At final rest, Francisco Bustamante Cota passed away on June 6, 2019 after his battle with cancer, surrounded by his loved ones and his wife; the love of his life. Francisco was born in Peoria, AZ on September 4th, 1942 to Modesto Cota and Josefa Bustamante Cota. Peoria remained his home into his adult life and his workplace until his retirement from the Peoria Unified School District in 2005. Those who were fortunate enough to have known him were positively influenced by his generosity, patience, wonderful sense of humor, as well as a quiet strength that put those around him at ease with a calming sense of security.
Attending Peoria schools as he grew up, Francisco was known for his athletic and leadership abilities in baseball, basketball, and most notably lettering as a four-year varsity football half-back and team captain at Peoria High School earning the nickname “The Blur” from rival teams. During his academic career he attended Peoria Elementary, Peoria High School, and Glendale Community College. On July 8, 1962 Francisco married his high school sweetheart Maria Luisa (Mary) Sainz in El Mirage, AZ. During their time together, their union produced two wonderful sons; Francisco Modesto and Anthony Francis. Inseparable from the beginning, Francisco and Mary led a happy life focusing on their family and each other for nearly 57 years of marriage.
Always there to lend an ear, Francisco, or Cisco as he had come to be known as, was known as a great listener which encouraged his conversation partner to speak freely with confidence. Conversations with Francisco, because of his gift as a great listener coupled with his unique sense of humor, often led to his conversation partner leaving with a giggle, a smile, or the comfort of feeling their life was somehow a bit better. We all lost a truly charismatic, strong, loving, generous, humble and unimaginably resilient human being when he left us and he will be missed by all who knew and loved him.
Francisco had one brother, Carmelo Cota, preceding him in death. Francisco is survived by his loving wife Mary Sainz Cota, his two sons Francisco (Alejandra) Cota and Anthony (Alisa) Cota, his eight grandchildren Kayla (Steven) Blanco, Randal Cota, Alyssa Cota, Marissa (Gary) Karbousky, Danielle Garcia, Trina Cota, Anthony Jr. Cota, and Annika Cota, and his four great-grandchildren Jazlyn Cota, Milliana Garcia, Mylah Garcia, and Marai Karbousky.
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