Victor Cervantes
Victor Nicolas Cervantes, devoted son, husband, father, grandpa and friend passed away on October 15, 2023, in Santa Barbara, California, at the age of 78 after a long and hard fought battle with metastatic prostate cancer. He was born on September 10, 1945, in Santa Barbara, California. Victor was a genuine, funny, and energetic individual who was loved by all who knew him. He had a strong work ethic and a loving father and husband. Victor was also a great storyteller, captivating everyone with his tales.
After receiving his education through the local Catholic schools, Victor embarked on a successful career, working at Dripcut Corporation in Goleta for 21 years. Starting as a certified welder, he eventually climbed the ranks and became the plant manager and helped the company flourish. After his tenure at Dripcut, Victor established a thriving gardening business, which he ran for nearly 40 years. He was a self taught handyman and was able to fix many things. He loved working with his hands, especially with wood, stones, and plants and created many beautiful spaces around his home and those of his clients. He was a familiar face at his favorite “go to” stores, Home Depot and ACE Hardware.
In his free time, Victor pursued his love for sports and the ocean. From a young age, he participated in various sports such as football, basketball, volleyball, and baseball. However, his true passion was surfing. Victor traveled to France, Spain, Hawaii, and Mexico to surf, but his favorite local spots were Rincon, Hammonds and Hollister Ranch. He loved the ocean and enjoyed surfing until the last few months of his life. Victor also took great joy in watching all of his sons play volleyball and spent many hours on the road, in gyms and on the beach actively engaged and supportive. He cherished his boys and was immensely proud of their respective career and athletic accomplishments. Family was extremely important to him and he was always there to celebrate, mentor, or just be “dad”.
Victor is survived by his wife, Susan and their three sons, Shane, Cole and Ric as well as Cole’s wife, Jennifer, and their daughters, Vienna, Lola, and Santina. Victor is also survived by his dear sister, Lola Howe. He was preceded in death by his parents, Felix and Josefine Cervantes, and his nephew, Armando Perez.
The family would like to acknowledge those people that were so important in helping him through his illness. Specifically, heartfelt thanks goes to Victor’s caring and optimistic oncologist, Dr. Gupta, who was always working to find ways to extend his life for the last seven years. The nurse practitioners, the staff and all those that worked at Ridley-Tree Cancer Center were wonderful. The doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers at Cottage Hospital were extremely caring. And in the final days of his life, Serenity House and those that attended Victor with such gentleness, we cannot thank enough. Of course, to those that called to offer support or came to visit Victor in his final hours, we are extremely appreciative of your presence there.
At this time, there are no scheduled services for Victor. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Surfrider Foundation, St. Jude or a charity dear to your heart.
Victor will be deeply missed by his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched and will continue to touch. His genuine nature, humor, and zest for life will forever be cherished