You are still with me, my friend.  Miss you so much.

I am so happy that Humberto was in our family for 42 years. He brought laughter, advice when you asked him, and he cared for all his sister in laws, nieces and nephews. He was a great teacher for those students that had the pleasure to be in his class. God has gained an angel. Rest in peace Humberto. 

My condolences to “Birdy’s” family.  I met Birdy and his brother “Ruben” many years ago through my husband, Ruben. They were both good people and very entertaining. I loved our conversations (funny)!! Martha, I’m so glad to see you have many, many photos of your memorable times together.  It will be a difficult time to pass through now because you were united in life for so long. I will always cherish our “memories” together.  Birdie, Rest In Peace🥲🥰✝️

I met Humberto over 40 years ago through my friendship with my close friend, Martha. As an elementary school teacher, I also interacted with him through his position with Migrant Education. Humberto was a passionate educator who loved working with young children. He was also a kind, generous person who never hesitated to welcome me into the home he shared with Martha. Humberto had a great sense of humor! He could make everyone laugh. I always loved hearing the stories about all the dances that he and Martha would go to. Boy, they loved to dance!! Humberto was a proud, loving, supportive, caring father to Monica and grandfather to Christian and Lucas. He will be missed by all who were lucky enough to know him. I will miss his smile. May he Rest In Peace.

     I first met Humberto in January of 1969,  when we became roommates while attending Fresno State.  I will remember his wit and humor, as he would often come up with the funniest things during conversations.                        
     His focus on art at college was very impressive.   I’ll always remember how gifted and talented  he was.  I was very impressed with the original paintings he did.  
     Humberto was  a real gentleman and cared very much about those in his life,  and  I am thankful for knowing him as a friend.  

I first met Humberto when I worked at Cal Pine Containers in Modesto the summer of 1969.  When I started attending Fresno State in 1970, we were roommates for a while.  He was a kind man with a great sense of humor. I miss him a lot.  Rest in
Peace, Humberto!

I was truly and deeply saddened upon hearing of Humberto’s passing. He was such a part of our family, like a brother as well as a best friend to me.  I met him as a friend of my brother when they had started attending Modesto J.C. together in 1964.  As many of our friends did, he came to work with us on the ranch during the summers and we became lifelong friends.  We roomed together through college at Fresno State and moved together to San Diego where Humberto and I roomed together for a couple of years before he moved back to Fresno.          

 From our early years at Fresno State, he became part of our extended family.  He attended Christmas with our family for over 40 years. He and Marta (and many times Monica as well) would join us for our family reunions in Santa Cruz each year. We all enjoyed having them as a part of our family, especially with Humberto’s sense of humor.  In thinking back on the years, I cannot ever remember a cross word between us.  He was a truly kind and generous soul. 

More importantly, for me is that he taught me about seeing the world through the eyes of someone that gave up so much to come to this country.  He made a life for himself, put himself through college, and when he met Marta and  Monica his life became complete.  

I know he was also an asset to all the children he taught.  He was a role model for children in a minority-majority elementary school giving his students a gift by their seeing someone they could aspire to. Serving his community through the children he taught in ways he probably never knew.         

I miss him dearly and he will live on in my memories of the more than fifty years we were able to laugh, cry, protest, party, celebrate together and just enjoy each other's company.  

It is with great sadness that I write these words of memory and praise for Humberto Cruz - a person who has been part of my life for almost 60 years. 

Humberto and his family were neighbors in Texas in the early 1960’s. He attended school with my older brother and we all became very close friends. We all attended drive-in movies and parties together with Humberto as our new family member. I saw him as a brother and role model. He taught me numerous things (including how to swim). I even inherited his paper route at one point.

After a few years, he and his family moved to Modesto while we moved to Sacramento. My whole family was delighted to find we lived close enough to visit each other. Humberto eventually moved to Fresno to attend college. After graduating from high school, I had no plans. Humberto counseled me to avoid the draft and attend college. He even invited me to join him in Fresno as one of his roommates. His words of wisdom turned out to be life saving advice.

Humberto was a wonderful person, a dedicated and professional educator, a talented artist and a kindhearted friend. His intelligence and wit were second to none. He was a helper in life and a role model to many. It’s with great sadness I say goodbye to him. I will remember him always as my friend and brother.

Ruben Delgado

There are only wonderful memories with Uncle Humberto. I regret that we all lived so far apart and could not spend more time together. Immense loss, will always miss you.

Reciban un afectuoso abrazo y nuestro sentido pésame por la partida de Humberto.
Lo recordamos por su calidez, buen humor, espíritu generoso , amor por su familia y compromiso con los  niños sus eternos estudiantes……. Aunque ya no estará presente entre nosotros, su alma descansa en Paz y su recuerdo vivirá por siempre.
Que encuentren consuelo y resignación en sus corazones  y Dios los acompañe en esta dolorosa prueba.
Familia Gömez Leòn
Colombia


What can I say about Uncle Humberto? It sure is a difficult moment for all of us. Beloved by friends and family one can only remember his wit, sense of humor and selfless acts. I always admired his willingness to work decades teaching migrant and underprivileged children. I had the fortune of spending many Summers in Colombia with him exploring the country and revisiting areas that were distant memories of his childhood. 
Several years later he was also instrumental in helping us relocate to the USA. He always provided sound advice for which I’ll always be grateful.

Uncle Humberto will be greatly missed.

-Fernando Cruz




OBITUARY

Humberto Cruz

January 11, 1946 – September 11, 2021

Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home

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