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Show The Fastest-Growin the 21st century Hispanic American voters turned the tide in several major state elections last November. As their numbers increase, Hispanics’ influence in this country is becoming CReenean aURa ee Cee ars ae are eenart 10 children— stronger—in business, culture and familyvalues. & an evening with Marcelino Ra old-fashionedfamily values I sat with Marcelino and Maria and six of their 10 children in the living room, where family photographs graced mos Gutiérrez and his wife the walls, while BY TAD SZULC OT TOO LONG AGO, | SPENT Maria del Refugio Ramos, at their spa ciouy andrelaxed household on quiet West Angelino Avenue in San Gabriel a historic suburb of Los Angeles. Theirs is an American success story fashioned by work andthestubborn dedication to grandchildren raced back and forth aroundthe house. I asked in Spanish, whether Marcelino was proud of his children, All are bilingual with successful college educations Marcelino, 59, aslim, sandy-haired man, brokeinto a broad grin They are an impressive group: Hum berto Ramos, 38. is a social scientist and associate director of the Hispanic Minis try at the Los Angeles RomanCatholic Archdiocese who has worked in theEast Los Angeles barrios; Rosa Pérez Ra mos, 36, is a corrections officer in Santa Ana, Calif Hector, 33, practices med icinein St. Louis: Sergio, 31. is a priest who earned his doctorate in philosophy from Angelicum Collegein Rome: Ri cardo, 28, an Air Force veteran, is a busy architect; his twinbrother, Ramiro, went to PasadenaCity College and now serves as a corrections officer: Jaime. 26, is preparing his doctoratein economics at the University of California at Santa Barbara; Estella, his twin sister, is a psy chologist; Gloria, 25, holds a master degree in linguistics from Harvard and currently teaches in Culver City, Calif and Lorena, the baby at 21, hopes ROBERTO CLEMENTE (1934-72) Holl of Fome = CARLOS ‘ARBOLEYA outfielder for the Pitsburgh Mh Pirates. The pride of Puerto ANTONIA PANTOJA PABLO CASALS(1876-1973) RAUL JULIA (1940-94) Rico, he had An activist who helped found ASPIRA which Spanish-born musicion considered by mony An acclaimed stoge and film actor who teaches Puerto Rican youth leadership skills. to be the greatest cellist ofthis century transcended Latino stereotypes 3000 hits. First Cubon: born president of o mojor US. bonk he is octive in community organizations in Florido. PAGE 4 JANUARY 3, 1999 PARADE MAGAZINE |