Federico Nunez, Jr.

      To Federico Nunez, Jr., the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, he was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around him, he seemed to be eternally happy, and he willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life he touched. For Federico, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, he could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Federico really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

      Federico was born on October 18, 1946 at Clinica De San Jose in El Paso, Texas. His parents were Federico and Julia Nunez. Federico was raised in Juarez, Chihuahua. Even as a child, Federico had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around him. He was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. He couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. He was a very humble man, who focused his entire attention on always helping family and friends.

      Always a good playmate, Federico was easygoing and fun loving. He managed to lighten the mood wherever he was, even during family squabbles. He seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Federico managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Federico was raised with four siblings. He was the oldest and had three younger sisters, Guadalupe, Elsa, and Maria Antonieta and a younger brother Nicolas.

      All of Federico's playful good humor carried over into his childhood. He was possessed with an outgoing personality, a lively imagination and a mellowed enthusiasm for life that allowed him to be constantly on the go. As a result, Federico experienced a rather active childhood, and this suited him very well. He took part in street football and neighborhood basketball. In his spare time, he liked to play his favorite music records.

      Federico never actually encountered a stranger in his dealings with people. He was drawn to individuals and crowds, using his gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate his audience. This quality allowed Federico to continually develop new relationships, ever widening his circle of friends. Federico delighted in his role among all his acquaintances, because he viewed them all as potential spectators for his performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Federico was always right at home putting on a show among his friends. Federico utilized his interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of his best friends were Gilberto Garcia, Luis Arellano, El Surdo, and Raul Lazo. Federico loved sharing life and having his home filled with people he knew.

      The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Federico very easy to approach. On June 18, 1966 Federico exchanged wedding vows with Juanita Frias at Catedral Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe of Juarez, Chihuahua. He tried hard not to impose on his spouse. He was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

      Perhaps the reason Federico related so well to children was the fact that he never really completely grew up himself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped him in raising his own children. Federico was blessed with five children, four sons Mario, Alejandro, Cesar, Adrian and one daughter Claudia. They were also blessed with nine grandchildren, Vince, Delilah, David, Alyssa, Stephanie, Cesar, Ashley, Brandon, and Isaac. Federico had the ability to focus his attention on the present moment. If he was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of his attention was directed. Federico's compassionate side prevented him from being a strict disciplinarian, and he could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. He could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Federico had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

      At work, as in life, Federico was a real “people person.” He had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and his enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Federico liked to see himself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Federico was an adaptable realist, using his common sense and trusting his experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Federico's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around him to see Federico as an excellent problem solver. Amongst many occupations, his primary occupation was as a presser, where he was employed for about 15 years.

      Federico enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. His favorite pursuits were music, joking, and creating nicknames for everybody. He loved to laugh and generally just have a good time. Federico was content to enjoy his hobbies alone, but was also willing to share his interests with others.

      Federico felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if he wasn’t the best, Federico loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Federico relished the opportunities where he could make an impact, and he would often push himself to play above his abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Federico never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Federico was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were football, basketball, and boxing.

      Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Federico recognized that his faith was important to him throughout his life. He was a member of Templo La Hermosa for 25 years. During that time, his main focus was helping with the maintenance of the church.

      Federico was a lover of animals and cherished his pets, enjoying them almost as much as he enjoyed being around other people. One of Federico's favorites were Brisky, Brownie, and Smokey, two chows and a chihuahua. While grilling steaks for the family, he made sure even the dogs enjoyed a good meal.They were best friends for about 10 years each.

      Federico believed that you had to experience life, and his life in retirement was no different. When that day finally arrived in 2006, Federico took it in stride as one more way to have fun. With his boundless energy and a desire to get the most out of life, Federico remained busy with people and projects. Even in retirement, Federico continued to stay in touch with his old friends and, since he'd never met a stranger, he made plenty of new acquaintances as well.

      Federico brought joy to all of those around him. He never had a mean bone in his body. He loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. He loved to share his energy, wit, and his zest for all of his activities with his friends and family. Federico Nunez, Jr. lived life to its fullest and made everyone around him happier just for knowing him. He will never be forgotten and always be remembered with a smile.