Salvador M. Diaz Jr.

On June 10, 1951, an estimated 266,800 babies were born, but the one in the world who became the world to us was Salvador Diaz, Jr. On August 4, 2024, surrounded by family, he took his last breath as he was welcomed into heaven by Jesus and his “honey”, Maria. He is preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Maria Diaz, parents, Salvador Diaz, Sr. and Sofia Diaz and brothers, Ramon and Oscar Diaz. He leaves behind three children, Jesse Diaz, Salvador “Sonny” Diaz, III (Jodi), Marissa Diaz, nine grandchildren, Tyler (Kiera) Diaz, Madison Espinoza-Diaz, Karina Diaz, Alayna Diaz, Jace Espinoza-Diaz, Jonah Diaz, Grace Diaz, Jessah Diaz, and Jaren Diaz, three great grandchildren, Gael Diaz, Kaia Diaz, and Rylan Diaz, his brothers, Henry (Sandy) Diaz, Hector (Sarah) Diaz, Jesse (Carolyn) Diaz, and his sisters, Rachel Saenz, Gloria (Armando) Ramirez, and Carol Ann Diaz.

Salvador was a military veteran and served our country in the Vietnam War. After he returned from Vietnam, he worked full time while also attending nursing school to support his family. He was the hardest working person we have ever known. After graduating from nursing school in 1980, he taught his family what true hard work and dedication looked like working two shifts, 6 am to 2 pm and 2 pm to 10 pm, Monday through Friday for much of his 44-year nursing career. You could always expect that at some point during the weekend, his stereo would fill the house with music with the volume turned to the max. It was a familiar and heartwarming sound, and you could expect at least one or two grandchildren would migrate into his room, which typically ended with everyone in the family gathered around listening or dancing. He may have seemed like he was always serious, as you will not see many pictures with him smiling, but he was really a jokester who loved making people laugh. He always found the perfect nick names for everyone. It was a tradition that all his grandchildren got their first Oreo at 6 months of age. He loved his family fiercely and worked hard to provide for them.

Our hearts are hurting, and we feel the void of his absence here. He will be missed, but we know that he is in heaven with his honey, Maria “Pita,” and she is cooking him a big breakfast as his music plays at top volume.