Don Trujillo

Don passed away on June 29, 2023, at age 90. Don was born in Denver, Colorado, the last sibling in a family of one older brother and six sisters. When he was 10, the family moved to Oakland, CA where his father found work in war industries. They lived in Auditorium Village, a housing project developed with government funds to provide housing for workers and their families who were moving to California. Don graduated from Oakland High and during these years became a car aficionado, buying his first car at age 16 for $100. His proudest possession was a 1966 Chevrolet Bel Air green and white convertible, although his Porsche 911 was a close second. In his later years he enjoyed attending car shows.Soon after high school graduation, Don was drafted into the Army, and served from 1953 to 1955, seeing service in Korea. His Army experiences, especially the seasick-inducing voyage from Seattle to Korea, added greatly to his catalog of amusing stories, all of which improved with each telling. Using his G.I. bill benefits, he was able to attend college and buy his parents a house upon his return. He studied for a year in Mexico City, and graduated from SJSU in Police Science. He began his career with the San Jose Police Dept in 1959 and retired in 1987. He rose to the rank of lieutenant and ultimately commanded the Traffic, Narcotics, and Homicide Units. During these years he added greatly to his police stories catalog. In admiration of his considerable archive, one Christmas Don received a bogus "autographed by author" copy of The Choirboys, by Joseph Wambaugh, a writer whose police-themed fiction usually involved dark humor and outrageous incidents. In 1983 Don and Judy Hopkins surprised six friends by getting "Mauied" during a group Hawaiian vacation. Now he had a stepdaughter, Johanna, whom he loved dearly, especially when she and husband Nathan Danes later provided two charming and talented granddaughters, Anya and Avery. He amused his Kentucky in-laws and extended family during visits with his renditions of Southern customs and developed a passable accent when having early morning coffee at Hardee's with Clyde. Don had two children, Lisa Marie and Don Phillip, both of whom predeceased him as adults, as did his seven siblings. His nephew Norman Lester, wife Susan, and family live in Dallas and have their Uncle Don stories. Don loved domestic and international travel and always liked to connect with local cops. One such contact resulted in the Trujillos being delivered to a local French seaside restaurant in the back of a paddy wagon with the quirky French siren blaring. The patrons were astonished when the officers opened the doors and formally escorted the Trujillos into the restaurant. The story of Don's life cannot be written without mentioning his real estate ventures, beginning with the house he bought for his parents in San Leandro. He was an early investor in San Jose homes, buying his first for $16,000. For 50 years he owned a Los Gatos property he affectionately called The Cottages. His story catalog expanded to renters' stories, as he managed the property himself. He reluctantly sold The Cottages in 2021 as his health declined. Besides his repertory of stories, some of which are repeated verbatim by his granddaughters, Don was also a skilled if whimsical caricaturist, and a remarkable poet. He leaves his family and life-long and new friends with amusing and cleverly rhymed poems of shared experiences, usually with a caricature of his bemused self. Don was a kind and generous father, husband, and friend who was deeply loved. As he wished, no services are planned and he remains firmly in memories and hearts.