Please help my father Ricardo Velasquez

Hi everyone my name is Michael A. Velasquez, born and raised in San Francisco, I am a local artist and student.

We kindly ask for your help in covering funeral expenses during this difficult time.

With heavy hearts, we are reaching out to our community during one of the most painful moments our family has ever faced. On March 25th a Tuesday, our beloved father went into sudden cardiac arrest. I performed CPR and we held on to hope, but the lack of oxygen caused severe brain damage. After many discussions with doctors and one another, we’ve made the heartbreaking decision to let him pass on peacefully. Our dad was an artist—a true creative soul who saw the world in color, texture, and light. He poured his heart into every brushstroke, and his artwork reflected the quiet strength and beauty of who he was. As we prepare to say goodbye, we’re asking for support to help with the unexpected medical and end-of-life costs. Any amount, no matter how small, would help ease the burden and allow us to honor him with the same love and care he gave to all of us.

Our father was born and raised in El Salvador in 1951. He studied the arts in San Salvador and became a commercial artist—a passion that stayed with him throughout his life. In 1972, he met our mother, Dora Cecilia, and they married in 1975. Not long after, they moved to San Francisco, where they started their family: my oldest brother Richard J. Velasquez was born in 1977, followed by my second brother Moises B. Velasquez in 1979, and then me Michael A. Velasquez in 1993.

Though he faced challenges finding work in his profession due to the language barrier, our father never stopped pushing forward. He found work at the Hilton and spent more than 38 years in the restaurant industry, where he became an incredible bartender, known for his skill, charm, and warm personality. He also went on to earn his degree from San Francisco Community College, a testament to his dedication and drive.

But beyond his work, our dad was a true creator and tinkerer at heart. He loved building and making things—designing his own clocks, wrote poems, crafting board games from scratch, and even building planes out of old cans. His imagination had no limits, and his hands were always busy turning ideas into something real. And that was just a glimpse of his talent.

More than anything, he loved making people happy. He had a gift for connection and could become your friend within minutes. He left lasting impressions on everyone he met, not just because of what he could do, but because of who he was—kind, generous, and full of life.

He was also a proud grandfather to five beautiful grandkids, who were the light of his life.

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for keeping our family in your thoughts. Your support, in any form, means more than we can say. It brings us comfort to know our father’s life and art touched others. We’re deeply grateful ❤️