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In the heart of its 35th anniversary celebration the Basque Cultural Center awarded its 2017 Bizi Emankorra awards, lifetime achievement awards to three of its members: Angel Arriada, Louis Marticorena and Jeanne Mazeris. Center president, Gracian Goyhenetche, thanked them for their contribution and Johnny Curutchet composed some special verses for the occasion that everyone sang along to (see video).

San Francisco, CA.   Last Sunday, February 19th, after mass celebrated in Basque and English by Aita Mike Lastiri, the covered fronton at the Basque Cultural Center was the site of the Bizi Emankorra Award presentations to three members of the large Basque family in the Bay Area: Angel Arriada, Louis Marticorena and Jeanne Mazeris. Originally from Nafarroa, Behe Nafarroa and Behe Nafarroa-Xiberua, respectively, from three different profiles who worked selflessly during a lifetime in the Basque community that comprises the Basque Cultural Center in San Francisco.

The presentation of plaques took place on Sunday after mass offered by Aita Mike Lastiri.  Center president, Gracian Goyhenetche served as master of ceremonies and he thanked everyone present, and especially those who worked on the program for the club’s 35th anniversary.  Those mentioned included volunteers, athletes from the Basque Country including Joko-Garbi players from Uztaritze, as well as those from the Euskadi Federation of Pelota; members of the music group Ketxo; along with Aita Lastiri, the Elgarrekin Choir, Klika, Bertsolari, Txistularis, Zazpiak Bat Dantzaris, and txikis, who he requested special applause for as “the future of our community.”

South San Francisco and Donibane Garazi Sister Cities

All of this took place in the fronton under the flags and symbols of South San Francisco and Donibane Garazi-Sr Jean de Pied de Port, Sister Cities that are linked, precisely, by the Basque communities in both localities. 

ANGEL ARRIADA. Out his many contributions to the Center, President Gracian Goyhenetche, highlighted his contribution from the beginning at the SFBCC’s inauguration on March 28, 1982, when the first pelota goma game was played by Angel Arriada, with his partner Jose Irigoyen versus Jean Goni, and Pierre Irola. Soon after, the Center’s Pilota Committee named him Pelota Goma Chair.  Angel became the first chairman of Pilota Goma.  He remained the chairman for all of the 1980's.  Not only was he the chairman of Pilota Goma, he also won many championships during those many years.

Homage, with the audience and choir singing Johnny Curutchet's bertsoak (verses), to the three honorees (videoEuskalKultura.com)

He has also contributed in many other ways. For example, in 1985 he volunteered to be a part of the Building and Grounds Committee, being a member of the volunteer clean-up crew organized by Jean Gorostiague and Anita Arduain.  From 1993 to 1996 he was a elected member of the board of directors, where he served with honor and determination.  He has always supported work done in favor of the Basque culture and in 2000, the US Federation of Basque Pilota presented him, along with five other at the SFBCC, a medal in recognition of his work to perpetuate and disseminate pilota in the US.   

LOUIS MARTICORENA. He began as manager of the Center in 1986, introduced by León Franchusteguy, Center president from 1985-1988, and held that position for just over 10 years. Leon said “I can recall a point in time when the restaurant’s managers were arriving and departing at an alarming revolving-door clip. So I introduced Louis Marticorena to the Board, and after a brief interview we had a manager for the restaurant who stayed for over ten years. He revised the way the restaurant was managed, helped make it a more profitable achievement.” The February 1990 issue of Gourmet Magazine praised his skill, “The restaurant, which welcomes non-Basques, is managed by Louis Marticorena, a name well known to San Franciscans whose dining-out memories predate the eighties."  Louis kept the dining room running smoothly for ten years until 1996.

Besides his work at the Center, he also dedicated a lot of time as a volunteer.  In 1982 the board of directors announced the creation of a new corporation “599 Railroad Avenue Catering Inc,” to take care of operation of the restaurant: Louis was one of the first seven directors of that board.  In 1993, the BEO (Basque Educational Organization) sponsored the first Basque Culture Day with a program that would include a workshop on Basque cooking taught by Louis.  It was very successful and so was repeated at the 1994 and 1998 editions.  Louis is part of the group that barbacoes at the Center's anniversary, as well as at its August festival.  Since 1985, he has also been a member of the team that makes tripota (blood sausage) for the Odolki-Jatea for club members.  He also participates annually in making Kauserak for the closing of the anniversary events.

JEANNE MAZERIS. Jeanne Mazeris was first asked in 1982, by Mattin Zubieta, to accompany the newly started Elgarrekin choir on the piano.  When Mattin Zubieta returned to the Basque Country in 1983, she took on the resonsabilies as the group’s director.  Together Jeanne and Mattin worked together to record a cassette of the Elgarrekin Choir.  The cassette was recorded at the Notre Dame de Victoires Church which had excellent acoustics.  With the collaboration of everyone involved, the Elgarrekin Choir Cassette was a huge success.

On March 27, 1982, under the direction of Jeanne Mazeris, the Elgarrekin Choir sang at the Basque Cultural Center’s opening ceremonies and a special performance was given during dinner.  Since then, they have accompanied countless Basque masses at Notre Dame des Victoires as well as at the Center.  Elgarrekin has participated in Euskal Kantari Eguna in Gardnerville, NV and in the Los Banos, CA and Gardnerville Pastoral.  With her as its director, the choir also performed in Bakersfield and Boise.  She directed the choir at the Center’s 10^th anniversary in 1992.  From 1982 to 1994,  twelve years with patience and fortitude Jeanne Mazeris directed the Elgarrekin Choir..