Sam Diaz Fabela

Sam Diaz Fabela, (94), of Vista, California, passed away peacefully surrounded by his children on February 19, 2024. Sam was born "Eusebio Fabela" to Sam Tarin Fabela and Cruz Fabela, on April 28, 1929, in McFarland, CA. The eldest of 13 children, Sam toiled as a farmworker during his youth to help support his family. He escaped abject poverty by joining the Air Force during the Korean War, where he was trained in air traffic controlling.As a civilian, he leveraged his military training into a successful career with the Federal Aviation Administration. During his impressive career, he served as an Air Traffic Controller and Assistant Tower Chief at the San Jose Airport, and then became the Tower Chief of Imperial County Airport and later at the Sonoma County Airport, in Santa Rosa, CA. While in Imperial County, he was also assigned to work with Mexican air traffic control officials to train them in international protocols. He finished his career as the very first ever Air Traffic Control Tower Chief at the Ontario International Airport, where he retired in 1987.Sam was a self-made man and although he had no formal education, he loved to learn, auditing college classes or reading on subjects that interested him. He was close to labor leader Cesar Chavez, who married Sam's aunt Helen Fabela. Sam was also a talented musician, having learned guitar at a young age and singing mariachi songs beautifully into his 90s, mostly with his similarly talented brothers and sisters at family gatherings. Despite his advanced age, he amazed all who met him with how mentally and physically strong he remained until his final hours, spending the last few years caring for his wife Lucia, the love of his life, with whom he had just celebrated 70 years of marriage.In addition to Lucia (90), he is also survived by his six children Anita, Sam Jr., Susan, Beatrice, Steve, and Robert as well as four younger siblings, 14 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren, all of whom adored and respected him deeply.Services were held at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Vista, CA, March 13th. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation either to St. Francis of Assisi Church in Vista, CA or to a fund to help support Sam's most precious love, his surviving wife Lucia, with assisted living and medical care by donating via Venmo to @CareforLucia.