Obituary of Anthony Torres

Our Dad passed away Tuesday morning, April 30th at his Aptos, California home with three of his sons at his side. He was born May 8, 1929 in Merced Falls, California to Angelita Cardenas Navarro Torres and Augustine Torres, Mexican immigrants who came to California in the mid 1920's. Tony's widowed mother had come to Merced with her mother and three children to marry Tony's father Together they had eight children. Tony grew up in Merced Falls and Merced during the Depression and graduated from Merced Union High School in 1947. In 1948 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving four years on the U.S.S. Sullivans, a ship he was very proud of. In 1956 he graduated from Modesto Junior College, where he met his college sweetheart, LeeAnn Cinlilffe. They were married in August, 1956. In 1966 Tony and LeeAnn moved with their four boys to Santa Cruz, where Tony worked for the County of Santa Cruz Personnel Department for 5 years and later for Cabrillo College Human Resources for 23 years. In the 1970's he coached Little League and Pony League for the City of Santa Cruz, while enjoying his love of fishing. Tony was an avid bird watcher, loved baseball and the SF Giants, and enjoyed watching old, classic movies. Tony and his family enjoyed and looked forward to the yearly Torres Family Picnic. His love of family and friends endured all his live. In 1985 LeeAnn passed away. Tony is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Ralph and Auggie Navarro, Alfonso, Dickie and Danny and his sister, Anita Navarro Saxon. He is survived by his four sons, Eddie of Merced, Matthew, San Francisco, Anthony (Denise) of Santa Cruz and Andrew (Carla) of Oakland and his brothers, Alfred, Gilbert, and Bobby Torres of Merced, his sister Lupe Stewart of Fresno, his grandchildren, Sydnee, Kennadee and Joshua, his numerous loving nieces and nephews and his two special granddoggies, Nina and Baxter. With heartfelt gratitude our family would like to thank Hospice of Santa Cruz for their kind and loving support for our father in his last few months. A private family memorial is planned for the future. Contributions preferred to Hospice of Santa Cruz, The American Heart Association of the American Diabetes Association. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD! God Bless You and Rest in Peace. Love, Your Boys.