Ronald Joseph Trujillo

Ronald (Ron) Joseph Trujillo passed away peacefully in Mesa, AZ on July 24, 2022, due to complications from a femur fracture sustained earlier this year. Ron is preceded in death by his parents Rosendo and Ida [Martinez] Trujillo, and his brother Donald Trujillo. At the age of 75, he passed away much too young but will forever be honored by those that knew him for his compassion, patience, and unending love for his family. Ron leaves behind his daughters Darla Knight and her partner Eddie Ybarra (Mesa, AZ), Christina (Tina) Trujillo and her husband Luke Braly (Denver, CO), his grandson Anthony (TJ) Knight (Mesa, AZ) and his sister Roseann and her husband Ed Gonzales (Franktown, CO).

Ron was born in Cañon City, CO and grew up with his brother Donald and sister Roseann but was also very close with his many cousins in the area. The family moved to Pueblo, CO when Ron was a teenager, where he excelled in various sports, such as baseball, basketball, and football and as he got older, fast-pitch competitive softball and golfing were added to the list of activities he mastered.

Ron was the first in his family to attend college and completed his undergraduate degree (Social Work) at Colorado State University Pueblo (FKA University of Southern Colorado). While he was in college, he met and married Olga (Mae) [Gonzales] and shortly after he graduated college, they moved to Denver, CO where Darla and Tina were both born. The family eventually settled in Pueblo, CO to be closer to Ron and Mae’s parents. In the early 80’s, Ron and the family moved to Mesa, AZ so he could attend Arizona State University and obtain his master’s degree in Social Work and further his quest of helping at-risk youth and others in need of social services, most often juggling more than one job to provide for his family.

As a father, Ron cultivated his daughters’ love of sports by coaching their T-Ball teams, enrolling them in bowling and swim lessons, introducing them to golf and eventually starting a girls basketball team. He also emphasized the importance of education and hard work and both of his daughters followed in his footsteps and graduated from Arizona State University with honors. His passion of working with youth could not only be seen in the time he spent with Darla and Tina, but also his devotion to working with at-risk youth. In the late 70’s, he opened the Lyle Alzado Youth Home in Pueblo, CO, named after the famed Denver Broncos defensive player. He held many jobs throughout his career, including working in the Colorado State Mental Health hospital, Director of the Pueblo Youth Service Bureau, working with children of domestic abuse, crisis counseling in emergency rooms and in the Creighton and Roosevelt School districts until he retired in 2016.

During his lifetime he remained committed to helping others and often assisted family members during times of need. He instilled in his daughters a sense of accountability, strong work ethic, pride in their heritage and compassion for others and both girls remain committed to their father’s mission of giving back to the community. Ron particularly had a deep love for his only grandchild, TJ Knight, who was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at a young age. Like his daughters, he fostered in TJ his love for sports and to this day, TJ loves all sports he watched with his “Papo.”

Public visitation and the Rosary service is at Lakeshore Mortuary at 1815 S. Dobson Rd, Mesa, AZ 85202 on Friday, July 29th at 5pm. The funeral service will be at St. George’s Catholic Church at 300 E. 16th Ave, Apache Junction, AZ 85119 on Saturday, July 30th at 11am. A service will also be held in Pueblo, CO at Holy Family Church with more details to be provided once scheduled. If you are interested in attending the Pueblo service, please notify Darla Knight (480-861-6152) or Christina Trujillo (858-229-0763).

In Ron’s honor, please consider donations to any of the following charities:

Roosevelt School District

Gilbert Public Schools (specify Highland Jr. High School and SPED program tax credit)

United Cerebral Palsy

National Association of Social Workers Foundation

INROADS

Reading Partners

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LakeshoreMort.com for the Trujillo family.