The family of Richard M. Santoyo is saddened to announce the passing of their beloved father on Friday, May 13, 2022.
Richard passed peacefully at Providence Saint Joseph hospital in Burbank in the presence of his 5 children and their spouses. Richard enjoyed a long life marked by family, love and his generous spirit.
Richard “Dick” Santoyo was the youngest of the ten children born to Ambrosio and Francisca (Castañeda) Santoyo on February 6, 1932. Richard was predeceased by all his siblings: Liborio “L. C.,” Marie “Mary,” Benito “Benny,” Louise, Anita “Annie,” Angelita “Angie” and Albert “Bob” Santoyo.
Richard proudly spent his entire life as an active citizen of Burbank. He attended and graduated from McKinley Elementary, Burroughs Junior High and Burbank High School in 1949.
During his time at Burbank High School, he met a beautiful young gal from Pasadena and after a brief courtship, he and Mary Louise Reyes were married on December 10, 1950. Dick and Mary spent the next 62 years enjoying their life together until Mary passed in January of 2012.
Richard and Mary were blessed to see their five children get married and raise his 13 grandchildren, most still in the Burbank area. Richard was preceded in death by his beloved grandson Sean Edward Santoyo and is survived by son Michael R. Santoyo, his wife Barbara and their children Natalie L. and Christopher M.; daughter Stephanie A. Funk, her husband Jon and their children J. Jacob, Aaron J. and Carla V. DeSpain; son Edward and his wife Jeanne and their daughter Erica J.; daughter Suzy Frankian and her husband Jim and their children Jacqueline A. Niedzwiecki, Clayton R., Hope K. Lopez and J. William; daughter Cindy Burton and her husband Steve and their children Bryce R. and Katie L. Burton.
Richard also adds to his strong and deep legacy through his 19 great-grandchildren including Joshua Santoyo; Darby and Mercedes Drozdenko; Soli and Cean Santoyo; Oz and Asa Funk; Emerson, Stone and Nixon Santoyo; Ann Grace, Allison, Jack and Stella DeSpain; Nolan and Nathan Niedzwiecki and their newest sibling due in September 2022; Caroline Santoyo; and Audrey Santoyo.
Richard spent more than four decades supporting his family by applying his extraordinary talents as an automotive painter. Most of those years as the lead painter at the Speight and Terrell Buick dealerships.
He and Mary enjoyed being active and faithful members in the St. Patrick and St. Francis Xavier Catholic parishes. Richard’s primary area of service to the community was through his nearly 40 years as a member of the Knights of Columbus, Catholic fraternal service organization. During his time with the Knights of Columbus he held many important and distinguished leadership positions including local council grand knight, chapter president, district deputy and State Council Committee chairman.
Richard found time to serve on the Advisory Board of Rancho San Antonio the “Boys Town of The West” and fundraise for this multi-service residential agency serving court-ordered adolescent boys. Closer to home, Richard enjoyed attending the monthly meetings of the Burbank High Senior Bulldogs and served consistently on the Scholarship Committee, living out the group’s motto: “Once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.”
In accordance with his wishes, the family has planned a Catholic Rosary and Funeral Mass at Saint Francis Xavier Church on Scott Road in Burbank beginning at 9:30 am on June 7, 2022. Guests can join a processional to Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills for a graveside service and internment immediately following the mass.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider a donation in Richard’s name to Rancho San Antonio in Chatsworth, California: ranchosanantonio.org/donate/.
