Richard “Dick” John Vasquez

Richard “Dick” John Vasquez passed away peacefully on Monday, September 15 th , 2025. Born in Santa Barbara on January 27th , 1940 to Eleanor and Manual Vasquez, Dick grew up on the Santa Barbara Westside. He attended Wilson Elementary School where he met many of his fellow Wilson Wildcats.

Dick enjoyed the camaraderie and friendships made there as they played many sports during lunch leagues and after school practices for the Saturday games. Under the guidance of the great Frank “Van” Van Schaik, he also experienced the outdoors, taking part in outings with Camp Conastoga youth adventure program sponsored by the City of Santa Barbara.

Dick later became a student at La Cumbre Junior High and Santa Barbara High School. Following in his grandfather, John Garcia’s footsteps, Dick became a firefighter for the Santa Barbara County Fire Department. He was a member of several different County crews over his twenty-six-year career and finally retired while serving at Santa Barbara Station 15. Dick was very much proud of his heritage as a Santa Barbara native. His roots go back six generations and were initially part of the settlement connected to the founding of the Santa Barbara Presidio.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents and his son, Richard Vasquez, Jr. Dick will be sorely missed by is former wife and long-time companion, Mary Jo Crish, his daughter, Denise Vasquez, stepson, Ronnie Gosnell, his brother William Vasquez, and his sister Judy Manriquez.

The family would like to thank the staff at Mission Villa of Santa Barbara for their kindness and patience in the care of their loved one.