Memorials Planned in San Diego for Chicano Leader and Musician Ramon ‘Chunky' Sanchez

A longtime resident of San Diego, Chunky Sanchez wrote the song “Chicano Park Samba” for Chicano Park in Barrio Logan

A series of memorials in San Diego this weekend will celebrate the life and legacy of beloved Chicano leader and musician Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez, his family announced.

Via Facebook, Chunky's family said the first tribute will be held Friday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. at San Diego's Centro Cultural De La Raza.

On Saturday, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., a prayer service for Chunky will be held at Chicano Park in Barrio Logan, followed by a private burial, the family said. On Sunday, the tributes for Chunky continue with a 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Celebration of Life, also at Chicano Park.

A longtime resident of San Diego, Chunky Sanchez wrote the song “Chicano Park Samba” for San Diego’s well-known Chicano Park. NBC 7’s Ramon Galindo reports.

Locals mourned Chunky Wednesday night, too, during a Dia de los Muertos event at Chicano Park.

Chunky died on Oct. 28 at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego. He was a longtime resident, musician and cultural leader of the Chicano community. His eldest daughter, Ixcatli Sanchez, posted the news of her father’s passing on social media Oct. 29, writing, in part: “it is with indescribable emotion that on 10/28/16 my Pops began his next journey in his phase we call life.”

The family has not gone into detail regarding Chunky's cause of death.

Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez was remembered at a Dia de los Muertos event at Chicano Park on Nov. 2. He died on Oct. 28, 2016, just two days shy of his 65th birthday.

He is survived by his wife, Isabel Enrique Sanchez, and their children, Ixcatli, Ramon, Esmeralda, Mauricio and Tonantzin, as well as 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Chunky's youngest son, Fernando Julio Sanchez, 25, was killed in a crash on Highway 138 in Gorman, California in late November 2010.

"He joins his son, Fernando Julio Sanchez (1984-2010), in the spirit world," the Sanchez Family's announcement stated.

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Sanchez Family Photo/Facebook
Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez and his family. He is survived by his wife, 5 children, 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Chunky's birthday was on Oct. 30 -- just two days after his death. He would have turned 65.

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Sanchez Family Photo/Facebook
Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez and his wife, Isabel, in an undated family photograph posted to the Sanchez family's official Facebook page.

After his passing, many San Diegans, including the Chicano Studies Department at San Diego Mesa College and Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, took to social media to express their admiration for Chunky and their sadness over his passing.

NBC 7 spoke with some of Sanchez’s family friends at Chicano Park that day, also grieving over the loss of the Chicano icon who was so well-known in San Diego.

“I really cried for Chunky [because] he had a big influence in my life,” Michael Arenas told NBC 7. “He was a hero to me because he taught me something, a life lesson that I will always carry: to fight for what’s right and to never give up.”

A longtime resident of San Diego, Sanchez attended San Diego State University in the early 1970s and considered himself a “barrio-ologist.” He was known by many in the Chicano community as a “hero of the barrio.”

He wrote the song “Chicano Park Samba” – about the culture, spirit and struggle of Chicanos – for Chicano Park, a colorful, mural-filled cultural landmark under the Coronado Bay Bridge that was designated a park in 1970. The song narrates the struggle for the creation of Chicano Park and has become an anthem for the Barrio Logan community.

“With Chunky’s influence, we have a park – we have this beautiful park. And not just the Raza, we invite the whole community, the whole county of San Diego to enjoy this park,” said Arenas.

After his passing, the website of the Chicano Park Steering Committee, the group that oversees Chicano Park, dedicated its homepage to Sanchez, posting a tribute along with his photograph and the phrase: "Chunky Sanchez, Presente!"

Sanchez was popular throughout San Diego for his visits to many local schools, where he spoke to classes and sang to children.

“He’s always been full of wisdom for us. If you go to any school around here they all know who Chunky is. You ask them who Chunky is and you’ll get a big reaction,” Arenas told NBC 7.

Family friend Noni Samano said Sanchez was known for his passion to give back to the community and to speak the truth.

“When he sang, he sang about the people. He sang about the community. He did a lot for the kids; he went to the schools and would sing for the kids.”

Sanchez was born in Blythe, California, to Mexican immigrant parents, both of whom were farm laborers. Growing up, he also worked as a farm laborer while he perfected his musical talents and learned to compose his own songs, which became known for their political messages in the Chicano community. Sanchez often performed at rallies and marches for the United Farm Workers Union, many times at the request of César Chávez.

"He was involved with César Chávez so much that when César Chávez marched, he always called for Chunky because he loved Chunky’s music," Arenas explained. "No matter where he was at, he would call Chunky to come play with him at his marches and Chunky would drop what he was doing to go and play with him."

Over the years, he performed in musical groups, including La Rondalla Amerindia de Aztlan and Los Alacranes. He received many awards over his lifetime, including several from the California Arts Council and the City of San Diego Commission on Arts and Culture, as well as the César Chávez Humanitarian Award. In 2013, Sanchez was named a National Heritage Fellow by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

He also served as a Little League coach and youth center director, his family said.

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NBC 7 San Diego
Ramon "Chunky" Sanchez, was known for singing at schools around San Diego.

Chunky is the subject of a documentary film by Paul Espinosa, currently in post-production, titled, "Singing My Way to Freedom."

“If you want to learn more about the Chicano community, you need to listen to Chunky’s music,” said Samano. “His heart and soul was in the community.”

Arenas told NBC 7 he will forever carry the legacy and lessons of Sanchez in his heart.

“Another thing that he always told us: the most dangerous Chicano was not a gangster. It was to be an educated Chicano,” Arenas recounted. “Chunky has taught us to never give up and always move forward. Forever love, Chunky. Arriba.”

“We’re going to miss him. This is a great loss,” Samano told NBC 7. “He’s an activist and he got out and he did things. He didn’t just talk about it. He was action.”

Chunky's family and friends have established an online funding page here to raise money to help his family cover funeral and burial costs. As of 12 p.m. Thursday, more than $6,500 had been raised. To help, visit this GoFundMe page.

The community is invited to leave their memories of Chunky on the family's official Facebook page here.

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