David Salcido

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of David Salcido on August 2, 2026, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina after a long illness. David was born in El Paso, TX. He attended Guardian Angel and then Sacred Heart where, as an altar boy, he trained others and was very involved in its youth programs. He graduated from Jesuit High School, Class of ’67 and remained close with many of his classmates. David served honorably in the US Navy from 1967 to 1971 during the Vietnam War. He studied at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA. David built a career as a language specialist and was fluent in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and French. He received his BA from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 1978. His work and language expertise took him around the world as a professional language consultant. He lived and worked in the Philippines, Panama, France, Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica. He received the Provost Team Excellence Award from the Defense Language Institute in Monterey as Senior Spanish Instructor in 2007. David loved Monterey, CA where he continued his teaching profession. He taught at the Robert Louis Stevenson School in Pebble Beach, CA. from 1980 to 1988 and went on to teach at the Athenian High School in Danville, CA. Later, David taught French at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Texas at El Paso.

David was an avid reader and loved history. He especially enjoyed researching his paternal family roots in and near Chihuahua, Mex., and his maternal roots in San Elizario, TX dating back to the 1800’s and sharing it with his family. David had a passion for travel, food, and music. He retired to Merida, Yucatan, Mex. where he enjoyed playing percussion with his friend, Dez and other musicians. He enjoyed performing at local parks, at parties, or at the beaches in nearby Progreso. He enjoyed exploring the Mayan ruins, collecting folk art and having coffee with friends. After 10 years in Mexico, he returned and settled in Winston-Salem, NC near his younger sister, Pat and her husband Ray Gardea, where he enjoyed spending time with his nieces, nephews, and being a granduncle. David got to enjoy the Blue Ridge Parkway, the NC Coast, and the beautiful Piedmont Triad. David loved golfing with friends wherever he could and was passionate about World Cup Soccer. He watched 14 consecutive World Cup Soccer tournaments during his life and even attended a couple of the earlier ones. He followed Real Madrid closely and celebrated Spain’s World Cup win in the last game he would watch. He went to his Maker wearing his 2026 World Cup Soccer shirt.

He was preceded in death by his parents Rufina Berru Salcido and Antonio Martinez Salcido and grandparents, Roman Salcido and Manuela Martinez (paternal) and Gilberto Berru and Angela Montes (maternal), his devoted grand aunt Maria Guillen, aunts Evangelina Berru, Angela Salcido, Anita Dominguez (Roman), and uncles Armando Berru (Martha), Gilberto Berru (Lucila), Heliodoro “Joe” Berru, and Billy Rey (Rachel), sister Maria Teresa Salcido Swepson (Jeffrey), brother, Gilbert Salcido, and a host of other dearly departed relatives. David is survived by brother, Antonio Salcido, Jr. (Maria Jose), and sisters, Martha Salcido Bustamante (the late Arturo Bustamante), and Patricia Salcido Gardea (Raymond), his nieces, Sandy Salcido, Linda Jasmine Gardea (Brian Chandler), Laura Carisa Gardea, Khalin Swepson, Beth Burer (Dan), Sesa Lee Brown (Stanley), Theresa Stroud, Jessica Stroud, Alexandra Stroud, and Sarah Bartell, his nephews, Jason Salcido, Alfred Salcido, Paul Gardea, Carlo Swepson, Ismael Swepson, and Nico Swepson. David is loved and remembered by all his extended family and friends and his legacy lives on through the lives he touched.

A Memorial Mass will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in El Paso, Texas on Thursday, November 12 at 1:00pm, followed by Interment at Fort Bliss National Cemetery with Military Honors at 3:00pm, and a reception to follow for his family and friends.