SOZA FAMILY NEWSLETTER Vol. 2, No.1 January 1994

1994 TEMPE REUNION
It is Official! Your enthusiastic responses, and offers to help, are strong reasons to hold a Soza Family Reunion in Tempe. A committee will be formed soon and details will be released. Please complete the enclosed survey and return at once. The information is urgently needed to build a good strong committee.
REUNION DEDICATION
The Tempe Reunion will be dedicated to the most illustrious Twentieth Century family member, Tempe born, the late

EZEKIEL RODRIGUEZ SOZA
1915-1983

MOUNT SOZA, ANTARCTICA
Stands at 7227 feet elevation in eternal tribute for the courage displayed and heroic work performed by "Zeke". He measured the vastness of Antarctica during geodetic traverses 1961-1962 TOP North - South and the 1962-1963 Topo East - West. A geodetic traverse equals a distance from Juneau, Alaska to Mexico City. Grandparents Juan Soza (1851-1915) and Jesus Maria Sotelo (1858-1936) would have been immensely proud of "Zeke" and the mark he left at the South Pole.

NINE BRANCHES OF THE OF SOZA AND SOSA FAMILIES
The Tempe Reunion will bring together eight branches of the extended Soza, Sosa families of Arizona. Expected at Tempe will be descendants of the following Soza Sosa branches:

MICHAEL MCKENNA (1836) & MANUELA SOSA (1854)
JESUS MARIA MUNGIA & LUISA CAMPA SOZA (1825)
ANTONIO CAMPA SOZA (1845) & FRANCISCA GASTELUM
ANTONIO CAMPA SOZA (1845) & MERCEDES FEDERICO
ANTONIO CAMPA SOZA (1845) & MARIA JESUS MORENO (1855)
PLACIDO CAMPA SOZA (1846) & MERCEDES ELIAS (1853)
JUAN SOZA (1851) & JESUS MARIA SOTELO (1856)
NICOLAS CAMPA SOZA (1856) & JUANA BORQUEZ (1858)
IGNACIO SOSA (1831) & MARIA GERTRUDES ELIAS (1837)

We are also anxious to make contact with descendants of Rita, Ramon, Ignacio, and Maria Tomasa Sosa; children of Jose Maria Sosa, Second and Gregoria Nunes. They appear in the 1831 census of Tubac.

COMMEMORATIVE COFFEE MUG
A Commemorative Coffee Mug will again be offered. Funds derived from the sale of the coffee mugs will help defray some expenses of the reunion. Details will be released when ready.

SOZA CEMETERY UPDATE
Nazario A. Gonzales, Jr., Tucson submitted the following report:
"As to the missing names on the Soza Family Cemetery plots, Estella Vijil Vasquez informs me as follows: (grave 4) Francisco Vijil and Maria Montano (same grave). Francisco was the infant son of Juan and Rosaura Vijil, and Maria Montano was of the Federico family, and second family of grandfather Antonio. A cemetery was being vacated and families were being urged to remove their families' remains. Our Aunt Rosaura did not want Tia Maria to remain and get lost."

(Grave 6) Carlos' and Herminia's infant son, probably not baptized." (Carlos Moreno Soza & Herminia Valenzuela)

Editor's note: Maria Federico Soza b. 1870, daughter of Antonio Campa Soza [1845-1915] and second spouse Mercedes Federico, married Leonides Montano. We have no record of their offsprings.

JAMES E. OFFICER AWARD
The May 11, 1993 Newsletter reported on this award, sponsored by the Soza Family Reunion Committee. The paper in its entirety appears in the October issue JOURNAL OF ARIZONA HISTORY. The newsletter of LOS DESCENDIENTES DEL PRECIDIO DE TUCSON carried a story on this award, as well as laudatory comments of Tucsonense General Jose C. Urrea, 1797-1849.

This is the first of three papers to be delivered at successive ARIZONA HISTORICAL CONVENTIONS. Write to AHS, 949 East Second Street, Tucson 85719 for copy.

DESCENDIENTES DEL PRECIDIO DE TUCSON
Soza and Sosa descendants of Alferez Jose Maria Sosa (c. 1746-1810) are eligible to join "this civic non-profit organization, dedicated to the preservation of our Southwestern history and certain elements of our heritage that are disappearing as part of Southwestern culture. Some objectives: Become a Hispanic genealogical society member and assist Hispanics in researching their roots; (2) Document Tucson Hispanic roots through compilation of histories, old photographs and other materials; (3) Document historic events which occurred during Spanish Colonial and Mexican republic periods; and (4) Recognize Spanish and Mexican-Americans who contributed to the early history of the area. Their address is P.O. Box 85703, Tucson, Arizona 85703, Attention Jim Hoge. (N.A. Gonzales, Jr. reporter)

NEWSLETTER DONORS
This Newsletter was made possible by present and past donors. With pleasure we acknowledge our newest donors:
Dr. Bernard L. Fontana Tucson, AZ
Edward A. Yanez Glendale, AZ

POETRY COMPETITION
A poem is needed for inclusion in the reunion banquet program. A committee will evaluate and select the poem that best exemplifies the Soza ancestral spirit, an Arizona 1774 origin at Tubac, an 1775 arrival at Tucson, homesteads at San River valley from 1878 on, coming to Tempe, and sending a son to Antarctica.

FAMILY TREE EXHIBIT
Your personalized Family Tree would be of great interest to the Extended Soza, Sosa families. If you are able and willing to exhibit your family tree, display arrangements will be made.
Please indicate your interest on the survey sheet.

RECIPE REQUEST
Please send me your favorite recipe. Recipes can be for soup, salad, poultry, fish, meat, dessert. Recipes for authentic ranchero style cooking would be most welcomed. If enough recipes come in, we may put them into a Soza Family Cookbook.

SURVEY
Reminder, send in your completed survey, indicating how you are able to help make this a most remarkable and memorial reunion. Also we need to update your branch of the family.

TREASURER'S REPORT
Nazario A. Gonzales, Jr. Treasurer of the Soza Family Reunion Committee, assisted by daughter Norma Gonzales, reports a balance of $849.59 ending 11/30/1993. Six hundred dollars is set aside for the James E. Awards for 1994 and 1995, less $109.73 for Newsletter Vol. 1, No.3. This only leaves a $139.86 balance.
If you are able and willing to help, now would be very helpful.