Alfonso Vasquez

Alfonso Vasquez, known as "Al" to friends and coworkers and "Poncho" to his closest friends and family, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on September 18, 2025, in Sugar Land, Texas, at the age of 94. Born on January 23, 1931, in Port Arthur, Texas, Alfonso grew up in Galveston, where his formative years instilled in him a deep love for family, music, and the island he always considered home. Though he left school at 17 to join the service, Alfonso was proudly awarded his diploma from Ball High School after his military service. A proud veteran, Alfonso enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 1948. He completed basic training at Camp Chaffee in Arkansas before transferring to Camp Lee in Petersburg, Virginia. He was later stationed in Okinawa, Japan, where he was delighted to encounter familiar faces during his time abroad. Alfonso was honorably discharged as a corporal in June 1952. His Korean War era service remained one of his greatest sources of pride throughout his life. Alfonso had a brilliant mind for numbers, impressing his children with his lightning-fast mental math skills. Just last month, when reminded that the current year is 2025 and asked how old he was, he quickly quipped, "In six years, I'll be a hundred - you tell me how old I am." His personality was quiet and reserved but his professional life was colorful and he loved recalling those memories. Alfonso began bartending at the famous Balinese Room in Galveston, where he learned the craft from Santos Cruz and mastered the art of mixing the perfect margarita. Over the years, his career took him to some of Houston's finest establishments, including the Cork Club and the Warwick Hotel. He met countless celebrities along the way, including Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett, John Wayne and his favorite Frank Sinatra. Alfonso retired after many years at Primo's, his cousin's restaurant in Houston, where he was often seen in one of his signature Hawaiian shirts. Despite moving to Houston in 1961, Alfonso never stopped calling Galveston home, and every crossing of the causeway brought him joy. A man of simple pleasures, he cherished backyard barbecues, trips to the beach, and the company of loved ones - always with music playing, because, as he said, without music it wasn't truly a good time. Alfonso was a longtime member of St. Benedict the Abbot Catholic Church in Houston, where he worshiped from 1972 to 2019. He and his beloved wife, Josephine (Sanchez) Vasquez, recently celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary on September 10, a testament to a lifetime of love and partnership. He is preceded in death by his parents, Isidro "Toribio" and Juanita Vasquez; brothers Raymond "Lelynn," Rudy, and Henry "Candy" Vasquez; and sisters Aurora Vasquez and Emma Muñoz. He is survived by his devoted wife, Josephine; his children Alfonso "Nick" Vasquez (Jill Choi), Joni Hohmeier (Hans-Ewald), Lana Zachary (Ronald), and Leticia Vasquez; grandchildren Christian Choi Vasquez, Alexander Choi Vasquez, Clinton Zachary, Skyler Rabelas, Zivan Vasquez, Zabyn Vasquez, and Zarah Knowles; and great-grandchildren Ashton Levi Venn and Aspen Ivy Boron. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and friends who will remember his generosity and kindness. Visitation will be held at South Park Funeral Home, 1310 North Main Street, Pearland, Texas 77581, on Monday, September 22, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., with a rosary beginning at 6:30 p.m. A Funeral Service will follow on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at the South Park Funeral Home Chapel, with interment immediately after at South Park Cemetery. In honor of Alfonso's casual style, the family invites guests to attend in comfortable attire, just as he would have wanted. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the LULAC Council 151 Scholarship Fund in memory of beloved family member Zachary Gonzales. Tax-deductible contributions can be mailed to LULAC Council 151, P.O. Box 3344, Galveston, TX 77550, with a note indicating "In memory of Zachary Gonzales." Alfonso "Al" Vasquez will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and uncle - a man who lived with kindness, humor, and heart.