Víctor Estenio Pazmiño

Born June 24, 1899, in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Family History

His father was Víctor Manuel Pazmiño, of the Pazmiño family of Quito, Ecuador, who had moved to Guayaquil in 1897. His mother was Lelia López, whose family was also from Quito. Lelia's father was Felicísimo López, a political activist in Ecuador, and her mother was Francisca Romero, niece of Gabriel García Moreno, President of Ecuador (1861-1865 and 1869-1875). Víctor Estenio was named after his father, Víctor, and his uncle Estenio López, who had died just two years earlier at the age of 17. Víctor Estenio's godfather was Eloy Alfaro, future president of Ecuador, who was a friend of Felicísimo López.

Coming to America

Felicísimo López, Víctor Estenio's grandfather, became the Consul General of Ecuador, a position to be held at the Ecuadorian Consulate in New York City. So, on February 1, 1900, he, along with Víctor Manuel and Lelia, and their (then) only child, 8-month old Víctor Estenio, left on their journey to America. It was a two-week trip, traveling by boat up the Pacific coast to Panama, taking the train across land, then again by boat up the Atlantic coast, to New York City. They arrived on February 14, at night, and stayed at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in Manhattan. Felicísimo and Víctor M. went to see Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera House, while Lelia stayed at the hotel watching little Víctor E. The family moved in to 6 Agate Court in Brooklyn (Stuyvesant Heights area).

Young

During the next ten years or so, little Víctor Estenio would get four younger sisters (one of whom died aged one year), and three younger brothers. During this time, the family moved to 65 Rutland Road in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens area of Brooklyn. Víctor attended school while living here. The family later moved to 2114 Glenwood Road (also known as Avenue G) in Flatbush. He was living here when he registered for the draft during World War I. The registration card (dated September 12, 1918) shows that he was a studant at the Pratt Institute at the time.

Cartooning

There is a detailed account of VEP's work, as far as I have been able to research. Víctor was in the habit of sleeping late in the mornings. When he woke up, he would go immediately across the room to his desk to start working on his drawings. He had a large cane that he would use to bang on the floor, a signal to the women of the house downstairs that he was up and ready for his breakfast. They brought it up to his room, so he could work while he ate. He would also frequent Prospect Park.

Census Data

In the 1920 US Census, Víctor, age 20, is shown as being an "Operator" in a "Machine Factory," and his father is shown as being a "Publisher" for a "Trade Paper." In April 1930, the Census shows him aged 30. This would have been near the beginning of his artistic career. He was still living at 2114 Avenue G. His occupation is listed as "Cartoonist," and the industry is shown as "Pictures." It states that he "Worked on own account," as opposed to being a wage or salary worker. Also, his father is listed as being an editor for a magazine, and his brother as a reporter for a newspaper. An image is available of this Census page, NARA microfilm T626 roll 1538, page 506. (Víctor is shown on line 10.)

Photographs

I have located a descent quality picture of Víctor, with his mother Lelia López, taken probably around 1942 or so (judging by the ages), standing in the back yard at 2114 Glenwood Road.

The End

Víctor lived at 480 East 23rd Street in Brooklyn. Víctor never married or had any children. He died on June 6, 1970, in Brooklyn. His Social Security number was 054-07-0241.