It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of our beloved father, Jesus Victor Orozco-Barron. He left this world peacefully on February 28, surrounded by the love of his family, at the age of 75.

Papa's greatest pride and joy was his family. He dedicated his life to our mother, Maria Guadalupe Ramirez de Orozco, and together they raised four children. He leaves behind a legacy in his eight grandchildren, who will forever carry his memory in their hearts.

Our father never let go of his dreams, even when life led him down a different path. As a young man in Mexico, he trained as a singer. Growing up poor and without a father of his own, he dreamed of fame because he believed it could lift his family out of poverty. Though that dream never came to be, his passion for music never faded. When he arrived in the United States in the 1980s, he worked long hours at demanding jobs to give us something he never had: stability and a roof over our heads.

Even then, he held onto his music. Into his old age, he would take his guitar to local grocery stores and sing outside the entrances as shoppers passed by. He even created a TikTok for his music, because sharing his voice brought him joy until the very end. He worked tirelessly with his hands and lived fully with his heart.

As he aged, he faced chronic disease with quiet strength. This past November, he suffered a major heart attack from which he never fully recovered. His health declined, and it became clear his body was too worn to endure another medical crisis. He made his wishes known: he did not want to live dependent on machines. He chose to forgo dialysis and other extensive measures. As a family, we honored that choice. On February 26, we brought him home on hospice care. Two days later, surrounded by my mother, my sister, and me, he slipped away peacefully.

My father's dream was for his children to have opportunities he never did. As the youngest of four, and the first in our family to go to college—let alone pursue an advanced degree—I am now a resident physician, by God's grace. I am currently in residency, working long hours much like he once did. Knowing he was proud of me, and that his sacrifices helped make this possible, is a comfort I will carry forever.

Our family has never known financial ease, but we have always been rich in love and faith. We have managed to cover most of the costs to lay our father to rest with dignity, but we are facing a remaining balance of $8,000 that we simply cannot meet on our own—especially given the hundreds of thousands of dollars in student loan debt I am burdened with. The remaining balance of the funeral arrangements would cover the cost of his service, burial, casket, and more.

We are humbly reaching out to ask for help—not for $8,000, but for whatever you feel comfortable giving. No amount is too small. Every contribution lifts a weight from our shoulders so we can grieve him fully and give him the farewell he deserves. If you are unable to donate, holding him in your prayers would mean just as much.

Thank you for reading his story. He was a good man, and he will be deeply missed.

With gratitude and humility,

Jesus Victor Orozco Jr (on behalf of the entire Orozco family)