FIDEL DANIEL CHAVOYA
1929-2021
Resident of Carlsbad, CA
On Mar. 29, 2021, after a brief illness, Fidel Daniel Chavoya passed away in his home in Carlsbad, CA; he was a former resident of Cupertino and San Jose, CA.
The third of seven children, Fidel was born on May 12, 1929, in Carlsbad, CA to Estevan and Evangelina Gastelum Chavoya. Estevan Chavoya was proud of the Chavoya family history: Fidel was a 5th-generation native Californian and a descendent of Antonio Chabolla, the original holder of the Rancho Yerba Buena Spanish land grant (which covered what is now known as the Evergreen area of San Jose, CA). Fidel attended Carlsbad Union Grammar School and San Juan Capistrano High School for 9th and 10th grades. In the summer of 1946, his family moved to Cupertino, CA where he attended Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, CA, and in 1948 Fidel graduated and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served in the Military Police. Due to the Berlin Air Lift, in late 1948 Fidel was assigned to Wiesbaden, Germany. In early 1952 Fidel was assigned to Edwards Air Force Base in Kern County, CA. Following his honorable discharge, in Sept. 1952 Fidel married his high school sweetheart, Rosemary Grijalva (deceased Apr. 1983). They had three children and were married for 30-1/2 years. After working for several years in the grocery business, in Sept. 1963 Fidel became an agent for New York Life Insurance Company until 1988 when he retired.
Fidel was a life-time member of the Knights of Columbus (“KofC”). In 1960 he was one of the founding members of the KofC St. Francis of Assisi Council No. 4981 serving the Cupertino-Saratoga area of CA. He held every office including Grand Knight. Starting in 1983 Fidel served two terms as District Deputy. Fidel was also a member of the KofC Fourth Degree Color Corp.
In 1989 Fidel met Susan Buerger, and in March 1992, they were married. They celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary just days before he passed away. After living in San Jose, CA for eight years, in late summer 2000 Fidel and Susan moved to Carlsbad, CA where they have been members of St. Patrick Catholic Church. Fidel was happy to be living again in Carlsbad and continued to be active with the KofC, joining St. Patrick Council No. 15076.
Fidel is survived by his widow, Susan Buerger Chavoya, his children from his marriage to Rosemary Grijalva Chavoya: Rosanne Chavoya Minnici (Joseph), Rosalind Chavoya, Fidel D. Chavoya, Jr. (Eric Earsom), his two grandchildren, Phillip Minnici and Krysten Minnici Kennedy (Bob), his brother and sister-in-law Herb and Rosella Chavoya, his sisters Emma Chavoya Qualls and Rachel Chavoya Ochoa, his sisters-in-law Bonnie Wiegel Chavoya, Rebecca Grijalva Jurado and Veronica Grijalva Lewis, numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces, and Susan’s adult children and grandchildren from her first marriage: David Buerger (Carol), Karen Buerger Andrew (Marshall), Eric Buerger, Alicia True, Andrew Naselli, Shalece Doucette, Sarah Andrew, Kendra Buerger and Kaila Buerger.
Fidel has been cremated, and due to CA’s COVID-19 restrictions, his memorial services are being delayed. The family will hold a Celebration of Life on Wednesday, July 28, 2021 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church located at 3821 Adams Street, Carlsbad, CA 92008, followed by interment on Friday, Jul. 30, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Gate of Heaven Cemetery located at 22555 Cristo Rey Drive, Los Altos, CA 94024. These plans are subject to California’s COVID-19 gathering restrictions in place at that time. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Fidel’s memory to the “Knights of Columbus Council No. 15076” and sent to St. Patrick Catholic Church at the address provided above.
