David D. Aguilar

David D. Aguilar -- a longtime San Jose reserve police officer and IBM security manager -- crammed a life into his last and weakening handful of months.

He was named California Reserve Officer of the Year for saving the life of a baby choking on a hot dog, feasted on seafood with friends in Singapore, gambled at the craps tables in Las Vegas, camped in Yosemite where he rescued a swimmer, planned a trip to Tibet and cheered his Indianapolis Colts into the Super Bowl.

And on Jan. 6 his longtime sweetheart, Theresa Hernandez, dressed him in his beloved blue-and-white Colts jersey and wheeled him near a TV. Then, he sneaked looks at the screen as the Colts defeated the Kansas City Chiefs, while San Jose police chaplain Jim Becknall married the couple.

"We were supposed to do it a long time ago," said his widow. "I kept dragging my feet. But he thought it was important to do."

With his new wife by his side, Aguilar lost his life to brain cancer early Monday morning, after which she dressed him in his favorite pajamas -- emblazoned with Colts horseshoes. He was 52.

Aguilar was raised one of 11 kids in Indiana, driving cars on the back roads of Indianapolis like a bat out of hell, playing quarterback for the Beech Grove Redskins, a semi-pro team. He later became a Colts fan so fervent that he will be buried wearing his team's blue and white colors. He died hours after the Colts beat the New England Patriots to make it to the Super Bowl for the first time since they won it in 1971.

His life, his friends said, was one of energy, passion, a salty sense of humor and selfless service.

Aguilar served in the Air Force from 1973 to 1979, honorably discharged as an airman first class.

He worked for 25 years at IBM in San Jose, 19 years as a security officer, six developing threat assessment programs and auditing security systems at the tech giant's offices abroad. His last six years were spent as logistics manager for product shipments and other materials. Pamela Vickerson, his boss at IBM, recalled Aguilar spending chaotic and scary days after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989 driving around the Santa Cruz Mountains to check on the safety of employees.

"He was so calm and focused in a crisis," said Vickerson. "Couple that with his high energy and genuine concern for people, and that is what made Dave so valuable at IBM and in the community."

The man with badge No. 373A loved to spend his days off from IBM patrolling the streets as one of the city's 105 reserve officers.

His partner was also named Dave Aguilar -- no relation, but same age and same Hispanic last name that belied their shared hopelessness with using the Spanish language.

They were the Two Daves.

Sometimes people stopped by the pair would be angry, threaten to complain and ask for their names.

"I'm Dave Aguilar," one would say.

"No, I'm Dave Aguilar," the other would say, keeping a straight face.

The debate would go on and on.

"No one could be mad after that," said the surviving Dave. "That was a way he defused things."

He was constantly playing pranks on fellow reserve officer Dan Guarascio, 63, of San Jose, picking him up at an airport by holding up a toilet seat with his name written on it. Another time he tricked a class of kids into believing Guarascio was a professional wrestler.

But Aguilar took his volunteer job as a public servant seriously.

In addition to the child he saved at a spring festival in 2005, Aguilar revived a baby who had gone into shock from a bee sting and drove a suffocating child to the hospital, his left hand on the steering wheel and his right compressing the child's chest.

"A lot of guys get paid to put themselves out there," said San Jose Police Chief Rob Davis, who plans to attend Aguilar's memorial service. "He put himself in harm's way as a volunteer. Police work was a labor of love. He was extremely dedicated, and to have him pass is a real tragedy for the whole department."

David D. Aguilar

Born: May 12, 1954, Indianapolis

Died: Monday, Jan. 22, at his San Jose home

Survived by: his wife, Terry Aguilar, of San Jose; daughter Kayla Davis of Indianapolis; mother, Rita Aguilar of Indianapolis; four sisters; and six brothers.

Services: Visitation is today from 2 to 7 p.m., with funeral services to follow. Both will be at Chapel of Flowers Funeral Home, 900 S. Second St., San Jose.

Memorial: In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.