Augustine Joseph Vega

He was born on October 2, 1951 in La Junta, CO.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Tomás Vega and Refugio “Cuca” (Vasquez) Vega, his brothers, Augustine, Antonio, and Pete Vegas, and his Aunts, Antonia Martinez and Felice Vega.

He is survived by his spouse, Theresa (Gallegos) Vega, children, Eutimio, Adina, and Luz Vega; grandchildren, Tito, Emo, and Isabella Vega; and his sisters, Antonia Sandoval, Rose (Ron) James, Felice Vega, Francis (Ken) Tracy, and Maria (Bill) Clark.

He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and an extended family of cousins - each of whom has had a special place in his heart.

Tito’s father, Tomas Vega, came to the U.S. from Mexico as a small boy. He worked in the farms in La Junta, CO. As a teenager, Tito’s mother, Refugio (Vasquez) Vega, came from Mexico to join her family already living in La Junta. Through a twist of fate, they met and married, and the rest is history.They lived for several years in the Arkansas Valley, later moving to Pueblo when Tito was around 3 years of age.

They settled in the vicinity of Midtown Shopping Center, in a tight-knit community made up of mostly Mexican families, known as “The Barrio.” Some people called this community “Peppersauce Bottoms.”

The Vega family is very proud of their Mexican roots. Tito’s first language was Spanish. The Mexican traditions were ingrained in Tito and he fully enjoyed spending time with his parents, Tia’s, and extended family - picking nopales, talking about the gardens they had planted, and laughing at their stories and dichos.

In junior high and high school he excelled- and lettered in football and wrestling, holding for a time the record for the fastest pin.

In college he learned about the Chicano Movement. Tito was already impressed with his dad, Don Tomas, and his brother, Tony, because they were very interested in what was happening in the world. Tito followed their examples and continued his “world view” of politics all his life. He believed it was important to be informed of not only the issues in his immediate community, but also the issues affecting the whole world. He became a Brown Beret and later helped to develop a street theater group called Teatro de la Lucha. He and brother, Tony, and sister, Maria, worked to better the community of Pueblo through their involvement with the La Raza Unida.

He DJ’d Spanish-spoken radio programs in Pueblo, Denver and Las Vegas, NM,. He aired the recorded interviews and incorporated musica folklorica whenever possible.

Later in life he joined the El Movimiento Sigue organization, worked on the Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Pueblo, and participated in the protests to take down the Columbus statue.

He completed training and worked many years as a Radio Field Engineer. As a man of many talents, he taught First Aid/CPR, was mechanically inclined, enjoyed woodworking, macrame, origami, weaving, and knitting. Later on in life, he also fought against the stigma of mental illness, teaching classes to the community and working closely with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).

He especially loved seeing the youth develop an understanding of how things run in their world, and the economics behind the politics. Tito continued his involvement in the community until it was too difficult to get around.

He was happiest when he was engaging and speaking with people (especially in Spanish), and sharing the beauty of the Spanish language and Mexican culture.

He was home In the months preceding his death, surrounded by the love of his family and friends.

We encourage you to watch the Chicano Archive interview with Tito, done by Carmen Arteaga, at the following link:

https://archives.mountainscholar.org/digital/collection/p17393coll34/id/85/rec/2

In lieu of flowers, etc. Tito would have appreciated a donation to El Movimiento Sigue organization https://m.facebook.com/chicanopueblo or NAMI Southeast Colorado Chapter https://namisoutheastco.org/. Thank you.

The Celebration of Life will take place at the Colorado State University Ballroom on Monday September 25 at 12 noon.