Augustine ‘Tito’ Vega, Oct. 2, 1951 – Aug. 30, 2023
You are invited to join the Celebration of Tito Vega’s Life at noon, Sept. 25th at CSU-Pueblo’s Occhiato Student Center.
Like a dark cloud, a wave of sadness flowed over the Pueblo’s Chicano community in late August as news of the death of Tito Vega spread from word of mouth, text, emails, and social media.
Large in stature, Tito was a big man in many ways. “Tito was the epitome of a gentle giant — so humble and so caring,” said Denise Torrez, El Movimiento Sigué President, in a text to members.
He was humble and gentle, but also could be an intimidating figure wearing his Brown Beret and uniform while providing security for Rodolfo “Corky” Gonzales and other Chicano Movement leaders speaking at rallies on the steps of the State Capitol in the 1970s.
Tito had many talents. He was a founding member of El Teatro de la Lucha with his sister, Maria Vega Clark, the late Gordon Raigosa, and Abran Sandoval, to name a few. In many of the skits, Tito was the straight man to Raigosa.
In an interview with the Colorado Chicano Movement Archives at CSUP, Tito talked about the beginning of teatro in Pueblo. “The Teatro Campesino came to Pueblo to perform and conduct workshops,” he remembered.
Though he did not attend the workshop, his sister Maria did. From that seed, Tito and Maria decided Pueblo’s Chicano Movement needed a teatro. “We wanted to teach the people of Pueblo what was going on in the community and how things needed to change,” he said in the interview. His knowing grin and twinkle in his eyes were evidence of his keen sense of humor. He enjoyed a good laugh.
He was born on Oct. 2, 1951 in La Junta, CO to Tomas Vega and Refugio “Cuca” (Vasquez) Vega — Tito was a first generation U.S. citizen and was extremely proud of his Mexican heritage.
According to family members, “Tito’s father, Tomas Vega, came to the U.S. from Mexico as a small boy. He worked in the farms in La Junta. As a teenager, Tito’s mother, Refugio (Vasquez) Vega, came from Mexico to join her family already living in La Junta. Through a twist of fate, they met and married, and the rest is history.”
The Vega family moved to Pueblo when Tito was five years old. They settled in the vicinity of Midtown Shopping Center, in a tight-knit community made up of mostly Mexican families, known as “The Barrio.” Some people called this community “Peppersauce Bottoms.” The Vega family is very proud of their Mexican roots. Tito’s first language was Spanish. The Mexican traditions were ingrained in Tito and he fully enjoyed spending time with his parents, tia’s, and extended family — picking nopales, talking about the gardens they had planted, and laughing at their stories and dichos.
Tito was always a big boy and in middle and high school he excelled. He lettered in football and wrestled heavyweight for Centennial. “He held the record for the fastest pin,” said one family member.
Tito attended several colleges including the University of Colorado’s UMAS Summer Program and CSUP. In college, he learned about the Chicano Movement. Tito was already impressed with his dad, Don Tomas, and his brother, Tony, because they were very interested in what was happening in the world.
Tito followed their examples and continued to develop his “world view” of politics all his life. He believed it was important to be informed of not only the issues in his immediate community, but also the issues affecting the whole world.
He became a Brown Beret while in college. He and brother, Tony, and sister, Maria, worked to better the community of Pueblo through their involvement with La Raza Unida. He was a radio personality who aired interviews and played Mexican and Chicano music on stations in Pueblo, Denver and Las Vegas, NM. — always in Spanish.
For most of his adult life he was active in the community. As a beret, he provided security for numerous events such as El Cinco de Mayo, Sept. 16th Mexican Independence Celebrations, rallies and marches and the protests at the Columbus statue in the Mesa Junction. “I’m still a beret and believe in defending our people,” he said in the interview conducted in the summer of 2022.
Until a few months ago, he was active with EMS and La Cucaracha newspaper where he sold advertising and was a contributor in countless ways. He completed training and worked many years as a Radio Field Engineer.
As a community leader, he taught First Aid/CPR, later on in life, he also fought against the stigma of mental illness, teaching classes to the community and working closely with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
Eutimo Adina. Luz was not born yet. Photo by Juan Espinosa
He was mechanically inclined and enjoyed woodworking. On the softer side of Tito, he was adept at macrame, origami, weaving, and knitting.
He especially loved seeing the youth develop an understanding of how things run in their world, and the economics behind the politics. Tito continued his involvement in the community until it was too difficult for him to get around.
He was happiest when he was engaging and speaking with people (especially in Spanish), and sharing the beauty of the Spanish language and Mexican culture. Speaking Spanish was important to Tito. In the previously mentioned interview, he said the words were “sabroso” or tasty in his mouth.
He was home In the months preceding his death, surrounded by the love of his family and friends. In lieu of flowers, Tito would have appreciated a donation to the El Movimiento Sigué.
He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Augustine, Antonio, and Pete Vega, and aunts, Antonia Martinez and Felice Vega.
He is survived by his spouse, Theresa (Gallegos) Vega, children, Eutimio, Adina, and Luz Vega; grandchildren, Tito, Emo, and Isabella Vega; and his sisters, Antonia Sandoval, Rose (Ron) James, Felice Vega, Francis (Ken) Tracy, and Maria (Bill) Clark. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and an extended family of cousins — each of whom has had a special place in his heart. He will be greatly missed but ever present in our hearts.
¡Que Viva Tito Vega!
Watch the Chicano Archive interview with Tito, recorded by Carmen Arteaga, here.
Email El Movimiento Sigué here.
