California Freemason: As a father of three young kids, how do you balance home life with being an officer of your lodge, Napa Valley № 93?
Hector Marroquin: Some of the brothers feel like those need to be mutually exclusive things. I’ve seen younger guys come in and then the next thing you know, they have a career change or a little one and suddenly you don’t see them again. I’ve always thought that was a shame. My wife, Emily, and I had a really positive experience with the lodge when it was just the two of us. So when we had our first son, it didn’t make sense to suddenly exclude it from our lives. We found it became easier to integrate it into our family experience. Nowadays, the lodge is like a second home to our kids. And the brothers can see them growing up—they’re all aunts and uncles as far as they’re concerned.
CFM: What lessons have you learned through being a two-time master of the lodge?
HM: First and foremost, a sense of patience. You have to always have the long-term view. Everything I do, I try to think about the longevity and success of the lodge. My first term as master wasn’t easy. But you build your confidence in your own judgment. I’d say my style has become a lot more assertive, but at the same time much more collaborative. You learn about relationships and how to deal with different personality types, how to bridge divides. And I’ve learned that, hey, your lodge brothers have your back.
CFM: How did you first learn about Masonry?
HM: Masonry’s kind of a family tradition. My grandfather is actually a grand master’s representative from the Grand Lodge of Puerto Rico to the Grand Lodge of Hawaii. Growing up, I didn’t know that much about it, but I was fascinated with it. It motivated me to reach out and find books about it, because there was something about the esoteric part—the secret part—that I was just drawn to.
CFM: And what led you to become an officer?
HM: I’d been in a fraternity in college and, looking back at it, I saw that I didn’t take full advantage of the leadership opportunities it offered. So when I joined the lodge, I wanted to make sure I didn’t squander that opportunity again. So as soon as I got my proficiency, I jumped right in.
CFM: You’re on the lodge’s hall association board, and I know you work in real estate. Do you feel especially fond of the lodge building, which is this iconic structure in St. Helena?
HM: Of course. I’ve put so much time and effort into helping to preserve the heritage of this building. I take that honor very seriously. So I’ve done everything I can to do right by the building and what it means for the lodge, but also what it means for the community here.
Photo by
Winni Wintermeyer
