Victoriano "Vic" Lucio Padilla

Victoriano was born to Pedro and Conferina Padilla at their home in Tecolotenos, New Mexico He spent the first eleven years of his life helping his family with chores that included chopping wood, carrying water from the river to the house and herding the cows from the fields. In his free time, he enjoyed fishing, hunting and riding horses. Vic was the oldest of nine children.

His father, Pedro, in search of better life and education, brought Vic and the family to Brighton, Colorado. This transition was challenging, as Vic did not speak English and the culture was much different than in the mountains of New Mexico. Vic, along with his siblings, worked in the fields each summer picking peas, cucumbers, beans and other vegetables to help the family make ends meet.

Vic graduated from Brighton High School in 1955. He was soon drafted into the U.S. Army and left for basic training on his future wife’s 18th birthday. After two years in the Army, he came back to Brighton and married his sweetheart, Irene, on July 11, 1959. In 1961, they welcomed their son, Philip.

As his family grew, Vic attended and graduated from Colorado Teachers College, now the University of Northern Colorado, and received his Bachelor’s degree. Vic moved his family to Salinas, California and taught Spanish at Salinas High School as well as adult Spanish courses at Hartnell College. During their time in California, their daughter, Victoria, was born.

Wanting to be closer to his parents, Vic and his family eventually returned to Colorado. He began a new career working for John Hancock Insurance. Their daughter, Ann, was born soon thereafter. While raising his family in Brighton, Vic was elected to the Brighton School District 27J School Board and, most notably, was their first Hispanic board member. He was also an active member with the Knights of Columbus.

Vic continued his professional insurance career, later working for Travelers Insurance and eventually ran his own office in Fort Collins, Colorado. After retiring from Travelers Insurance, Vic accepted a position working for American Family Insurance. Fully retired, Vic became a dedicated and passionate volunteer with St. Augustine’s Parish Community Food Pantry. In this role, Vic would greet and assist those in need using both the primary language he loved and the secondary language he conquered. Vic was an active and devoted church member and assisted others throughout the community.

Vic enjoyed the free time retirement afforded, spending precious time with his ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Vic is survived by his wife, Irene and children, Philip (Lisa), Victoria (Allen Hollingsworth) and Ann (Ron Rodriguez), sisters Polly Clifford, Elizabeth Verdeal and Linda LeBallister and brother-in-law, Bob Grabowski. He was preceded in death by his parents, Pedro and Conferina Padilla, siblings, Emma Padilla, Mary Ann Padilla, Joseph Ernest Padilla, Gilbert Padilla and JC Padilla.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

St. Augustine’s Community Food Pantry

178 South 6th Avenue

Brighton, Colorado 80601

Email: PantryOfficeManager@staugustinebrighton.org

Pantry Phone: 303-654-1040

Online donations: https://giving.parishsoft.com/App/Giving/staug

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