later join them.

As Adam Gastelum, a family patriarch, tells the story: “The three brothers pooled their money together to buy a Model T. However, they knew nothing about cars, as they had been cowboys and cars were new, so they brought along a mechanic, Abelardo Rodriguez. Bibiano’s family followed in a covered wagon because he was already determined to stay in California. The men worked along the way, and when they reached Carlsbad, they were offered jobs on a Kelly ranch.” Santiago returned to Arizona after about a year, but Bibiano stayed and became a foreman on the Kelly ranch, despite having lost one arm up to his elbow after a run-in with a rattlesnake.

Like other early Carlsbad arrivals, the Gastelum family settled into the rhythm of the small town community. They raised their children, ran businesses, worked the land, attended church and school—they lived life.

The descendants of the four Gastelums who came to Carlsbad were in attendance at the weekend reunion, along with the descendants of Ignacio Gastelum, who settled in Napa. That amounted to over 240 people at Saturday night’s dinner and over 355 people at the Sunday picnic. Family came from as far away as Harrisburg, PA, and New Orleans to spend time with other Gastelums of all ages. This year, 93-year-old Nellie Gastelum was the eldest family member and 2-month-old Mason was the youngest.

The reunions take a lot of preparation. Tencha Rodriguez, a family matriarch and committee member said the last reunion took 24 committee members more than a year to organize. This year, they were able to prepare in about a year with a committee of 13.

The family elders enjoy sharing their stories with the younger generations and reminiscing with one another. Children spend quality time with parents, siblings and extended family throwing footballs around, hanging out on picnic blankets and arranging for the official family photo. Everyone agrees that being able to spend time with family is the best part of the reunion.

And the 707 band members, who provided the entertainment, are family too. In addition to music and a family barbecue, a Pala Indian blanket was raffled off and gift baskets given for various achievements.

Sadly, the family has lost some members since the last reunion: Louis and Raymond Gastelum (both World War II vets and local residents), Norma Gastelum Gilley, Diana Gastelum and Lily Gastelum. That is the bittersweet reminder of gathering families: the pride and joy of family and new generations, offset by nostalgia for the past and lost loved ones.

Bill Dominguez, recently retired from the Carlsbad Planning Commission, and Margaret “Sister” Freeman both acknowledge that the torch is being handed to the next generation to carry on the family tradition. Younger members, such as Andrea Gastelum, appear ready to continue planning gatherings that serve to build bonds and memories. “It’s wonderful to see everyone,” Andrea said, “… really powerful to hear all of the stories.”

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