Hector Eleazar Ruiz

Hector Eleazar Ruiz was born 6/2/1937 in Nogales Sonora Mexico. He preferred being called Eleazar. He grew up in a large family that included his adoptive parents and birth mother, as well as several siblings from both families. Ambitious at an early age he started earning his own money at the age of 10, when he would go to the local baseball stadium and pick up glass soda bottles to recycle, earning a few pesos.

He met Hilda and married her at the age of 22. They had seven children. Eleazar was a family man and enjoyed taking the family to the river or lakes nearby for family outings. Family gatherings were large and always included close family, friends, music, food, and plenty of drinks, he was the life of the party and it was always happy hour when he was around. Weekends would consist of playing his favorite pass time baseball, carnivals, and taking his grandchildren for ice cream after Sunday Mass. Barbeques happened often and there were always two types of salsa available; tata’s salsa, which only a few could tolerate and everyone else’s salsa which according to him tasted like syrup.

He loved music and dancing, his music ranged from danzones, trios, Javier Solis, big band, and Louis Armstrong. He enjoyed watching Cantinflas movies and watching El Chapulin Colorado and El Chavo del Ocho with the kids. He had a great sense of humor and often gave the kids in the family funny nicknames. Among the nicknames he used were flaca, huera, negra, escolapia, chana, atenojenes, poca luz, pelota, Conchita and Reina. His sense of humor was evident when he complained about being in the hospital “amarrado como un perro,” making his unforgettable and funny upset face, which he would make when offered water to drink instead of beer. While at the hospital, he wanted his daily “chorrito.” Buying presents for him was always difficult because he was “always a medium, never a large,” but he would not be disappointed with a bottle of good tequila.

In his youth, he volunteered for the fire department in Nogales, and frequently would cut a family activity short if he was called to serve. During the 1960’s he traveled to the United States to help fight California wildfires. He played baseball and enjoyed watching games with friends and family.

The family migrated to the United States in 1981 and he became a US citizen 1998. Eleazar worked and retired from Krueger HVAC Manufacturing after 25 years of service. After retiring, he continued working part time at the Three Points convenience store. Hector fully retired in 2016 at the age of 79. A selfless, loving family man, he was a provider until the very end. He was very generous and would have given anyone the shirt off his back or helped whoever needed help.

He lived 83 full years, married to Hilda for 61, he was the glue that held the family together. Eleazar is survived by Hilda, his sons Hector, Manuel, and Ruben, and his daughters Patricia, Myrna, Lucy, and Dora, as well as Patricia’s husband Juan Marquez, 14 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. To us, he was both tata and apa. Sadly, he was preceded in death by grandson David Alberto Bernal and great-grandson Eric Gallegos. He was loved and adored by all. He lived a long life and gave all those who loved him a lifetime of wonderful memories that we will all cherish for the rest of our lives.

Apa, until we meet again. May you rest in peace.

Martinez Funeral Chapels is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: In Loving Memory of Hector Ruiz
Time: Jan 29, 2021 01:00-4:00 PM

Join Zoom Meeting
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