Victor Cruz
Photograph of Victor and his daughter, Raeann, by Adriana Heldiz, obtained from Voice of San Diego.
Victor Ray Cruz, only forty-seven years old, passed away on September 21, 2020 in San Diego, California. He is survived by many family members, including his mother, two siblings, son, and beloved grandson, whom he spoke to on the phone every day until he fell ill with COVID-19.
Due to his family’s financial needs, Victor dropped out of school at a young age to support his family financially. Victor grew to become a family man who was always smiling, and was a “hilarious, smart man,” his family members and attorney told the San Diego Tribune. He worked in the kitchen at the federal jail where he was incarcerated, the San Diego Metropolitan Correctional Center, and was liked by all those he worked with. The warden asked specifically for Victor to stay in the jail even after sentencing. “I think he kept the peace. He was a respected dude,” said his attorney, Sandra Lechman, to the Voice of San Diego.
His mother, Angie Velasquez, said about Victor: “He would take his shirt away from his body to give to somebody else.”
After struggling with addiction throughout his life, Victor was able to turn his life around and become sober. He tragically lost his daughter Raeann in a car accident in 2017, and although he was able to maintain his sobriety immediately after the horrific loss, he relapsed after the anniversary of her death. “This man, who even later in his life was trying to do something different and had a painful moment. And then this happens. He has been robbed of what could’ve been a new point in his life,” said his attorney.
Photograph of Victor in his youth, by Adriana Heldiz, obtained from Voice of San Diego.
Sometime in August, Victor came in close contact with someone who had the virus and who was not quarantined. Soon after, Victor became sick. He was hospitalized on August 31st, and was eventually placed on life support. He passed away only three weeks later.
Victor is remembered as a warm, loving man, who struggled against a life of difficulties with a positive outlook and a drive to be kind. He will be missed not only by his beloved family and friends, but by all those lucky enough to come in contact with him.
This memorial was written by MOL team member Elizabeth Torres-Griefer with information from reporting by Alex Riggins of The San Diego Union-Tribune, Maya Srikrishnan and Adriana Heldiz of the Voice of San Diego, and Max Rivlin-Nadler of KBPS and a press release by the United States Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Prisons.
