Obituary of Victor Garcia

Victoriano B. Garcia

July 4, 1941 - January 5, 2024

Victor Garcia passed away in the late hours of Friday, January 5th peacefully surrounded by his family at NCMC at the age of 82. He was born in a house with dirt floors and adobe walls on July 4, 1941, in San Isidro Sur, New Mexico.  He was a proud manito from “el rancho” and was born to Jacobo Garcia and Palmiria Benavidez.

He moved to McClave, Colorado in the late ’40s, then to Brighton in 1956. He attended Brighton High School and graduated in 1959. After high school, he went to Greeley to attend Colorado State College, where he met the love of his life. He married Juanita Albarran in 1963 at Our Lady of Peace Catholic Church in Greeley.

He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Colorado State College (later named UNC), in 1965 with a major in Spanish and a minor in Economics and Political Science. He continued his education at the University of Nothern Colorado and completed his Master of Arts degree in 1971 in Psychology, Counseling, and Guidance. He was a Spanish teacher at Aims Jr. College, as well as Greeley District #6, then became a High School Counselor in 1971.

Understanding the importance of education, he was willing to relocate between Colorado and Arizona to pursue his dream, sometimes living with various relatives. Over this time, the couple had four children and they moved to Tempe, Arizona in 1972 as he received a Mott fellowship at Arizona State University and to pursue his PhD. Throughout the journey, and amidst the racial tensions, he was also raising a family of five and worked odd jobs. Being a devoted husband and father, he took the family back home to Colorado.

He fulfilled his goal back in Colorado as an educator and served over 20 years in Denver Public Schools while commuting daily from Greeley to keep the family rooted. His later years in education were as a Counselor at John F. Kennedy High School in Denver and he retired in 1998.

As a devout Catholic, he served in various volunteer positions in the Church. He would go on to participate in multiple retreats and made his Cursillo. He was a parishioner of St. Peter Catholic Church and prayed the rosary every day. This faith is what gave him the strength to endure the health challenges that he would experience during his later years.

Aside from all of his achievements in life, he was most proud of his family. He was an avid Colorado sports fan and enjoyed a ride “up the hill” to Blackhawk. His family will hold the memories of his storytelling, his faith, his love of the mountains and New Mexico, and the many adventures they shared with him in their hearts.

Victor is survived by his wife of 60 years, Juanita of Greeley; five children: Caroline (Dale) Robinson, Jacob (Francis) Garcia, Victor J. Garcia, Renee J. Garcia, Elizabeth (Jesse) Leos; eleven grandchildren: Nathaniel Robinson, Selena (Thayne) Zeimet, Andrew (Anna) Garcia, Benjamin (Brittany) Garcia, Michael Garcia, Jessica Garcia, Johnathan Garcia, Juliana Garcia, Joshua Garcia, Angelina Leos, Cecilia Leos; and three great-grandchildren: Raphael Garcia, Ezekiel Garcia and Rosalia Garcia; brother, Raymundo (Isabel) Garcia; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Jacobo Garcia and Palmiria Benavidez; sisters, Delia Archuleta and Ana Angel; son, Jamie Jude Garcia; and great-grandson Xavier Joseph Garcia.

Recitation of the Rosary 9:30 a.m. Thursday, January 11, 2024 followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church.  Interment Linn Grove Cemetery.