Tirso Del Junco

1925 - 2023

April 20, 1925 - September 4, 2023 Dr. Tirso del Junco, 98, passed away on September 4, 2023 surrounded by his family in Orange County, California.
Dr. del Junco, fondly known simply as "Doctor", was born to Albert and Violeta del Junco on April 20, 1925 in Havana, Cuba. He attended Georgia Military High School in the United States. He was a talented athlete who loved playing baseball and rowing. He continued his love for rowing by becoming the coxswain and rowing for the Havana Yacht Club. This sport would ultimately take him to be part of the Cuban Rowing Team at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London. After his many legendary escapades in Havana, he settled down and attended the University of Havana Medical School. Upon graduation from Medical School, he left his family and friends in Cuba and embarked on his journey to the United States, where he took an internship at Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital from 1949 to 1950. This was followed by his residency at The Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles from 1951 to 1954. It is here, he met his beautiful wife, Celia (Sally) Bobadilla. It was not love at first sight; however, his charm, blue eyes, and self-confidence would eventually win her over. They were married on December 18, 1954. Shortly before being married, Doctor was selected to be a member of the distinguished Post Graduate Surgical Class at the University of Pennsylvania, where he completed his training in 1955. Following completion of the program, they packed up their belongings and moved to Richland, Washington, where Doctor served as a Captain in the United States Army and chief of Surgery of Camp Hanford Army Hospital. This period in their life was shared to many as "the best". Doctor's service in the Army also had them stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, where they met more amazing friends, and the nickname "Del" was coined. Doctor and Sally would move back to Southern California to start his practice as a General Surgeon and raise their family. They settled in Pasadena, California, where they raised their four children. Their home saw many parties, Sunday barbecues, Easter egg hunts, and his favorite – his two daughter's weddings. They lived here until his wife Sally passed away in 2012. He would then move to his next favorite place – "The Beach house" in Huntington Harbor, where he lived until his passing. Doctor always remained incredibly busy, not only as a renowned and much-loved General Surgeon, but also as a politician, businessman and philanthropist, serving on many Boards. The list was many:
* Taking part in the failed Bay of Pigs liberation attempt as a medical officer
* Diplomate of the American Board of Surgery
* Fellow of the American College of Surgeons
* Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery of the California College of Medicine – Irvine
* Member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Arts
* Recipient of the Americanism Medal from the Daughters of the American Revolution
* Member of the Knight of Magisterial Grace Sovereign Military Order of Malta – invested in 1972
* Former Ambassador Sovereign Military Order of Malta in Nicaragua
* Reserve Orange County Sheriff's Professional Service
* Queen of Angels Foundation Board
* President and Chairman of the Board of the Hollywood Park Charities
* Founder and Former Chairman of Los Angeles National Bank
* Chairman and Member of the Board of Regents of the University of California 1985 - 1997
* Chairman and Member of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service 1988-2000
* Past President of the California Board of Medical Examiners
* Delegate to the United States Delegation to the 22nd Conference UNESCO 1983
* Board of Visitors of the United States Naval Academy since 2002
* Chairman of the California Republican Party 1981-1983 and again 1993-1995
* Delegate to the Republican National Convention – State of California beginning 1968 and every election year until 2020
Dr. del Junco will be remembered as a father, grandfather, patriot, defender of life and someone who fought for and never backed down for the principles he held most dear to his heart. He watched his beloved homeland of Cuba lose the freedoms we take most for granted and until the day he died, he fought valiantly to help preserve these great gifts in the United States of America. Dad, you will be greatly missed – your motto of Dedicated, Determined, Decisive will live on forever.
He was preceded in death by his wife Celia (Sally). He will be missed by his children Tirso (Patti), Robert (Debbie), Rose Marie (Jim), Maria Elena (Lester) and by his 14 grandchildren and 19 (with a 20th on the way that he was so excited to meet) great-grandchildren in addition to his niece Lourdes (Joe) and their 2 children.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated October 13, 2023, at 9:30 AM at The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, California. Private Interment will be at the Cathedral Mausoleum immediately following the funeral mass – Family only, please. Memorial Reception will be held Saturday – to be announced at the mass.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Order of Malta, Western Association 324 Middlefield Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025