Michael John Vasquez

The trail for Michael John Vasquez came to an abrupt end at approximately 10:00 PM, on December 19, 2016. Michael had fallen gravely ill and was supported by his loving family as he fought a serious infection that had beset him.

An adventurous soul who blazed his own quiet path, Michael was born November 29, 1966, in Austin, TX. He graduated from Johnson High School in 1985, and enrolled at South West Texas State University in San Marcos. He pursued his degree on a leisurely pace, taking semesters off to work at retail stores or as a Tour Guide at the Texas State Capitol – sometimes giving tours in the Japanese language that he studied.

In the summer of 1992, he headed north to work at an Alaskan fish cannery, living in a tent city with other seasonal workers. That led to a job at Denali National Park where he returned for additional summers of work, hiking, kayaking and pursuing his passion for photography. Before graduating he also worked at the Grand Canyon National Park.

Having transferred to the University of Texas at Austin Michael graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Government in 1999.

After graduating Michael returned to the Tour Guide Service at the State Capitol before taking a Policy Analyst position with the Texas Conference of Urban Counties, where he worked until his passing. He was one of the Urban Counties’ first employees and rose to the level of Program Manager. He was beloved by his colleagues as a dedicated, dependable and always-positive presence who steadfastly worked without complaint.

Michael is survived by his parents John Vasquez and Julia Castro; his brother Mark Vasquez and his wife Alice; two sisters Elizabeth Hearne and her husband Daniel and Rosalinda Vasquez; and his beloved nephews and nieces Mark Anthony Vasquez, Veronica Vasquez, Daniel Vasquez, Gabriel Vasquez, Zachary Hearn and Isabella Hearne.

Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 PM, on Saturday, January 7, 2017, at Cooks-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home at 6300 W. William Cannon Drive, in Austin with a reception immediately following.

If you would like to make memorial tribute, the family suggests you could consider Michael’s passion for our nation’s park system. A memorial contribution in support of our national park system can be made at www.nationalparks.org/support/other-ways-give. On the memorial donation form please enter an “Acknowledgee Email” to [email protected].