Angel Diaz (Michael) passed away on Nov. 18, 2019 with family at his bedside. Angel was born on Dec. 10, 1941 in Madrid, Spain. The family immigrated a few years later and landed in Superior, AZ, a copper mining community 50 miles East of Mesa.
Angel was raised in Superior where he graduated from high school and went on to attend ASU.
After a brief stint in college, Angel ended up back in Superior where he started working as a copper miner to help provide for his growing family.
When the mines shut down, Angel moved his family to Mesa and found his dream job, a sports equipment manager at Dobson High School. He worked at Dobson until his retirement. Being able to work around sports and with athletes was not a job for Angel it was a joy and a dream come true. He loved it so much he spent his spare time umpiring for youth and adult baseball and softball teams. His happiest years were spent at Dobson High School. He loved “his kids” and they loved him.
Angel was also an avid golfer and as long as he had a pencil with an eraser, he rarely lost a match. The eraser was the “equalizer” and Angel never crossed a scorecard he could not beat.
Angel was definitely known as an entertainer and one of his pastimes was singing karaoke. He was well known for his singing voice throughout the karaoke circuit. His favorite song to sing was “Amarillo By Morning” and his favorite stage was at the “G Bar G”.
Angel is preceded in death by his parents, Alberto and Nieves Diaz; his grandson, Christopher; and his great-grandchildren, Lorenzo and Brooklyn. He is survived by his children, Michael, Gina, Joseph (Isabel), Shavonne (Albert) and Angel; his brother, Joe Diaz (Lilian); his grandchildren, Andriana (Anthony), Joseph (Vy), Albert, Mariah, Jalena, Isaiah, Angel, Ace, Michael and Nickolas; six great-grandchildren; and two nephews, Steven and Paul.
Services were held on Monday, Nov. 25, 2019 at Valley Baptist Church in Mesa.
Rest in peace, Angel, rest in eternal peace.