Silviano Zamora Vasquez

My Father's Life A beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Silviano Vasquez, passed away Thursday, December 29, 2022, at U.C. Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California. Silviano was 74 years old. Silviano's recent battle with serious medical issues showed his courage in facing life's challenges with a loving smile. Despite the pain, Silviano came out a hero and stayed strong until the end. He was a kidney transplant recipient, and in death, he also gave back by being an organ donor. Mr. "Papa" Vasquez was born Silviano Zamora Vasquez in 1948, in Guanajuato, Mexico, to parents Dolores and Arcadia Vasquez. The family came to America through Texas when Silviano was three years old. With the Vasquez's looking for work in California, they got off the bus in a small town called Kingsburg in 1951. The Vasquez's loved the community so much that they stayed and established their family and future generations of Vasquez there. With a strong love for family, Silviano grew up with his siblings Frances, Ines, Antonia, and Anita. Silviano was affectionately called Sib or Sibby growing up. Nicknames that stuck with him throughout grade school, high school, and college. An early memory Silviano had was coming home from grade school, turning on the television, and watching westerns such as Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, Bonanza, and The Lone Ranger. His favorite cowboy was Eric "Hoss" Cartwright from Bonanza. Silviano loved Hoss's big cowboy hat, loving nature, and big bravado. Traits that Silviano carried throughout his life. Another lifelong love he had was wrestling. He was inspired by watching an Icon of Wrestling named Pepper Gomez. Silviano used that inspiration and joined the Kingsburg High School wrestling team. When Silviano needed wrestling boots to join the team, he asked his dad. The wrestling boots were supposed to be high tops that were ankle high. But instead, his father bought Silviano authentic Lucha Libre tall wrestling boots. They tied up all the way up to his knees. They must have been good luck because the "Taco King" ended up winning the unofficial state championship during his time. When the team needed a win, the coach would tell Silviano he would buy him tacos. So, of course, Silviano would bring home the victory and be rewarded with crispy tripas tacos. Through wrestling, Silviano meet the true love of his life, his high school sweetheart, Betty. And in 1970, he and Betty married and celebrated an incredible 52 years together. Together, they had two children, Sibby and Eric-Vicente. Silviano continued onto college and enjoyed driving his burnt-orange 1970 Plymouth Roadrunner to his favorite classes, boxing, and fencing. Silviano obtained his associate degree at Fresno City College in Police Science, where he graduated from the Police Academy. At that time, most California cities had height and weight requirements for police officers. However, that did not deter Silviano from trying. Eventually, Silviano obtained a security officer job at Sun-Maid Raisins. That job translated to working for Sun-Maid for 45 years. Throughout his career, Silviano worked in janitorial, machinery, or wherever Sun-Maid needed him. He ended his career as a quality assurance inspector and was only forced to retire because of kidney failure. For a time, Silviano was also a Teamsters Union Organizer and would travel up and down the state unionizing different plants. In addition, Silviano was a volunteer Kingsburg Youth Baseball and Soccer coach and a Kingsburg Boy Scouts leader. Silviano was a real-life Santa Claus with a homemade Santa suit. He was Santa for 40+ years. With a basket full of candy canes and his bag full of presents, Silviano would bring joy to children and adults alike. Silviano delivered gifts mainly on Christmas Eve from twilight until midnight. Throughout the years, Silviano would be accompanied by Mrs. Claus, Betty, his elves, sons Sibby and Eric-Vicente, his sister Antonia, daughter-in-law Araceli, and his grandchildren. Through rain and fog, no matter the circumstance, Silviano would be there. Silviano was featured in the Kingsburg Santa Lucia Celebration Parade, Visalia Candy Cane Lane Parade, Lindsay Christmas Parade, and Lindsay Police Department Toy Drive. But, all in all, Silviano's main focus was being Santa for his friends and family. Singing Christmas songs and bringing joy, doing it all through the kindness of his heart. With an irresistible laugh, a handsome smile, and a joyous personality, Silviano found happiness in everything he did. Silviano was a true inspiration of what it was to help others, a hard worker, and a servant of God. Anyone who knew him would see him wearing a Pancho Villa or Emiliano Zapata t-shirt with shorts. Silviano enjoyed watching action movies and shows, westerns, eating menudo, and spending time with his wife, but especially with his grandchildren. Silviano would always attend his grandchildren's school and sporting events. You would find him in the bleachers, holding a FatHead sign of one of his grandchildren, cheering them on. A lasting message, Silviano wrote on his refrigerator before he passed was, "I love my grandkids," with a drawing of himself wearing a cowboy hat. Silviano will truly be missed, and his loved ones will continue to honor his legacy. Silviano is survived by his loving wife, Betty; his sons, Sibby and Eric-Vicente; daughter-in-law Araceli; grandchildren, Lil' Eric, Monique, Elijah, Jasmine; brother Ines; sisters, Antonia and Anita; and many nieces and nephews, along with their children. Stories that were not mentioned but are hilarious: Silviano's efforts to join Clown College in Florida, in high school, his friends ate burgers with boogers unknown to them, getting lost on a road trip with his grandchildren as they came up to a spooky house, falling asleep during a James Bond movie at the theater, the time he was surrounded by rattlesnakes, and so much more�Silviano was quite the character. A Certified "G" (Grandpa) that will never be forgotten. Viewing will be held 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Thursday, January 12th, 2023 at Salser & Dillard Creighton Chapel, 1588 Lincoln Street, Kingsburg with the Service Of Remembrance starting at 11:00 AM. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Creighton Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Silviano Zamora Vasquez

October 12, 1948 - December 29, 2022