Ben Craig Aguirre Jr.

Ben Aguirre Jr. was the friend everybody wishes they had. Anybody who met him would agree: He had a kind spirit, an infectious laugh and would do anything to help the people he loved and who loved him. And that was quite a long list.

Ben passed away on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at the age of 43. He is survived by his two beloved children, Asher and Tony, who meant the world to him. He is also remembered by his mother, Florence McNeil, father, Ben Aguirre, Sr., two sisters, Roxann (husband Marius) and Marina, ex-wife, Sandra, girlfriend Kristen, niece, nephew, and a large extended family of cousins, aunties, and uncles.

He touched the lives of so many during his all-too-short time with us, and will be deeply missed by all the family and friends he leaves behind. But the light he brought into all of our lives will never be forgotten.

Ben’s love for people and for telling their stories led him to pursue journalism in college. He earned a Bachelor's degree in journalism from San Jose University in 2003, where he also served as the executive editor of The Spartan Daily newspaper. He then wrote for The Statesmen Journal in Salem, Ore., Seattle Times, The Oakland Tribune, and The Argus in Fremont, Calif., throughout his journalistic career.

He then found a new calling, working as Senior Community Services Officer with the Fremont Police Department, where he continued to serve and protect his community. Not everyone gets to make an impact with their career, Ben was able to do it twice, and the people whose lives he touched were better for it.

Everyone who knew Ben also knew his passion for collecting baseball cards. But he wasn’t just a collector, he was an authoritative voice as a writer and commentator in the hobby community. Ben penned columns for Beckett, the baseball card bible, and was a preeminent voice on baseball card blogs and social media platforms. Some of his stories received national attention. He touched even more people there, offering advice to other collectors or sharing his wisdom to other fathers who wanted to collect cards with their children.

More than any of these professional accomplishments, however, Ben will be remembered as a loving son, brother, and devoted boyfriend. Whether someone knew him from the Fremont PD, Card Twitter or journalism, they all knew a universal truth — nothing mattered more to him than being a father to Asher and Tony.

They were his greatest accomplishment. And will be his legacy.

We’ll all remember Ben for something, no matter which orbit of his world we came from. His laugh, his kind heart and his genuine spirit will never be replaced, but they’ll always be remembered.

A visitation for Ben will be held Friday, November 10, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary, 466 North Winchester Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050, followed by a funeral service at 6:00 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.limafamilysantaclara.com for the Aguirre family.