My name is Ivan,

And unfortunately, I'm having to ask for help to cover some funeral and medical costs for Marco Antonio Muñoz. Marco was like a father to me; he helped raise me and my sisters alongside my mom, and I can't remember a time when I didn't know him.

Marco has spent a little over a year battling leukemia. After catching pneumonia, he learned of the cancer diagnosis. He underwent chemotherapy and even a bone marrow transplant earlier this year. However, his lungs developed substantial scarring, and even with oxygen tubes, his lungs ultimately failed, and Marco passed away on the 12th of October, 2025.

Seeing Marco in the hospital was a tough sight for me. All my life, I've seen him as this towering, powerful person with a commanding presence. Getting to work with him, I got to know a different side of him—a joking side that was caring for his coworkers and customers alike but with a side of in-your-face truth. I got to spend his last weeks with him, going to see him every other day or so, and even in his hospital bed, he was asking if I needed to borrow his car, asking about my sister's employment, and even saying I should apply to work at Cafe Chiave, where he was working for the past decade or so.

If you have ever had a latte or cappuccino in Berkeley, chances are Marco probably made it. Going out in public with him wasn't for the introvert, because he would usually be spotted by a cafe regular or someone he's worked with at a restaurant before.

Marco has had a huge impact on my life, and I wasn't ready to say goodbye, but then again, I don't think I would have ever been ready. Unfortunately, he was the main source of income for himself as well as his wife and daughter, and being hospitalized for over a year doesn't come with a small price tag. If you can help out with anything, I'm sure his family would be grateful, and I'm positive Marco would be too.

Thank you for reading, thank you for donating, thank you for helping spread the word. I truly appreciate any help towards this.

Rest In Peace, Marco.