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Obituary for John Vasquez Sr.
John Vasquez Sr.
June 24, 1930 - June 22, 2010
With great sadness we announce the passing of our beloved John Vasquez Sr. Surrounded by family and close friends, John passed away peacefully June 22, 2010 at his Vacaville home. He was two days shy of his 80th birthday. John was diagnosed with stomach cancer earlier this year and fought a valiant and heroic battle. Of Mexican and Spanish descent, John was born June 24, 1930 in Scottsbluff, Neb. to parents Manuel and Ynez Vasquez. He was the 11th of 13 children, and the last survivor. His Spanish-born maternal grandfather administered a hacienda in Guadalajara. Johns parents, from Lagos de Moreno, Jalisco, Mexico, had long dreamed of coming to California, and 15 years later they realized their dream. The family immigrated to the United States in 1920, living in Texas, Missouri, Wyoming and Nebraska before moving to Los Angeles in 1935 and then to Knights Landing in 1936. They settled in Vacaville in 1936, and in 1942, bought a 20-acre ranch in English Hills.John remembers his parents telling him that a renegade band of robbers and landgrabbers that sprang up at the end of the Mexican Revolution was the impetus for the Vasquez familys move to the United States. They camped on my dads land overnight and destroyed all his crops, he recalled. That was when my dad got angry and said that was it. John met his wife Nicha (Dionicia Nicha Granado), also a native of Scottsbluff, Neb., in 1946 when her family was visiting relatives in the Vacaville area. The couple began dating in 1948 and were married March 25, 1950. They enjoyed nearly 60 years of marriage until Nichas passing on Aug. 29, 2009.John Vasquez worked at a number of occupations. He drove a cement truck, worked as maintenance director of the Nut Tree Restaurant complex and managed the Nut Tree Ranch. He also served in the National Guard Reserve.In 1968, he invented one of the first mechanized prune harvesters, ingeniously mounting a shaking device on his one-ton truck. The invention drew newspaper coverage in The Reporter that summer. In 1973 Nicha and Johns sister, Ramona Vasquez Granado, opened the El Palomar Restaurant on Dobbins Street, and in 1976 John and Nicha and their four sons opened the popular Vasquez Deli, serving authentic Mexican food, including their trademark burritos. The family relocated the restaurant from McClellan Street to East Main Street in 2005 and named the building Dionicia for Nicha. John worked at The Deli until mid-April of this year when he announced his retirement to family members unexpectedly. John had been recently diagnosed with stomach cancer. The Vasquez family is well-known for its civic, business, agricultural, political and cultural contributions, and their fierce loyalty, pride and commitment. John and Nicha passed on that dedication to their sons: John Jr., George, Donald and Mark. Together the Vasquez family has donated innumerable hours to the City of Vacaville, enhancing recreational facilities and participating in local events and fundraisers through their businesses or personal contributions. John Jr. , a former member of the Vacaville City Council, now chairs the Solano County Board of Supervisors.The Vasquez family has participated in Vacavilles Fiesta Days Parade and Fiesta celebrations since 1964. Their 32-foot family float, El Rancho Vasquez, a highlight of the annual parade, has won first-place awards and sweepstakes honors. John chaired the Vacaville Fiesta Committee in 1986 and served on many committees. He and Nicha and their family served as grand marshals of the 1988 Fiesta Days Parade. The Vacaville Fiesta Days Committee selected the family--the first-ever family so recognized as grand marshals of the parade--for their dedication to the community. In 1973, John and Nicha began wheeling the Vasquez family float, complete with mariachi band, horseback riders, and colorfully dressed family members, to the Winsor House Convalescent Hospital on Orchard Avenue. John would say later that most of the patients are unable to leave the convalescent center to view the parade so we brought the paradeor part of itto them. The tradition has continued ever since.John was a long-time member of the Vacaville Fiesta Days Committee, a Vacaville Elks Lodge, Vacaville Moose Lodge, Knights of Columbus and Chamber of Commerce. He participated in scores of community events, including the Chambers Trade Club shows, and flea markets; and events benefitting the United Way, March of Dimes, Lions Club, Pop Warner, Muscular Dystrophy Association, American Cancer Society, Solano County Childrens Network and St. Marys Catholic Church, among dozens of others. In 1972, John and his family helped found the El Comite Patriotico Mexico de Vacaville, a Mexican cultural organization, and John served as the founding vice president. He and his family chaired the Una Noche En Mexico (One Night in Mexico) at the Moose Lodge for many years.John and his four sons received a California Parks and Recreation Society Award in 1985 for their work in enhancing Vacaville recreational facilities and saving taxpayers thousands of dollars. They helped clear 11 acres of orchard for the Eleanor Nelson Park, saving the city $65,000. They also helped construct playfields at Ulatis and Elm elementary schools, helped purchase an electronic scoreboard for Keating Park, and donated to the Vacaville High School Football Lights Fund.Nominated by Mrs. Carmen Solis, John and Nicha were honored at Vacavilles 2002 Tribute to Seniors for their dedication and service to the community. In 2003, the Saturday Club of Vacaville honored him for his achievements, accomplishments and contributions to the community.The State of California honored the Vasquez Deli on May 30, 2006 with a Salute to Small Business award.John later said he considered it an honor and a privilege to give back to the city and community that has given me and my family so much in return.John was a loving husband, devoted father and grandfather and great-grandfather. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed many an afternoon on the golf course with his friends/compadres.John was preceded in death by his wife Nicha; parents Manuel and Ynez; and siblings Alex, Eleodora, Alberta, Esteban, Paulo, Mary, Josephine, Teodoro, Jessie, Ramona, Victor and Bernave, all born between 1910 and 1935.John is survived by his four sons John Jr. (Shelli) Vasquez; George (Tracy) Vasquez; Donald (Nancy) Vasquez; and Mark (Julie) Vasquez, all of Vacaville; 13 grandchildren: John (LaVonna) Vasquez; Mary (Rene) Pimentel; Kristy Vasquez; Sarah Vasquez; Josephine (Freddy) Aguayo; Amanda Vasquez; Molly Vasquez; Megan Vasquez; Donny Vasquez; Chris (Tracy) Vasquez; Kevin Vasquez; Rosamaria Vasquez; Francisco Vasquez; and seven great-grandchildren: Ciana and Alejandro Pimentel; Marisa, Joseph and Daniel Aguayo; and Christopher and Carlo Vasquez as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.John was a father figure to many, including Bill (Julie) Jacks of Vacaville and Roy Jacks of Dixon.John Vasquez was a man of few words but of much love for his family, friends and community. He was the patriarch of our family and was loved and respected by all who knew him, family members said. John will forever be on our minds and in our hearts.Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 8 at St. Marys Catholic Church, 350 Stinson Ave., Vacaville. An additional visitation is set for 8:30-10 a.m. Friday, July 9 at McCune Garden Chapel, 212 Main St. A Catholic Mass in Johns honor will be held at St. Marys Catholic Church at 12 noon on Friday, July 9. Graveside services and burial will follow at the Vacaville-Elmira Cemetery.In lieu of flowers, John requested that donations be made in the name of his 9-month-old grandson, Francisco Vasquez, to Shriners Childrens Hospital, 2425 Stockton Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95817-2215; or if you wish, The American Cancer Society, 744 Empire St., Ste. 206, Fairfield, CA 94533, and/or The American Diabetes Assoc., Emeryville Office, 1900 Powell St., Ste. 1200, Emeryville, CA 94608.
