Lifelong Watsonville resident
Trinidad “Trini” Valdivia Jr. died Saturday, Nov. 16 at his home in Watsonville after a brief illness. He was 64.
Mr. Valdivia was a lifelong resident of Watsonville and most recently worked as a field service technician with Federal Express. He retired from the U.S. Navy in 1975 as a chief petty officer after more than 20 years of service, including three tours of duty in the Vietnam War.
He was active in youth baseball as a coach and umpire and was president of the Watsonville American Little League in the 1980s and ’90s, and was an avid golfer.
He is survived by his wife of 44 years, Theresa Valdivia; his father, Trinidad Valdivia Sr.; his son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Susan Valdivia; his daughters, Kathy and Mary Ellen Valdivia, both of Watsonville, and Elizabeth and her husband Nick of Los Angeles; his brothers, Vincent Vasquez and Nazario Valdivia; his sisters, Juanita De La Torre, Mary Ellen Cruz and Eva Vasquez, all of Watsonvlle; eight grandchildren including Moses and Maurice Celestine and La Toya McCoy, whom he raised; a great-grandchild and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Lena Valdivia, and his brother, Gilbert Vasquez.
Visitation will be Tuesday, Nov. 26 from 1-9 p.m. at Mehl’s Colonial Chapel, 222 East Lake Ave. in Watsonville. The Rosary will be recited Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Wednesday, Nov. 27 at 10 a.m. at Valley Catholic Church. Burial will be at San Juan District Cemetery.
Memorials are preferred to the Santa Cruz County Hospice Caring Project, P.O. Box 670, Aptos, CA 95001, or the American Cancer Society, Dominican Hospital Education Building, 1555 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz, CA 95065.
