Pat Figueroa's and Margaret Fahringer's father passed away

[echo]

I got sad news tonight... Pat Figueroa's father passed away 8/29. It was expected, but I don't think anyone could ever be prepared for the loss of a parent. Please keep Pat and Margaret in your prayers.

[motorgypsy]

I'm so sorry to hear that. Didn't they lose another family member not too long ago??? You're right. No matter how old or ill the person is you're never ready to lose them. :( :( :(

[Privatetreaty]

You're right Motorgypsy. Cese Figueroa's father, Don Cunda, the brilliant and influential Paso Fino horseman from Puerto Rico, passed away late last year. Pat and Cese Figueroa are a very successful husband and wife, Paso Fino training team.

Pat and Margaret's father, Juan Triana, was very supportive of his daughter's quest for horse knowledge, every since they were little girls. I remember all the stories, as recounted by their mom, Carmen. I was very close to Carmen for many years, especially after Pat and Cese moved away from Miami. Carmen referred to me as her youngest daughter.

I remember the first time I met Juan. It was before I had a chance to meet Pat or Margaret. Someone introduced my father and I to him as "Pat's dad", at a Huck Lyles Paso Fino show in the mid 1970's.

Juan was extremely proud of Pat and Margaret. I remember him proudly telling my father and I, as we watched Pat in her class; "Patricia (as he referred her) is always ready to go". While everyone else slacked off at the line-up (especially after the Judge turned in his card), Pat was always the only one in "proper equitation position" with her horse's head and neck slightly collected. As I got to know Juan, I realized that his comment to us that day was very unique, because Juan always conversed in Spanish with folks that spoke the language. Yet, he made that comment about Pat in English.

As time passed, our families grew closer. Our fathers were always discussing politics ringside at horse shows. Juan introduced my father around to everyone he knew (which was just about everybody) and our moms were inseparable at shows. Carmen and Juan were invited and attended my brother's wedding. Pat and I are only a year apart and we were very close. She was my best friend.

In the very beginning, after I left Pasos, I didn't enjoy being a spectator at shows. Horse show competition is a fever that takes a long while to recover from. A few years later, I attended a Paso show at Tropical Park and remember seeing Juan. I needed his smile and conversation that day. He was always the perfect gentleman in his straw hats.

Sometimes, you wish you could turn the hands of time back and do things differently. Regrettably, life never grants these opportunities. We can only hope that time softens hearts, as we remember that life is very short. There are no "chance meetings". It all happens for a reason and sometimes, we don't even know why.

My prayers and my heart go out to Pat, Cese, Margaret, Glenn (and the kids), Libby and John.


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[Pasogirlz]

Very sad news indeed. My condolences to the family. :(