Estevan Edward Valdez

On Thursday, October 8th, 2020, Estevan “Beef” Valdez peacefully passed after his long battle with diabetes and chronic kidney disease. He battled them until his final moments.

Estevan was born on February 15, 1978 and raised in Tolleson, Arizona, having graduated from Tolleson High (c/o 1996).

After a brief stint at ASU, Steve opted to return to Allied Signal and later Swift transportation as a fuel analyst. Steve eventually caught the bug to return to school, completing his bachelor’s degree in Finance from Arizona State University. That summer in 2006, Steve fulfilled a sought-after desire of visiting China through ASU’s travel abroad program. Thereafter, longing for the entrepreneurial path, Steve helped found the Standard Trading Group with his buddy Wayne. As the business starting out, the financial crisis in 2008 set in and knocked the wind out of their sails. Steve regained his footing by joining E-Waste Harvesters in Tempe. However, despite his best efforts to keep working and pushing forward, his life-long battle with diabetes eventually led to his going blind in his right eye and his kidneys declining into Chronic Kidney Disease. He endured dialysis the past three years, fighting each day to allow his family to spend more time with him.

Steve will always be remembered for his tenacity, warmth and compassion. He was never afraid of living the offbeat path in life, and he spent time consuming knowledge through his vast research on any number of topics online.

He is survived by his mom and dad, Louise and Juan Valdez, his sister Valerie, and his brothers Juan (Gordo) and Marcos, and his six nieces and nephews.

Services will be streamed online on the following Facebook Live https://www.facebook.com/AdvantageMaryvale/ on Tuesday, October 20th, 2020. There will be limited capacity for in-person viewing as well at Advantage Funeral Chapel in Maryvale (6901 W Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85033). The viewing will be 5-7pm followed by a service from 7-8pm. Please email [email protected] for inquiries about attending in-person.

To ensure safety of everyone during these Covid times, masks will be required, and social distancing will be enforced. The family asks that no hugs / handshakes or other contact be exchanged during these times.

A Celebration of Life for Steve will be planned for 2021 once Covid settles. There, all family and friends will be welcome.