Alfred Diaz

Alfred H. Diaz, 89, of Toppenish, WA., passed away in his sleep on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, of natural causes. He was surrounded by family while in Hospice care at his Toppenish home. Fred was born on April 13, 1933, to Luz and Esther Diaz in Lyons, Kansas. After moving to Toppenish with his family in the early 1940’s, Fred graduated from Toppenish High School in 1951, and entered the U.S. Navy to fight in the Korean War. He went on to study Education at various institutes and universities in Kansas, California and Washington, earning Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Education. Fred started his teaching career in Castro Valley, California in 1959. Three years later he met the love of his life, Aris (Ardaiz) Diaz, and they were married in the Spring of 1962. In the mid- to late-1960’s they went on to have three boys, Aaron, Jason and Adam. By 1970, Fred brought his family back to Toppenish and purchased their home on North “D” Street where he and Aris would raise their family. Fred was a driven and motivated man. He was particularly passionate about the plight of migrant children and their education. Through public education, he dedicated his career to instigating positive change on their behalf. In education and through volunteer work, Fred held many positions and impacted the lives of thousands of children and young adults. While he received many awards at the local, state and national levels for his professional accomplishments, it was never about him. His focus was always on helping minority children and the underprivileged. His family knew and loved him as a husband, father, grandfather and caretaker, but Fred was so much more to so many people he touched. He was a teacher. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran. He was a mentor. He was a coach. He was a vice-principal and principal. He was a professor. He was a national leader in bilingual education, and he was both a civic and state leader. After Fred’s retirement from public education he became a City Councilmember, and eventually the Mayor for the City of Toppenish. His sense of wit and humor were always perfectly timed. As much as he enjoyed teaching and enriching the lives of students, he truly loved cooking and entertaining, and was right at home playing cards, poker, or Yahtzee, especially for money. Fred enjoyed gambling. He also loved to hunt and fish, and would enjoy these activities with his boys as often as possible. Fred was predeceased by his parents, Luz and Esther Diaz, and his two older brothers, Manuel and Rudy Diaz. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Aris Diaz and his three sons and their wives, Aaron (and Gabriela) Diaz, Jason (and Patricia) Diaz and Adam (and Tina) Diaz, as well as his many grandchildren and great grandchildren. To the medical staff of the Astria Toppenish Hospital, the Toppenish Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Heart Links Hospice, a special thank you for the professional and compassionate care given to our beloved Alfred H. Diaz. No services are planned at this time. The family is considering a Celebration of Fred’s Life in the Spring or early Summer of 2023.

Alfred Diaz

April 13, 1933 - December 20, 2022

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Alfred Diaz

April 13, 1933 - December 20, 2022

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