David Sosa Hernandez

July 9th, 1966 – September 2nd, 2021

This is the story of David Sosa. David was an amazing man that was loved, valued, and will forever be treasured. Our Pops was the best friend, brother, son, father, and grandfather like no other could be. David left an imprint on the hearts of so many that no one would ever be able to forget him or how kindly he treated those who have met him. He was known for having the goofiest sense of humor yet the most hardworking and down to earth personality. David is without a doubt irreplaceable. The memories and stories shared with David will always be unforgettable and inspiring.

David Sosa was born on July 9th, 1966 in Sonsonate, El Salvador. Growing up, David always loved to fish and play in the outdoors with his brothers Antonio, Oscar, and Raul. David did not get the opportunity to have much of an education based on his family’s living environment. However, he did go to school until about the 8th grade. David and his siblings lived in poverty most of their childhood and tried their best to make ends meet, especially their mother, Maria Concepcion Bonilla de Salazar, who was also a single mother. She was often called, “Mama Concha” since that is what her children would call her. David mainly worked in El Salvador as a child and eventually dropped out of school. That did not stop him from creating memorable moments and cherishing the little things in life. There was not a day that went by without David going to the beach, fishing, or learning new skills his whole life.

In 1982, at the age of fifteen years old, David joined the Army based in Sonsonate, El Salvador. The Army was called, “Batallon Jaguar.” During this time, it was mandatory for those at that age to join, whether it be voluntary or by force. By 1984, David completed two years of training and working under this military base. Eventually the name of the Army was changed to, “Batallon de Casadorez.” The procedures and regulations were very similar, however, the commander in position was replaced by a man who had negative morals and values towards society. The commander even treated the soldiers terribly. Many of the soldiers tried to quit and flee due to the mistreatment. At the time David worked as a radio operator, which shaped a good future for him without having to risk his life in combat. Eventually, the commander placed David as a soldier who would go to combat again. David was a brave soldier and followed the orders he was told. The commander did not treat David fairly, as he would physically hurt him until he couldn't anymore. David respectfully asked to be discharged, however, that did not go well for him. David was placed in a civil jail, where he was told that he was not allowed to leave the army unless he was in a casket.

In the beginning of the year of 1985, David made the ultimate decision to officially quit the army and move on with his life. The same day David decided to leave, soldiers from the base were sent to look for him with an order to bring him back dead or alive. Every night since then the soldiers were constantly searching for him. This left David no choice but to run away without any money or personal belongings, leaving everything he had behind. David was 18 years old when he decided to escape to the United States.

On August 10th, 1985, David arrived at Laredo, Texas, United States. From there, David traveled to Houston, Texas, where he lived for 5 years. Within those 5 years, David was in a much safer environment. Although he may have struggled financially, David was ready to take on any job that came his way. He would even go to Whataburger to ask for a job almost every day for a couple of weeks. David was determined to land a job in anything. David ended up finding a stable job as a chef in a popular restaurant in Houston, Texas. Cooking was always David's passion. There wasn’t anything in this world that this man could not cook. Even though he did not have so much of an opportunity to go to school in El Salvador, David strived to learn English and to study to get his GED. Nothing is impossible because he always accomplished what he set his mind to. David was able to obtain his GED and learn English.

In 1990, David moved to Elizabeth, New Jersey, because someone he knew had offered him a good paying job in an auction company, where antiques and expensive furniture was sold. David was doing very well for himself and had many goals that he was able to accomplish at such a young age. David started to create a life for himself in Elizabeth, New Jersey, and finally started to feel like all his hard work was paying off. David’s brothers also ended up living there to stay close to each other. He was also able to help his mother in El Salvador get a Visa to be able to visit them whenever she could. David definitely felt very comfortable and proud to create a successful life in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

In 1992, David met Maria Aurora Cruz, who worked in a restaurant where he frequently ate. This was one of his favorite restaurants, and it served several of his favorite meals. Maria was one of the waitresses there, and because they were both from El Salvador, she became best of friends with David. David and Maria were able to get to know each other over time and create an unbreakable connection.

In 1994, David was approved for a working permit in agriculture. During this time the government was giving immigrants the opportunity to apply and stay in the United States, if they met the qualifications for a work permit. David met all the qualifications and he was given an amazing opportunity. David was also able to visit his sick mother in El Salvador. No matter the situation, David always made sure he stood by his mother’s side whenever she needed it. David was there for a month and came back to the United States on March 1st of 1994. When David came back, he became closer to Maria Aurora Cruz. They both had developed romantic feelings for each other and started hanging out more often.

In May of 1995, David and Maria started officially dating as boyfriend and girlfriend. After 3 months of dating, David went on a fishing trip with Maria and told her that if she caught the next fish, it signified he was meant to marry her. Coincidentally, she indeed caught the next fish. On August 25th, 1995, David and Maria got married, which was the beginning of the Sosa family. Their relationship was very special and there are no words to describe the love they had for each other. David and Maria created beautiful and unforgettable memories that will always be adored. During the week David worked really hard. However, on the weekends he would enjoy a drink with Maria and spend the night dancing at the club, going out to eat a romantic dinner, or just staying at home to watch a movie.

On June 23rd, 1996, David and Maria had a beautiful daughter named Maria Conchita Sosa. Conchi was her nickname. David was just as ecstatic as Maria to be having their first baby together. It was truly a blessing to the family. David was extremely motivated to do everything he could and to work twice as hard to make sure Conchi had everything she needed. David would come from work tired, but he would always have time to be with his little girl. David would dance with her until she fell asleep in his arms singing to the song of Alvaro Torres, “Chiquita Mia.” David’s love for his daughter was unconditional, and can never be replaced or forgotten. Even as an adult he always sang her this song and constantly reminded her that she will forever be his first baby girl.

On September 22nd, 1999, David and his wife, Maria had another beautiful baby girl named Linda Aurora Sosa. Nina was her nickname. David was very excited and happy to have created another life on this Earth. As a baby, Linda would be up most nights and cried a lot while Maria tried to catch as much sleep as she could. Even if David came home late and tired from working, he would let Maria take a break to soothe his baby girl back to sleep. David also would sing the song, “Chiquilla Bonita” by Los Bukis because Linda loved to be held and sung to by her father. David and Linda shared the same sense of humor and would always laugh at the worst possible moments. There was never a dull moment with those two together. David never wanted his girls to feel left out or that one was favored over the other. David always bought his girls matching dresses, pajamas, and even matching toys. Both of his daughters were big “daddy’s girls” and shared many memorable moments with him.

At this point, David and his family were living life to the fullest and enjoying so much of what the world had to offer them. There were no worries of anything and David was very proud to be where he was at. The best memories were spent at the beach or camping. On the weekends, David’s house was known for all the BBQ’s and get-togethers; where the best memories were created. David would always take his daughters, nieces, and nephews to six flags on weekends for some family fun time. It was a favorite place to go for all the kids and for him as well. If it wasn’t six flags, it would be the beach, or the big national parks. The family would have so much fun; as would he and act like a kid himself. David always told everyone that he didn’t care how old he got, he would always be a kid at heart and live his life with smiles and laughter. It even became a tradition to go to a theme park or to visit a new place every year. Little did David and Maria know, they were expecting their next baby.

On October 5th, 2002, David had his partner in crime, his ride or die, and precious baby boy with his wife, Maria. They named him David Alexander Sosa. Alex was his nickname. David was extremely emotional because he always wanted a son his whole life. David expressed how much he wanted to share and explore with his son. Even though he loved his daughters, David’s relationship with Alex was very different, especially because they were both boys. Both of them enjoyed fishing on the canoe every chance they got. Alex also did many activities and sports growing up such as football, baseball, boxing and the band. David always made sure to have time to practice with Alex, give his son motivation and teach him anything he was interested in. Alex even joined JROTC in high school because he wanted to serve this country and make his father proud. Alex will be going into the Air Force at the end of the year in 2021 to fulfill David’s dream of becoming a pilot. David also had a list of songs that he would sing to Alex growing up as well as the girls did. David’s son was his greatest gift and something that he will forever cherish.

The relationship he had with each and every one of his kids was different and unique. David loved his kids very much and always made sure they had everything they needed. Even if David had nothing, he gave all that he could to his kids. David was honest about what kind of life he had before them, and the reality of how rough life can be. Any questions or concerns his children had, David always had an answer and he never kept anything from them. He taught each of his kids very valuable lessons and advice. David always described the amount of appreciation the family should have for their life. By doing so, it showed his family how much David cared.

In the year of 2004, David went to school to become a truck driver. He passed all his tests and received his CDL Class A license for truck driving. David was filled with so much happiness accomplishing this milestone because he enjoyed traveling. Being able to travel and do what he loved most was like a dream come true. After becoming a truck driver, he often took his kids, Conchi, Nina, and Alex in the truck with him to explore all over the United States. David and his family loved experiencing new places. The family often went hiking in the mountains, or looking at the beautiful waterfalls across the United States. David always took his family to outdoor activities, such as snow sledding, swimming, camping, or riding bicycles. It was the little things in life that David always enjoyed. He taught his kids to be the same way as he was.

In June of 2006, David decided to move to Florida with his family. David sold his home in Elizabeth, NJ, and moved to Palm Coast, FL. It was quite an adjustment to the family, but they loved it. David always made sure to participate in all the events the kids had whether it be in school or an extracurricular activity. David showed up to all of his kids’ presentations as well as performances since all his kids participated in sports and band. David at one point during this time tried to apply to get his permanent residency. David showed that throughout his time in the United States he was a good role model, paid his taxes, and always did right by the government. However, due to his past in El Salvador, the government and immigration were convinced that he was not a good fit for the United States. The government wanted to deport David back to El Salvador even though he had a wife and kids to take care of. He felt like everything was falling apart and heartbroken. The government took away his work permit, which caused his CDL license to be suspended and it basically took his main source of income for the family. David felt stuck but he always had a positive attitude. That did not stop David from fighting to make sure he was able to get everything back and stay with his family in the United States. David hired a very good lawyer named David Vedder, who was a certified specialist in immigration law. David’s lawyer was able to get him his working permit back meanwhile his permanent residency was in process. This gave David the opportunity to continue working and get his life back on track. It took many years of hard work and fighting, but he finally was able to receive his residency in 2019.

In September of 2014, David’s first daughter Conchi moved out into her own home with her husband Cristhian De Jesus. David’s daughter Conchi had amazing news in which she was expecting a little one two months after she moved out. David was very happy about the news when he found out because he always had a big heart for children and he was going to be a grandfather. David would accompany his daughter to all of her ultrasounds, and even some of her doctor appointments. On June 14th, 2015, David’s first daughter Maria Conchita had given birth to his first grandchild named Carlos Daniel De Jesus. David was extremely happy to be meeting his first grandchild, Carlos, who meant the world to him. David loved his children unconditionally, but the love for his grandchild surpassed everything; it was just a different type of love. The feeling was something he never experienced before. David came home every chance he could to see his grandbaby Carlos. David would always take Carlos on the truck for trips, to the beach, the park, and amusement parks. David wanted to give Carlos everything that he couldn’t give his kids when they were that age.

In April of 2016, David started running his very own trucking driving company named, “Jaguar Transport Express, Inc.” David was able to buy his own truck and have Conchi manage the company alongside him. It was very hard but at times even Linda and Alex would help out and figure out what they were able to do to contribute to the company. David taught all his kids how to run the business and each of them had specific roles while he would be out on the road. David spent most of his time in truck because that’s what he loved doing most. Even before the company, when David would work with other truck driving businesses, he would take his kids and grandchild to many different places around the U.S. just to explore and waste time. David often brought back postcards, keychains, or unique souvenirs to collect from whatever state he went to work in. It is amazing how much David has accomplished throughout his life and it never stopped. After one goal was reached, another one would start. David always said to keep pushing yourself to reach the stars because anything was possible and he would always prove anyone who had negative comments wrong.

On September 26th, 2016, David’s second daughter Linda Aurora had his second grandbaby, a beautiful baby boy named Marcus Vincent Valladares. David couldn’t believe he had yet another grandson. He felt beyond blessed and excited to be able to spoil not only one, but two grandkids at this point. Marcus became David’s main squeeze and sidekick. As soon as David would get home from work, he would be at Linda’s front door, waiting to pick up Marcus for a sleepover. Any free time David had, he always spent it with his grandsons. David always took Marcus to the Daytona Beach boardwalk to play in the arcade, eat pizza, and watch a movie. David could be more tired than you could ever imagine, and you’ll still catch him playing with his grandkids. He didn’t care the time of the day or what he had to do, his grandsons were always there with him. Marcus could be as annoying as he could and David would have the most patience ever imagined. With all the energy Marcus had in him, David would just take him to the park or the beach and let him play until he couldn’t anymore. David and Marcus definitely had a close and love-filled relationship.

On July 29th, 2018 David’s first daughter Maria Conchita had her second child, his third grandchild, another beautiful baby boy named Isaac De Jesus. David was the happiest he’s ever been because at that point he had 4 boys in his life. Isaac is quite a character out of all the grandkids as well. He laughs at almost anything you put in front of him, and is the biggest trouble maker you’ll meet. David loved Isaac very much and since he was the youngest he had a very special place in his heart, as well as his other grandchildren. Isaac loves David just as much as David loves Isaac.

In December of 2018, David bought a really nice and cozy home in Palm Coast. David said this home would be where his grandchildren would have the best memories, where he would retire, and grow old. It is a 4 bedroom 2 bathroom home, and even the grandkids have their own bedroom. David remodeled the inside of the home and the backyard, so that it would be the kids favorite place to be. And indeed, it was. This home was where all the grandkids wanted their birthday party, where holidays were spent, and where the family loved spending their time. Even while David remodeled the front porch garden, the boys would play in the dirt and with shovels trying to help their pops with the plants. David always let them participate in any work he was doing on the house because the kids loved it. The grandkids would also call him, “Pops.” It started off originally as a joke, but then it stuck and ever since then David’s kids and grandkids started calling him, “Pops.”

Over the years, David worked as much as he could to be able to spoil his grandkids with whatever they wanted. The grandkids all loved Pops so much that they couldn’t get enough of him. Pops was their greatest gift of all time. There is nothing better in the world than the love these grandkids had from their grandfather. David always took his grandkids to their favorite places which was Universal Studios, Volcano Bay, Daytona Lagoon, and the Matanzas Inlet Beach. Pops always knew how to get those boys smiling and excited over anything. It’s amazing that these boys were able to experience wonderful memories with their Pops.

In the beginning of 2020, the United States had announced the outbreak of the coronavirus disease called, “COVID-19.” The family was worried because the pandemic would cause a high risk for David to get sick at any given moment since he was traveling all over the United States. Unfortunately, in late July, early August, David got extremely ill while working between Texas and Iowa. David was not sure what he had but he decided to stay in his truck in Iowa to rest. Over a little bit of time David started to develop strong chest pain and discovered this was not just a regular cold, it had to be something more serious. The oldest daughter, Conchi, made it clear to him that he needed to get checked out and make sure he was getting the proper treatment in case something were to happen. David wanted to go home first to be able to have the family close to him, but he did not want to spread whatever he had to anyone else. David went to a nearby clinic in Iowa because he could barely breathe or talk. The clinic informed him that he was having irregular breathing and heart rhythms. David was told he needed to get transferred to a hospital as soon as possible. David was eventually transferred to Mercy Iowa City Hospital, where he was tested positive for COVID-19 and had many complications that the virus was causing. The virus caused David to have cardiovascular health issues, Diabetes, pneumonia, and his organs were shutting down slowly. David was in the hospital for 4 weeks and he was fighting for his life there. The first two weeks, he was progressing little by little but it was more of a day to day basis on how he was actually doing. David was experiencing really bad trauma and anxiety due to being in the hospital for so long and with all the medications that were provided to him. He was really scared because like any other normal person would feel, he didn’t want to die. The doctors were doing everything they could to give him the best treatment and to help David survive this virus. David’s wife Maria and his son Alex immediately went to be by his side to make sure he knew he had support. After a week and a half of being there, Maria and Alex had to go back to Florida to work and pay the bills.

On August 26th, 2021, Alex and Linda flew to Iowa from Florida to be there with their dad in hopes that he will get better. It had been more than two weeks since David was in the hospital, so they were worried that he wasn’t going to get any better. While Linda and Alex were there, they fought to be able to see their father because the nurses would not allow it. Eventually Linda was able to speak to a manager which allowed her to see her father during specific hours of the day. Alex and Linda were very fortunate to be able to spend as much time as they could with their father. They would even help their father eat, move his legs and body around to keep his blood flowing, and would help him stay spirited through this hard time. Conchi was able to get there on Sunday morning of August 29th, 2021. David was extremely happy to be with all his kids and felt very safe. The sad part was that he started to express what he felt to his kids and stated if something were to happen he was very proud and loved them dearly. David also expressed the fact that he knew his kids were prepared for anything that came their way and to always remember nothing is impossible. David’s wife, Maria came on Monday morning August 30th, 2021. That morning David’s kids were told that he would only have 2 hours to live if he did not get intubated/put on the ventilator. That last time he spoke to anyone, it was to his kids. Maria was on her way in the taxi when they put David on the ventilator and she was not able to speak to him. Everyone had faith he would get out of this because he was a fighter and always accomplished what he set his mind to. There was no way he wasn’t able to get out of this. David’s wife and kids spent 3 days with David while he was on the ventilator, the nurses even let them stay the night in his room.

On September 1st, 2021, David’s vitals dropped significantly and the doctor told his wife and kids that he only had 24 hours left to live. The doctor gave them the ultimate decision to either continue treatment or to take David off of everything and let him naturally pass. As sad as the family was, they didn’t want to give up on him. They continued to do treatment until the very end. David’s kids would play his favorite music from the 80s, talk to him, and hug him to give him comfort and acknowledgement that his family is never going to leave his side. The family was very strong and they believed he would be able to make it through.

On September 2nd, 2021, David passed away at 1:20 PM. David’s family was in the ICU room with him until the very end. The doctors and nurses did everything they could to help him. Everyone was completely devastated and the staff stayed with the family to comfort their loss. It was an extremely hard day for all of them including the doctors and nurses. David’s children asked to get everything that was connected off of him. The staff even gave David’s kids shaving gel and a razor to shave his mustache and little beard off. Once they did, it looked more like himself. David gave it his all and fought all that he possibly could. He will forever be treasured by his family and friends. There is no other person in this world that could ever replace David. He will truly be missed and loved always. Until next time Pops.