Jose Allen Cortez

Jose Allen Cortez, 45, Fairfax Station, Virginia, died surrounded by his family at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 9, 2016, from complications from cancer at INOVA Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia.

Jose was an energetic, happy, vibrant person who was very full of life. He was born February 17, 1970 in Nicaragua. He came to the United States, to Northern Virginia when he was only 14 years old. Jose worked hard and continued his education receiving a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from University of Maryland in 1994. He then worked for more than 20 years in the information technology field here in Washington DC and was lately pursuing a new adventure of business ownership with a restaurant. Jose loved good food, enjoyed traveling the world, and entertaining friends and family. He had a wonderful smile and contagious laugh that would raise your spirits and brighten any room. Jose touched so many lives during his 45 years and he wanted more than anything to make a positive impact with his life on this world.

He is survived by his mother and father, Milvia Acevedo and Jose E. Cortez; wife, Tania Ruiz; brother and sister in law, Freddy E. Cortez and Angelique Cortez; children, Laura C. Cortez (22), Calvin E. Cortez (20), and Emma N. Cortez (10); niece, Annika S. Cortez. He is preceded in death by a niece, Victoria Cortez. He is also survived by several grandparents, Rosa Emilia, Socorro, and Antonio and a host of other close friends and family.

Friends and family may call at Demaine Funeral Home in Springfield, Virginia on Sunday January 17, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Services will begin at 10:30am in the chapel of the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the family can be made directly to Jose Cortez Memorial Fund at https://www.gofundme.com/mwqwttfg.