Alejo Lujan Vasquez

On February 24, 2022, Alejo Lujan Vasquez passed on to eternal rest to be with his beloved wife Carmen. He was born on July 17, 1930 in Guasti, California to parents Ylaria and Enrique Vasquez. He was raised in Cucamonga and lived out his life in Alta Loma. He was proud of his 91 years in the Rancho Cucamonga area. The fifth child of 14, he was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Felipa, Simona, Ramon, Aureliano, Luis, Magdalena, Pedro, and Fernando. He is survived by siblings Juana, Juan, Agustin, Lorenza, and Micaela. Alejo was a proud and loving member of the Vasquez, Lujan, and Montez families. He is also survived by sister in law Arline Bustamante and brother in law Manuel Montez, along with over 67 nieces and nephews.

“Al”, “Lejo”, “Pop”, started out as a migrant worker, attended Chaffey High School, worked as a grocer, then spent over 33 years as a missile mechanic for General Dynamics of Pomona. Significant projects included the Phalanx Close In Weapons System, Stinger Missiles, and the Standard Missile. His work had him travel across the continent from ships off the coast of California, Eastern Canada, the Gulf Coast, to White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and Texas. He was so happy to continue many lifelong friendships. He was a proud union member of the International Association of Machinists.

Alejo was happily married to the love of his life for 49 years, Carmen Montez. He is survived by his son Juan (Maria), grandsons Julian (Yvonne) and Robert (Kris), great grandchildren Sabrina (Steven), Desiree (Marvin) Alicia, Emilio, Eliana and Rafael. He is also survived by Anthony (Rita), grandchildren Michael (Bridget), CPT Francine (MAJ Curt), Andrew, and great-grandchildren Brooklynn, Saylor, and Cameron. Also, he is survived by daughter Judi (Alan), grandchildren Robyn, Jenny (Jason), Bryan (Christina), Amber (Mike) and Sarah, great-grandchildren Kaden, Masen, Chloe, Mia, Ryan. He was preceded in death by daughter Luisa, nephew Frank Montez, son Steve, and great-grandson Miles.

In addition to his family, Alejo had a great passion for baseball. He played as a youth, an adult, and as a senior citizen. His softball team from General Dynamics won a Southern California Municipal Athletic Federation Championship. His senior softball team won a “World Series” tournament. Alejo loved to build model airplanes from WWII and do many home improvement projects for family. He contributed to books written about the area’s Latino baseball history and was included as an author for the book, Mexican American Baseball in the Pomona Valley in 2014. In the summer of 2021, two of his photos were included in the exhibit “Pleibol” for the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. He truly enjoyed his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Pop was so proud to watch all of them play sports. He was especially proud to watch his grandchildren play for Army West Point Volleyball and Major League Baseball, including the Dodgers.

Funeral Mass will be Friday, April 22, 10:00 am at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, 10079 8th Street, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

Reception following at the Northtown Community Center 11am - 2pm, 10071 Feron Blvd., Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in the memory of Alejo L. Vasquez to the UCLA Center of Excellence at:

UCLA Neurology Finance Office

ATTN: Luba Skoropad

710 Westwood Plaza, 4147 RNRC

Los Angeles, CA 90095

or online at https://giving.ucla.edu/Vasquez

Or the Huntington’s Disease Society of America at HDSA.org