Michael Anthony Diaz

It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Michael Anthony Diaz, a loving and proud son, father, grandfather, and brother whose absence will be immensely felt and whose presence will be deeply cherished. On February 23rd, 2025, he continued to rock on as he made his way to Heaven at the age of 62 in San Antonio, Texas. Michael will be forever remembered for his warm spirit, his infectious energy, and his cheerful radiance sensed from miles away.

Michael was born on July 27th, 1962, in San Antonio, Texas. He was known to some as ‘MAD,’ inspired by the initials of his name, ‘Face,’ shoutout to LB (if you know you know), ‘Grumpy Grandpa,’ although his granddaughters can’t ever remember a time when he wasn’t smiling, and even ‘PIA’ or ‘Pain In the Ass,’ often referred to by his beloved sister Genie. Michael was raised by his beautiful Mother Carmen, who he adored, and who instilled in him strength, love, and values such as kindness and the importance of family. He spent his youth biking around town with his siblings, cousins, and neighborhood friends, jumping off the Arsenal Bridge into the San Antonio River and tubing down Concepcion Park. Between San Antonio and Chicago, Michael enjoyed swimming in pools, dams, and more rivers, playing Cowboys and Indians, as well as playing football, which often got quite intense due to his very, competitive nature.

His eagerness to compete would carry over to his parenthood, where he hosted pickle-eating competitions with his two children, Star and Mikey, the winner being whoever can keep the straightest face while eating extremely sour pickles. Every summer for about 5 years, Michael would gather friends and family for a grand picnic in a Chicago park so everyone could enjoy some good company, good tunes, and of course, good food. They would play sports like softball and volleyball and cook barbeque. He looked forward to going on family trips which included camping, snowmobiling, and snow tubing in Riis Park. Michael loved his children immensely and was ecstatic about welcoming his grandchildren into the world. He greeted all four of his grandchildren with the absolute most devotion and tenderness. Michael was beyond happy when he heard the news that he was going to have a grandson. He would pick up his three granddaughters from school during their elementary years, teach them how to defend themselves with proper punching lessons, his “beer belly” being the practice pad. When his youngest granddaughter wanted to run away from school in kindergarten, Michael was right there to comfort her, staying with her as long as he could and wiping her tears. He was undeniably there for them whenever they needed him. Michael would take them to the park, watch their favorite shows with them, and play “Store,” which consisted of him role-playing as a customer at a grocery store while his granddaughters would pretend to be the cashiers. Adding his own unique twist to the game, he would pretend to rob the store as a customer.

He had an infinite love for music, especially rock and roll, and never missed an opportunity to share a cerveza and dance. During his younger years, he would go to rock concerts, Tejano concerts, and other concerts by Mexican musicians, eventually sharing his love of music with his family. Some bands he saw live included Def Leppard, Selena, Bronco, ZZ Top, 38 Special, and Albert Zamora. He especially loved Led Zeppelin and Guns n’ Roses. Michael would use his connections to get his daughter, Star, backstage access sometimes.

His motto in life was “peace and love,” a sentiment he carried in everything he did and one that he spread every chance he had. It was a sentiment that he couldn’t embody more. He was a hippie rocker at heart. Always willing to help, Michael would give the shirt off his back to those he cared for. He would do everything in his capacity to keep his loved ones safe from the

menaces of the world. Whether that meant defending his brother in adolescence by tying a hanker chief over an adversary’s neck and flipping them over or lecturing his granddaughters about the dangers of the sun’s UV rays; he was a protector.

A skilled welder by trade, he took great pride in his work, commonly taking selfies with his incredible creations, from company signs to one-of-a-kind metal sculptures of all shapes and sizes. Not only a masterful welder, Michael also was a painter, carpenter and just your friendly handy man who never shied away from accepting a challenge, even if duct tape would declare victory.

Outside of his profession, he found happiness in spending time with his family, taking siestas, walking around the flea market, trying the sweet tea at different food joints, going out to dance Tejano and Cumbia, and relaxing at the beach while embracing the sun and the ocean waves. He loved to wander into whatever caught his attention, finding an adventure in anything and everything. Family was incredibly important to him, and he truly treasured every moment spent with them, with these moments being some of his happiest memories. He was constantly taking photos with his familia, and certainly, lots of selfies.

Michael was greatly known for his vibrant personality and animated character, bringing pure delight and laughter to those around him. His smile was contagious, and he truly knew how to light up any room; He was the life of the party. Everyone knew when he arrived at the function, not because of his booming loud voice, but because you could simply feel his lively essence. He knew just how to make someone feel better and he knew just how to make someone laugh. Michael was not only funny, but he was personable, with the ability to converse with everyone. He was somebody who was accepting, welcoming, and empathetic to all, making even the quietest voice feel heard.

To say that Michael will be exceptionally missed is an understatement. He will be in our memories eternally, for his beautiful soul and his raw spirit, for his compassion and his titanic heart, for his goofiness and humor, and last but certainly not least, for his abundance of love.

May his memory bring comfort, warmth, bliss, PEACE AND LOVE to those who shared in his life’s journey. In honor of Michael’s life and legacy, we celebrate the joy he brought to those around him and the impact he made on all who knew him. We salud, we dance, and onwards, we rock.

Michael is survived by his daughter Star (Joe) Jimenez, son Michael A. Diaz, forever friend Cecilia Cortes, granddaughters Sky Jimenez, Laela Jimenez, Angel Jimenez, grandson Michael G.L. Diaz, sister Genevie (Albert) Diaz, brothers Albert (Maggie) Diaz, Mario Diaz, David (Rick) Diaz, and Gregory (Rosa) Rodriguez, and several loving aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He is reunited with his mother Carmen Grango Diaz (1988), sister Evangeline E. Reyes (2006), brother Ismael Espinosa (1978), sister Yolanda Diaz Rangel (2003), brother Angel Diaz (2004), sister Marian C. Villarreal (2008), and uncle Alejo Grango (2021).