Julio Vazquez's Obituary
Julio C. Vazquez, age 52, of Lorain, passed away on Monday, January 30, 2012 at New Life Hospice Residential Center following a 2 ½ year illness.
Born on July 1, 1959 in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico, Julio graduated from Blanca Malaret High School in 1978. He furthered his studies in Puerto Rico at Interamerican University and earned a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration in 1989.
Julio served in the US Army from 1978 until 1981, and continued serving in the Army Reserves until 2010, when he had become too ill to be active.
In February, 1989, Julio came from Puerto Rico and made his home in Lorain. He worked at El Centro de Servicios Sociales from 1991-1992, where he also volunteered with the Toys for Tots program. In 1992, he began working at The Nord Center as a bilingual case manager and worked there until 2011. While employed there, Julio was a co-founder and facilitator of the HOMBRE Group, a group that assisted Hispanic males with anger management. At The Nord Center, Julio had received an Employee of the Month Award and also the annual prestigious Katie King Award, a Compassionate Service Award given in honor of an employee who displays caring, compassion, dedication to clients and dedication to The Nord Center. He also worked as a Rape Crisis Center volunteer and was a mentor for Alcoholics Anonymous group in Spanish. For many years, Julio also was an auxiliary volunteer for the Lorain county Sheriff's Department.
Having a talent and passion for music, Julio played the guitar in numerous bands and at his church, Sacred Heart Chapel. While living in Puerto Rico, he was the director of the band, "Nuevo Amanecer". He not only played music, but was a singer and songwriter as well. He also was a Band Booster member of the Northern Ohio Youth Orchestra, a regional youth orchestra non-profit organization dedicated to the development of young musicians.
Julio is survived by his wife of 31 years, Ileana Rios; his sons, Jonathan, of Richmond Heights, and Joel J., of Lorain; his daughter, Joanly M. (Eli Samuel) DeLos Santos, of Lorain; 3 grandsons, Noah De Los Santos, Lorenzo J. Vazquez and Rafael C. De Los Santos; and his sisters, Miriam (Edwin Reyes) Vazquez, of Lorain and Dalia M. (Eliu Rivera) Vazquez, of Puerto Rico.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Juan Vazquez and Dalila Montalvo.
The Vazquez Family will receive friends on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 from 4-8 p.m. in The Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Rd., Amherst. Friends may also call at Sacred Heart Chapel on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral mass at 9:30 a.m. Rev. Fr. William Thaden will officiate. Full Military honors will be conducted following the mass. Burial will be held at a later date in Puerto Rico.
Como pensamos volver a verte este adios, no es adios. Es solo un hasta luego entre nosotros. No te olvidaremos, Julio te lo prometemos. No te decimos adios, sino hasta luego.
Family and friends may leave on-line condolences at www.dovinreberjones.com
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