Historian Ernest Marquez Honored by Palisades Community Council

The Pacific Palisades Community Council honored author and historian Ernest Marquez with the 2013 Community Service Award on Dec. 23.

Marquez, 89, was overcome with emotion as he accepted the award at the annual potluck dinner at Temescal Canyon Park. The offices of Los Angeles City Councilmember Mike Bonin and California Assembly member Richard Bloom also presented Marquez with certificates of appreciation.

“It’s overwhelming that people care about history,” he said.

His great-great-great-grandfather, Francisco Marquez, arrived in Alta California in the 1770s to help establish Spanish missions. After Mexico won its independence, Francisco Marquez and Ysidro Reyes were awarded a land grant from the Mexican government for Rancho Boca de Santa Monica in 1839. The area includes much of Pacific Palisades.

“Growing up, I didn’t know much about my family history,” Marquez said.

After learning more about his family’s role in settling the area, he believed California historians had largely ignored his family. When he retired in the 1990s, he became the family historian.

“I’m sad [my ancestors] haven’t been recognized in the way they should,” he said.

He has written numerous books about local history and regularly speaks at community events. He also has a collection of documents, books, original photographs and memorabilia.

Marquez said he spent 20 to 30 years fighting for his family cemetery which is now a public garden and historic landmark. His efforts were documented in a film called “Saving the Sacred Ranchero in the Canyon.”

“Ernie’s heart and soul have connected the past and present right here in Pacific Palisades,” Community Council President Barbara Kohn said.

Norman Kulla, Bonin’s senior counsel, said Marquez remains an active historian.

“It’s not just what he’s done but what he’s doing. This is a very special man,” Kulla said.

His son, Ernesto Marquez, said he could not help but notice that the people at the meeting all live on the old Ranchero site.

“The Community Council, they’re in a sense tending to the Ranchero like my family did and like my father did,” he said.