Happy Birthday, Uncle Tony! (1924-2017)

Family
Uncle Tony as a young man. He was born in Colton, Az., on April 2, 1924, the fifth son of Antonio and Zeferina Diaz.
Uncle Tony, Superior High School basketball team, 1942. He’s third from the left in the bottom row.
He was also on the football team. This is from the 1943 Superior High School yearbook, The Prospector.

It’s Uncle Tony’s birthday today. He was born on April 2, 1924 in Colton, Az (according to a State of Az document I have) and he passed away on July 12, 2017. He was my dad Alfred’s younger brother, and they both worked at San Manuel together for many, many years.

What a handsome man! I’m told I look like him. He he he…I wish!

He was married to my Aunt Corina Gonzales, and they had seven children. Early on, they lived in Tucson, but later moved to Oracle, Az.

Aunt Corina and Uncle Tony, sometime in the 50s.
Uncle Tony’s and Aunt Corina’s marriage announcement, Tucson Daily Citizen, March 25, 1947
Denise, Frank, Tony, Paul, Mike, Phil and Susie Diaz, Uncle Tony and Aunt Corina’s children.
This was taken in my mom’s living room. My cousin Phil is shown here with his parents.

I used to love to go to Oracle with my parents for family gatherings. Uncle Tony had an underground barbeque pit and he would love to play host to the entire Diaz clan. All of us cousins would have a blast swinging on the big tire that was hanging from a tree in the arroyo up the street. We would also pick bellotas and play volleyball for hours on end.

One summer, my parents sent my brother Fred and me up to Oracle to spend time with my uncle Tony and his family. There were seven kids in his family, and five of them lived at home at the time, if I’m not mistaken. I was closest in age to Dee Dee and Tony-o. We had a lot of fun hiking in the foothills of the Catalinas and hanging out with our cousins, listening to the Beatles and Bob Dylan. I was a big mama’s boy, so it didn’t take long for my cousins to figure out I was a crybaby, chipili, but I survived the experience. I especially remember that I got along well with my cousin Tony-o. He had a motor scooter and he’d let me ride with him through the streets of Oracle.

He later got killed in a car accident on the road between Oracle and San Manuel. His death was such a tragedy. He was only in his late teens. I often think about my Aunt Corina and how hard it was for her. It was hard for everyone. I hadn’t experienced much death in my life up to that point, and I remember it affected me deeply too.

His wife and my mom were the best of friends.

My my Josephine with Susie and Aunt Corinna
Tony, Carmen, Raul, Josie and Failo
This was taken, I believe at the Tucson Inn back in the early, early 70s during my cousin Susie’s wedding.

I have such fond memories of Uncle Tony. He loved to go hunting, and had a very stern, “macho” manner and a deep, deep voice.

Alfred, Belarmino, Tony and Rafael Diaz.

I miss Uncle Tony. He adored my dad and vice versa. These Diaz men sure were tight!

My dad Alfred, Uncle Tony, my brothers Rudy, Carlos, Fred and me, and my cousin Frankie, one of uncle Tony’s sons.The little boy in the picture is Uncle Tony’s grandchild, Luke. This was taken the day we had my mom’s funeral services. It was a sad day indeed.
Seven of the nine brothers and sisters–Helen, Tony, Mino, Carmen, Failo, Alfredo, and Josie…

In later years, if he didn’t know you, he’d come right out and say, “who the hell are you?” He’d make us all laugh whenever he said that.

Aunt Carmen, Uncle Failo, Aunt Helen, my dad and Uncle Tony in Phil’s back yard at Uncle Tony’s birthday party, April 2012.
Uncle Tony and his family at our first family reunion in 1993. Wish I knew everyone’s names! I know most of them, but not the kids names.
Uncle Failo, my dad Alfredo, Uncle Tony and my niece Michelle at our second family reunion
2007 Family reunion photo of Uncle Tony and his family.
Still together…
He was the last of the Diaz brothers. He lived to be 93.
1977 at my brother Fred’s wedding.

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