Severo Francis Sanchez

Severo Francis Sanchez, loving son, father, and brother, passed away in Lakewood, Washington where he resided much of his adult life. He was one of thousands of a generation called Baby Boomers; he died only a few days before his 79th birthday which was December 3, 1944, at San Bernardino California.

It was the war years and so he was named after his uncle, Staff Sergeant Severo Sanchez, and lived under his uncle's badge of courage, a Purple Heart and a military burial, nearly one year after the invasion of Pearl Harbor, and only months after his uncle was killed in action, October 1944 at the historical Landing of Leyte in the Philippines. Less than two months later Severo, his nephew was born, a hero’s namesake.

The fair haired tenth child of Leonides (Leo) Nicolas Sanchez and Macedonia (Maxie) Acuna, who predeceased him by over twenty-five years, Severo was a delight to his whole family, brothers and sisters alike with whom he shared sports, music, and love of family—a family he revered, keeping in close touch, well into his senior years.

He lost all of his brothers and two older sisters before his own passing, November 2023. They were Leo Edward, Christopher, Emiliano, and Joseph; and two older sisters, Theresa Ybarra and Mary Sanchez. In his own words, he

expressed a deep heartbreak and a growing faith in God, through loving messages he left behind in countless cards and letters to his mother, brothers and sisters. He has four surviving sisters, Josephine Zanone, the eldest daughter of eleven; Rita Sanchez Griswold; Angelica Stinnett; and Emily Mikkelson, the youngest of the Sanchez family; Gloria Gonzalez Sanchez, sister-in-law, several cousins, and nearly 30 nieces and nephews.

As a child, Severo showed a spark of brilliance early on when, before age five, he was able to memorize his brothers' trading cards with photos of famous boxers like Joe Lewis, Jake La Matta, Rocky Graciano, and others. So surprised by this feat, one of his uncles remarked that this was "impossible; he must be reading the names!" Severo was also blessed with good looks; his father, so taken by his young son's mass of curls, refused to give him a haircut until he started school. Severo excelled in local schools and was popular for his wit and personality. As a kid, yet unable to pronounce the three syllables of his name, Severo called himself "Wowo" and the nickname stuck--affectionately, throughout his life.

In 1964, During the Vietnam War, Severo enlisted in the United States Air Force. His family was understandably concerned for his safety, but he was stationed stateside in Hawaii for the duration, and honorably discharged in 1967.

When he joined the Service he became their handball champ. Later, he became Seattle Washington's champ, second only to their longtime homeboy who he nearly beat in the championship. Severo’s love of sports brought him some notoriety, but most of all he made sports part of his lifestyle and friendships. His sister Angelica recalls him always rooting for the Seattle Mariners with his son Brian.

At age 22, Severo met and married Rosie of Seattle Washington, and helped raise her children: a son, Troy, two daughters, Rhonda, and Lisa. Soon the couple had a child of their own, Brian Vincent Sanchez. Seven years later, they separated and Severo raised Brian on his own as a loving single father. For a short while he attended the University of Washington where he excelled in speech and drama until he moved to San Bernardino with his son.

Severo was also a brilliant guitarist who recorded his music at home, often with his own son. His family remembers him singing his signature song, the nostalgic "Vincent” a homage to the painter Van Gogh. The song reminded his family of Severo. The words rang out as he sang, “Starry Starry Night, I could have told you Vincent, the world was never made for anyone as beautiful as you.”

His sister Rita recalls a song he sang for Rosie “How

Wonderful Life is When You’re in the World," by Elton John; his youngest sister Emily most remembers, “Softly, As I Leave You,” by Matt Monroe. She and Angelica recall the heartfelt sentiment of family-longing in a song he recorded, “Back Home Again.” But it was “California Dreamin’” in a duet Severo performed with Brian that touched hearts, because of Brian’s sweet voice at age 8. It was about that same time when Brian’s parents separated that the two of them, father and son, relocated back home to California, and finally back to Washington. Emily said, “We missed them,” and so remembered them when she heard the song “I’ll be Home for Christmas,” always hoping for a visit.

Some family visited Seattle, “Joseph gave us a surprise visit,” Severo said in a letter to his mother. Angelica and Steve Stinnett drove to Seattle; Rita traveled to Seattle by train one Christmas. Josephine remembers Severo as a good dad. “Severo always took good care of his son” she recalls. Some years ago, Brian ended up in the hospital with a kidney malfunction and thereafter became bedridden. Severo always went to visit him and advocated for him during this difficult time. Brian did not recover. Severo said he never stopped praying for him. Brian died on May 30, 2023.

Severo, now alone in Lakewood Washington, endured a lengthy stay in the hospital himself with a staph infection

in his leg He was finally released, and then died at home shortly thereafter. His family mourns the loss of its youngest son.

Father and son will be celebrated together Tuesday, March 19, starting at St. George Catholic Church, 17895 San Bernardino Avenue, Fontana, California with a Rosary at 10 A.M., followed by Mass at 10:30 A.M. Severo and Brian Sanchez will be laid to rest together, at Green Acres Memorial Park and Mortuary, 11715 Cedar Avenue; Bloomington, California. Reception back at St. George,12 Noon in the parish conference room.