Fathers’ Day comes only once a year and for San Quentin Rehabilitation Center residents, the day has always had more significance than for non-incarcerated fathers: Some of them have not seen their children in many years.
A crowd of about 135 visitors of all ages arrived at SQRC’s Visiting Center to enjoy the company of San Quentin residents. Tiny children zoomed around the area, enjoying a multitude of board games and toys. An elderly woman with a cane hugged a resident who called her “Grandma.” Two young boys impatiently waited for their father as their mother assured them that he would come soon.
“Feliz dia del padre, pa, estamos aqui mis hermanas y yo porque te amamos y apreciamos,” — Happy Father’s Day, Dad, we are here, my sisters and me, because we love you and we appreciate you — said Vincent Leyva to his father, resident Arsenio Leyva.
Leyva, 62, had not seen his two daughters, Sara Pacheco, 23, and Abigail Pacheco, 24, for eight years. They and their brother Vincent, 34, had traveled a long way. “It was just love and one community, there were no barriers, no problems, it was just one big community, and I am so glad to see my children,” he said.
SQRC’s musical virtuosos Lee Jaspar (guitar) and Brian Conroy (bass and trumpet) added an ambiance of light jazz to the room. One visitor requested the American Standard “Fly Me to the Moon.”
Across from the officers’ desk, a volunteer who identified herself as Renée painted the faces of children. She said she volunteered for the Inmate Family Council and recently started serving as the organization’s chair.
“We meet with Warden Andes quarterly and we go over issues the residents and their families might have. We act as a bridge.” Asked what had inspired her to volunteer, Renée replied, “They need voices, and by ‘they,’ I mean both the residents and the families. I wanted to end the ‘Us versus Them’ with the staff; they’re people, too, and I wanted for everyone to work together. The Warden really listens to us,” and she emphasized the word “listens.”
About the California Model, Renée said, “The resource team fully supports us. I want for people on the outside to give the California Model a chance. It’s something positive, and I want for everyone on the outside to know all the positive stuff that goes on inside.”
The group also organized special visiting events at Easter and Mother’s Day. She said she would return on the Fourth of July and on Halloween.
Two adolescent girls argued over who wore the cooler T-shirt. One very small boy insisted on playing Jenga while his equally small sister wanted to play the Candyland board game (the sister won). A visitor who called herself Alisha complemented SQRC for the wide variety of games available at the visiting center. “They don’t have that many games at other places. This is really nice here.”
By mid-morning, the visiting room had crowded to the point at which seating seemed hard to find. Sergeant A. Borer said Fathers’ Day did not compare to an ordinary visiting day. “Normally, it’s a lot more relaxed. We have a lot more kids coming on visits.” Lieutenant Dews agreed with the sergeant’s sentiments. “It’s really nice to see kids here. This is the busiest we’ve seen since we opened the kids’ room.”
As visiting hours drew to a close, a visitor requested for the musicians to play the Bobby Darin song “Beyond the Sea” and her incarcerated husband sang to her, “Somewhere, beyond the sea, she’s there, waitin’ for me…” as the blue waters of the San Francisco Bay just beyond the visiting room looked balmy and gentle.