Raul Lozano

Raul was born on April 13th, 1954, in Reedley, CA to Hartense and Francisco Lozano, Sr. He was the second of nine children (6 boys and 3 girls). When Raul was nine years old, his family moved to Mountain View, where he was introduced to gardening by his father who loved to grow vegetables in their backyard. In 1968 the family moved to Sunnyvale and bought the home in which his mother still lives. Raul graduated from Sunnyvale High School (Class of 1972), later earned a Social Science A.A. Degree at Foothill College, and to further his knowledge of organic gardening, became a Master Gardener.

Raul was a kind-hearted, soft-spoken, generous man who had a sincere desire to help others, exemplified by the kind of work he did. In the 1990s, he was the Healthy Start Program Director for the East Bay Agency for Children (EBAC). For ten years (1999-2009), he served as Executive Director of Teatro Vision, a successful theater company in San Jose which builds respect and understanding for Latino experiences by amplifying their creative voices. As volunteer and founder of the Multicultural Arts Leadership Institute (MALI), and First ACT Silicon Valley (precursor to SVCREATES), he promoted investment, leadership, access, and inclusion in cultural arts throughout the community.

In the final chapter of his career, Raul courageously chose a new direction. Moved by seeing so many local families struggling with food insecurity, he was inspired to make a difference. Combining his social service background and love for gardening, he served as program manager for La Mesa Verde, through Sacred Heart Community Services. Two years later, he branched off to create his own nonprofit called Valley Verde. Based in San Jose, this organization promotes healthy eating, provides food access to low-income families by teaching them how to grow their own organic home gardens, and provides micro-entrepreneurship training. As founder and Executive Director, this was Raul’s labor of love for over ten years. He officially retired in 2022, leaving Valley Verde in good hands, as it continues to flourish and have a positive influence on those in need.

Raul was a well-known and respected leader in the community and has been recognized for his work, dedication, and impact on the lives of so many people. Last May he was the recipient of the local Jefferson Award for Community Service and was featured on CBS Bay Area News. And, more recently, he was honored on the state level, in memoriam, by the California Arts Council, for his service and contribution to the arts.

Helping others was not only Raul’s life’s work, but his passion. He truly lived a life of cultivation, continually sowing seeds wherever and whenever he could. He planted seeds of love... love for family, friends, the community, and those less fortunate; love for music, dance, theater, and art; love for gardening, healthy eating, ethnic foods, and especially homemade tamales; love for traveling, exploring, and learning about different cultures; love for playing cards, reminiscing, telling stories, and doing tequila shots; love for his Mexican heritage, family traditions, celebrations, and simply being together. He will be remembered for all this and so much more.

Raul lived a humble life, yet one that was richly abundant. Although he never married or had any children of his own, he was loved by a large extended family and some of the best friends a person could have. Raul has been reunited in heaven with his father Francisco Lozano, Sr. and his sister Christine Vega, who passed before him. He is survived by his mother, Hartense Lozano, siblings Frank Lozano, Jr. (Diane), Gloria Medellin (Gilbert), Virginia Lozano-Weber (Kurt), Martin Lozano, Rudy Lozano (Janelle), Albert Lozano (Maria), Ernie Lozano (Erica), over 55 nieces and nephews, plus countless other relatives.

A heartfelt thank you is offered to everyone who was there for Raul throughout his life, especially those who were consistently by his side until the end. May he rest in peace knowing the fruits of his labor will continue to grow exponentially, for the seeds he has sown throughout his life will reap a bountiful harvest for generations to come.

Donations in memory of Raul may be made to:

Valley Verde (https://www.valleyverde.org) and

Teatro Vision (https://www.teatrovision.org), organizations dear to his heart.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.limafamilysantaclara.com for the Lozano family.