Stories of Los Angeles Harbor Area: For Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
SOLAHA Vol. IV, No. 35 Christine (Aguirre) Zambrano
Born and raised in Wilmington, Christine (Aguirre) Zambrano tells the story of how she became an ILWU casual after retiring from the Social Security Administration in 1999 and later becoming part of the union’s elected executive board.
One of nine children, ILWU member and lifelong Harbor area resident warmly recalls playing in her family’s big Wilmington backyard and decades later how finding an old doll at an antique store brought all the childhood memories back to her and her sister; and her dad building Sal’s Market. She attended Holy Family Grammar School (Wilmington) from kindergarten through 8th grade graduating in1967; Wilmington Junior High for ninth grade, graduating in 1968 and Phineas Banning High School, graduating in 1971.
Her first job was working in her father’s business “Sal’s Market” as a cashier, from 1963-1973. Her second job was working for the United States of America Federal Government, Social Security Administration from 1973-1999, retiring on July 31, 1999.
Before she retired, she was in the process of becoming a ILWU casual and had a side job was a photographer. She especially enjoyed photographing weddings and children. In 2001, she began working as a Longshoreman (ILWU Local #13) retiring in January 2020. Proud parent of her two daughters she has seven grandsons and five great grandchildren