October 20, 1959 - March 11, 2023
On Saturday, March 11, 2023, Lito Sosa Saturno passed away peacefully in his sleep at home at the age of 63 from a valiant, two year battle w/ cancer. His spirit and legacy is carried on by his wife, Ellen, his two sons, Rafferty Jason and Anthony Charles, his beloved granddaughter, Rinoa Yerang, and an extended family of relations and friends from every walk of life.
Lito, son of Jaime and Valentina Saturno, was born on October 20, 1959 in Cabugao, Illocos Sur and graduated from Far Eastern University in 1980 with a BS in Medical Technology. He then went on to marry the love of his life, Ellen, on December 28, 1984 in Quezon City. During their time together, they traveled and saw the world: countless cruises and land tours to Europe, the Mediterranean, & the Caribbean, holy pilgrimages as far as Jerusalem, and family vacations to the Philippines, Hawaii, Las Vegas, & Mexico.
Lito immigrated to the United States in February 1985. He then served honorably in the Air Force as a maintenance supervisor, stationed at Castle Air Force base in Atwater, CA. He then put down roots in Santa Clara, CA, where he had his two boys, his pride and joys. Lito liked to spoil his kids with countless trips to AMC, Toys R Us ,and McDonalds. Every award and achievement of his sons’ became a personal trophy to share with the world. And even as they grew older, he never missed a chance to remind them he was thinking about them, often bringing home souvenirs from his many travels. Even in sickness, he made sure to be around for their birthdays and for the chance to meet his granddaughter. He fought hard til she arrived and when she did, he would hold her and spoil her with his love and attention, a shining light during his last days.
Lito worked a lot throughout his lifetime, and he enjoyed every minute of it. He was known as the “Med Tech of the Valley” since he had worked at so many places throughout Silicon Valley. Very hardworking and passionate about his work, he always valued quality over quantity. He was known to be strict, but always treated his co-workers with food and bonded over meals after work.
Life wasn’t all work for Lito. He enjoyed many pleasures in life. He loved watching movies, in the theater or renting them for the weekend. He binged many TV series and loved following reality TV like American Idol. He was a loyal fan of the 49ers, the SF Giants, & the Boston Celtics. He loved music. You could find him singing ballads for karaoke or dancing the cha-cha at parties. If he wasn’t on the dancefloor, you could find him at the mahjong table. A trendy man, you could always find him with the latest tech, gadgets, and clothes/shoes, always getting feedback from his sons.
Despite his diabetes, food was a very important part of Lito’s life. For many a special occasion, his restaurant of choice to celebrate was the all you can eat buffet, especially the raw bar with fresh seafood. Often, he would take his sons to late night diners or KBBQ after work. He loved Filipino food so much. During his treatment, he would watch mukbang videos and made a list of all the foods he wanted to eat, especially Crispy Pata and Kare Kare.
Lito was a man of faith. He believed any milestone warranted a visit to Church. He put his boys through 17 years of Catholic education and went to church on Sundays. He even traveled the world on pilgrimages to the holiest sites. Even during his sick times, his faith never wavered. He continued to pray and attend mass daily, truly devout til the end.
Lito’s life was a life well lived. He was up to so many things and had so many passions. There are only so many hours in a day, and he always made time for the most important thing: his family. Whether it was a birthday meal, school drop offs or family vacations, Lito made sure to be there for the moments, big or small. He knew that time was always limited, and that you have to make the most of it before it’s gone. Lito’s time may have ended but the memories he made will last forever.
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