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Luis Lopez Lagunas, age 71, passed away on Monday, June 15, 2015, surrounded by his family, at the caring and loving community of Maravilla Care Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
He was born on Sept. 12, 1943 in Hayden, AZ to the late Luis and Louisa Lagunas. Luis spent his childhood and early adulthood in Hayden, excelling in academics and sports. Luis was an extraordinary athlete. He competed in football, basketball, track and most importantly baseball, his true love. After graduating from Hayden High School in 1961, he was offered a scholarship to attend Arizona State University to play basketball and baseball. In 1965, he went on to help his ASU baseball team win their first NCAA championship. Luis’ contribution to ASU’s baseball tradition was recognized with his induction into the Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame in 1985. After ASU, he was part of the first baseball draft and was selected by the Minnesota Twins in the summer of 1965.
In September of 1965, Luis married Josie Lopez of Hayden, AZ and they had three children – Luis Matthew, Sonia Denise and Anita Louise – often referred to by him as “his homerun and two singles”. He went on to play minor league baseball with the Twins, California Angels, Kansas City A’s and finally in the Mexican League until 1972.
After his baseball playing years, Luis turned his focus to his family, coaching his son in baseball throughout his Little League years. In 1981, he was hired to lead the first South Mountain Community College baseball team, where he had winning seasons. He left South Mountain to pursue a coaching opportunity with the Chicago White Sox organization, under the direction of Bobby Winkles, his former ASU baseball coach. Luis’ love for baseball continued throughout his life and he died a SUNDEVIL at heart. GO DEVILS!!
Preceding him in death are his parents, Luis and Louisa Lagunas, and older brother, Federico. Left to celebrate his life and treasure his memory are son, Luis Matthew (Kellie); daughters, Sonia and Anita (Frederick) Gammage; six grandchildren, Bryana and Luis Octavio Lagunas, Shaun Richards, and Frederick III, Alijah, and Adarius Gammage; his sister, Jovita Guzman; brother, David (MaryDee) Lagunas; former wife, Josie Lagunas; his uncle, Inez “Nechi” (Gloria) Lope;, and a host of other cousins, nieces, nephews and other extended family members and friends.
The family is grateful for the staff of Maravilla Care Center and Optum Hospice in Phoenix for their attentiveness and loving care of our father in his last months of life.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 25, 2015 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hayden, Arizona with a viewing being held prior at 9 a.m.
Online Guestbook: www.GriffithMortuary.com
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