Theodore Dela Cruz

July 30, 1975 – November 22, 2024

Beloved son, brother, husband and father Theodore Dela Cruz passed away in San Jose on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. He was 49.

Theodore, also known as Theo and Teddy, was born in San Diego, CA on July 30, 1975,

to Ernesto and Ester, who died in 2022 and 2023, respectively. He grew up with a sister, Mary Jennifer and throughout his adolescence lived in San Diego, Long Beach and Alameda in California, as well as resided for four years in Hawaii, places where his father was stationed while in the U.S. Navy. In elementary school in Hawaii, he placed in a storyteller contest, though mathematics was his favorite subject. Then the family settled in San Diego, and he met the love of his life, Melissa in 8th grade. He won trophies in little league T-ball and soccer, and while he and Melissa were in high school, they played for Sweetwater High’s varsity volleyball teams. Theodore was also in Boys State. He graduated with CIF honors and studied Electrical Engineering at California Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo. Soon after receiving his degree, he and Melissa moved to San Jose, where they married and settled with three daughters. Theodore loved to watch his daughters’ soccer games and dance recitals, tend to his electric cars, tune into CNN and TV dramas, and check out (maybe buy) the latest tech in electronics. Throughout his career, he either managed, created and/or led production of electronic devices or satellite projects for government and commercial clients. He was a loyal, devoted family man, husband and friend who was smart, kind and forthright but had a funny bone that was clever, endearing and thoughtful.

Besides his wife, Melissa and sister Mary Jennifer, Theodore is survived by his children, Sydney, Lucie and Penny, as well as his aunts Amelia Bada, Merca Sito and Bernadette Moncera, numerous cousins, and his in-laws: parents Asnor and Filipina Santonil, brothers Erwin and Jorel Santonil, Jorel’s wife, Christine and their two children, Jaythan and Jordan.