Hector Botello
Hector Botello
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Interviewed by Camille Antinori and Robert Bermudez at Berkeley Waterfront, August 30, 2024
Hector's family came from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico and arrived in Berkeley in 1960. His father was a renowned minister, and an avid fisherman, who was affectionately called "The Reverend" by his fishing buddies in Berkeley. Hector attributes fishing the Berkeley pier with helping him and his brother stay out of trouble after his father passed at a young age, and fishing, music and humor as their father's spiritual legacy to them. He recalls coming down on his bike with friends at 3 am to get their spot on the pier at a time when everyone came to the pier to fish. With 34 years as a public servant, Hector tells about fishing for sturgeon and celebrating together both his first son's birthday along with the anniversary of catching his prized sturgeon. Stories cover the travails of buying a first home in the Bay Area, favorite memories of floating on pallets in the marina, and envisioning a new generation of people experiencing nature on a restored pier.
Image: Hector and the birthday sturgeon. Image courtesy of Hector Botello.
Topics (in order):
Topics (in order):
Arriving Berkeley in 1960 from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
Living near Trevino's restaurant from the 50's near Gilman and San Pablo
Father as prominent minister in Mexico, passing in 1963
Father as avid fisherman and called "The Reverend"
Connection to fishing growing up; biking to pier at 3 am with brother; feeling that fishing served him well in those years
34 years of public service
Fishing, music and humor as father's spiritual legacy
Early 60's and influence of African American music
Police letting kids run out to pier in early morning in dark and cold
Heliport that took executives to SF
Smokehouse across the street and getting smoked salmon spines
All varieties of fish caught on the pier, then the fishing drying up
Biggest catch, sturgeon, contribution to Fish&Game, habits of sturgeon, Suisun Bay
BHS '71 graduate, home in Albany, gentrification, affordability in Richmond
Camping as an outlet for his kids, and music
Covid sickness, his brother passing, having a beautiful day whether you caught something or not
Scraping barnacles off pilings in the marina; floating n pallets like Tom Sawyer
Need to teach kids beauty of nature
Uniqueness of Berkeley waterfront and pier; affordability of fishing on pier without need for a license; inspiring a new generation to relive those days by reopening pier
Full interview transcript
Full interview transcript
Full interview transcript (PDF)
Citation (APA style):
Botello, H., Antinori, C, & Bermudez, R. Exploring Intergenerational and Community Connections to the Outdoors. (2024). Interview with Hector Botello conducted by Camille Antinori and Robert Bermudez, July 30, 2024. [Pdf] Retrieved from the Berkeley Fishing Memories Oral History Project: https://www.cmantinori.net/berkeley-fishing-memories-oral-history-project/interview-with-hector-botello.
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