- Date Of Death: February 20, 2017
- State: New Mexico
Patricio Antonio Cruz
9/10/1926 – 2/20/2017
A member of the “Greatest Generation” has gone to claim his place in the promised mansion of the Lord on February 20, 2017. Patricio was born in Springer, NM to Jose Damacio Cruz and Luz LeDoux. He had six sisters, Isabel, Edith, Viola and Clorinda, all deceased and as well as Rosarito and Priscilla.
Pat joined the Navy on D-Day after high school graduation and served in CASU 8 in the Pacific and on the USS Hermitage, AP54, a troop transport in the Atlantic. He graduated from the US Navy Preparatory School in Maryland and later won an appointment to US Military Academy in West Point, NY. After the war, Patricio returned home and resumed his trade as a printer, culminating with 32 years with Albuquerque Publishing Co in Albuquerque when he retired. Patricio and Tillie Maestas were married July 9, 1949 and raised eight children. He is survived by his wife, Tillie; children, Gregory Cruz (Elizabeth), Anabel (Fredrick Gallegos), Terry Cruz (Mary Marchitelli), Maria Antonia Cruz. Vera (Joe Galle), Joy (Ron Jones), Janie Miller and Patricia Cruz. A second son, David, died at birth. He is also survived by 23 grandchildren; 34 great grandchildren; and 4 great-great grandchildren; and many many nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Patricio was an accomplished writer and poet, publishing free-lance. He was an expert historian linguist in English, Spanish, French and ASL. He was an excellent Scrabble player. Oil painting was a favored hobby and he left behind a modestly large body of work. Patricio was especially thankful for all the women in his life; his mother and six sisters, his wife, Tillie, his seven daughters. They, in addition to his son, Gregory, played an important role in his last years as caretakers. Patricio was a devout Catholic and was involved in many ministries in the Church; Catholic War Veterans, Knights of Columbus, lector, sacristan and for many years as Eucharistic Minister. He and his wife, Tillie, were co-leaders of RCIA for 12 years, as well as numerous other activities since the very beginning of St. Bernadette Parish of which they were founding members in 1959. Especially prominent in his life was the willingness and ability to step in to help rescue two coworkers, one from a heart attack where he aided in CPR and revived the man, and again using a newly introduced technique, at the time, the Heimlich maneuver, to save another coworker from choking and certain death.
Thursday, February 23rd, 2017, 6:00pm – 7:00pm, FRENCH – Wyoming
Thursday, February 23rd, 2017, 7:00pm, FRENCH – Wyoming
Friday, February 24th, 2017, 9:00am, The Shrine of St. Bernadette Catholic Church
