At the age of 20, he returned to the United States, settling in South San Francisco. He created a successful gardening business there, but his true passion was preserving Basque culture and sharing it with others. He was married to Marie, of Irish descent, and had two sons.
Honored with several awards
A talented musician, he played trumpet in the Klika of the San Francisco Basque Club and sang in the Elgarrekin choir. He was also an acclaimed bertsulari. He has also been honored several times for his contributions to cultural diversity and his talent as a bertsulari has earned him numerous awards.
Hélette singer Michel Etcheverry knew him well and saw him recently, one very last time, during a stay in California: “He made his life as a gardener, then a boss like many Basques. He was, we can say, “a star” throughout the Basque diaspora since he was an excellent bertsolari. I will not forget his bertsus on the occasion of the death of my brother Jean-Pierre who was chaplain of the Basques of America and with whom he was very close. Johnny was in demand everywhere like Mattin and Xalbador at the time, that's saying something! »
“He was president of the Basque Cultural Center of South San Francisco and was one of its pillars. A man with a big heart, faithful in friendship and unanimously appreciated, he brought us together last year, for his last trip here to the Lecumberry village hall, and it was of course in bertsus and songs! He knew it was the last time, because he returned to the country regularly. Two months ago, I visited him at home, he was really exhausted and couldn't go out. He gave me some booklets to distribute, booklets recounting his unusual life and embellished with some of his most beautiful bertsus. I took the first booklet following his advice to his nephew Maison Bidartia, accompanied by Jean-Paul and Liz Barthe, his American neighbors. The second was for Xabier Euzkitze, betsulari and friend of Zarautz. I respected his wishes. Agur adixkide. »
