Clovis Vialpando

My father, who was born on March 26, 1935, to Fermin Vialpando and Mary Rodriquez, passed away on May 1 at the age of 89. If there was ever anyone who exemplified the motto, carpe diem-- seize the day, it was my dad, who always woke-up before the sun rose and the rooster crowed just to make sure that he had a clean shave, that his clothes were pressed and that his shoes were shined before he left the house. Because he jumped out of bed before the crack of dawn, he also encouraged my brother, Art, and me to do the same by joining him with our fishing poles at the Tooele dam before the fish started biting or with our rifles on the mountain before the deer started roaming. As Art and I sat to the left and right of my father at the dam or on the mountain during our childhood and teenage years, we learned a lot of lessons about life, but most importantly, we learned about the powerful love of a father, who in many cases, can reflect the love of God, who guides, guards and protects his children.

Seizing the day for my father included camping, fishing, hunting, motorbiking, and playing pool; however, the fuel that energized him throughout his day was his love for God, family and others. He put his faith into practice by being an active member of Saint Marguerite Catholic Church and by doing his best to recognize the presence of God in all. With the gift of gab, he loved to connect with people, even if that meant offering a cup of coffee to a stranger, whether it was five, six or seven-o-clock in the morning. For my dad, the best part of waking up was not Folgers in his cup; it was having a cup that overflowed with charity, which inspired him to go out and make someone’s day by being a humble servant of God and His people.

On December 15,1956, he married Patricia Gonzales. From their twenty-years of marriage, they raised two amazing sons, Arthur Clovis Vialpando and me, Kenneth Leo Vialpando. From Art, they also welcomed their first and only grandson, Tyler Arthur Vialpando, and Tyler’s son, Hayden.

Following their divorce in 1976, he married Helen Brito Griego in 1995. From this marriage, he was blessed to get five bonus stepchildren, Gloria, Mike, Gayla, Bill and Brian.

In addition to having one sister, Mary Lou Rodriquez Draper, my dad had twelve half-siblings from the Vialpando Family: Joe, Ted, Ray, Dave, Ruben, Michael, Linda, Gloria, Mary Ann, Ranee, Terrie and Lisa. He also had numerous nephews and nieces from the Vialpando, Gonzales, Draper and Griego Families.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Helen; son Arthur; stepchildren Gloria Schaeffer, Brian Griego; sister Mary Lou Draper; brothers-in-law, Ernie Draper, Leo Gonzales, Joe Gonzales, Dennis Gonzales; sister-in-law Rosemary Gonzales; nephews Dan Gonzales, Brad Draper.

The funeral services will be at Saint Marguerite on Thursday, May 9, beginning with the visitation at 10:00. There will be a rosary at 10:30. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00, followed immediately by the committal at the Tooele City Cemetery. After the graveside service, a luncheon will be provided in the social hall at Saint Marguerite. All are welcome!

True to his nature of rising early, my dad passed from this life to the next at 4:43a.m. on Tuesday, May 1, just in time for his soul to seize the day, to wait for the sun to rise and to embrace the Son of God!