Alfonso Cardenas

CARDENAS Alfonso "Poncho" Cardenas, 80, beloved husband, father, grandfather, educator, friend, and die-hard Dallas Cowboy fan, passed away on Wednesday, May 4. He was surrounded by his family, who helped him to understand that it was finally okay to let go and find his way to God. He was a lifelong resident of El Paso. In addition to his career in education he was an umpire for little league baseball and a basketball referee in the early 1960s where he touched the lives of many young men and women who today still talk about his positive influence. He was inducted into the El Paso Boxing Hall of Fame in 2002 for his involvement in establishing the Golden Gloves at San Juan Civic Center. He retired from Socorro ISD in 1996 after almost 30 years of service. During his tenure there, he served in many capacities, from teacher, to counselor to Federal Programs Director, assistant principal, and principal. He was principal of Escontrias Elementary for several years before he was chosen to open William D. Slider Middle School as its first principal, and finally moved on to Myrtle Cooper Elementary. Even after his retirement, each and every one of the campus faculty, staff, and community remained very dear to his heart, prompting his desire to stay in touch with them by hosting his annual "three- campus reunion cook-out and swim party" at his home every June. While he was a great educator and administrator who will be greatly missed, his greatest legacy will be that of "family". To him, everyone was family and welcomed into his home. There is nothing greater than family, and when we were all together, to him it was "BEAUTIFUL!" We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Muneer Assi and Dr. Edward Assi for their gracious care of our father. He is preceded in death by his father, Apolonio "Polo" Cardenas. He is survived by his wife, Mari Cardenas, mother Estela Cardenas; children, Alma Orozco, Brenda Castaneda (Mike), Debbie Velasquez (Robert), Al Cardenas, Jr. (Mary), Kraig Belcher (Marcy), Lisa Cardenas (Roland), and Michael Valles (Veronica). Brother, Leo Cardenas, sister, Alice Roybal, 17 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren. Pallbearers are Al Cardenas, Jr., Joey Castaneda, Gino Velasquez, Arthur Orozco (U.S.C.G.), Jacob Castaneda, Adriel Ayala, and Troy Belcher. Honorary pallbearers are: Bobby Velasquez, Beau Velasquez, Bob Velasquez, Kraig Belcher, Reuben Roybal, Jose Luis Castaneda, and Art Orozco, Leo Cardenas, and Roland Herrera. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 9, from 4p.m. to 9p.m. at Mt. Carmel Funeral Home with rosary at 7 p.m. Funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, May 10, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Stephen Catholic Church, 1700 George Dieter. Burial at Evergreen East Cemetery.