Fredrick Francisco Sandoval

Our beloved Fredrick “Fred, Little Fred, Freddy, Ferducci, Papa, Dad, Son, Cuz” Francisco Sandoval Jr., age 48, passed away on May 23, 2023.  Fred was born on July 26, 1974, to Joni Girardin and Fredrick Sandoval. Fred grew up in Commerce City, Arvada, and Oakland. He attended Swanson Elementary School, North Arvada Junior High School, De La Salle High School, and Mullen High School. Some of Fred’s best memories, and stories, came from his time at De La Salle because Fred was a natural born athlete. While at De La Salle, Fred competed on the swim team and football team where he played on the California northern state champion team and set a long-standing record in the breast stroke.  As a die-hard Raiders fan, the Bay Area was always one of Fred’s favorite places. His Junior year, Fred transferred to Mullen High School where he played football and wrestled. Mullen is also where he met his high school sweetheart, and future wife, Denise Kelly.

After attending Mullen, Fred enrolled at Colorado State University (“CSU”). Fred’s tenure at CSU was like none other. There, Fred helped lead the efforts to establish what is now the Chicano Studies Program. Fred was profoundly proud of his heritage and passionate about social justice. He was mentored by some of the most influential Chicano activists, including Rodolfo "Corky" Gonzales and Ernesto Vigil, who he remained friends with long after his time in college. When Fred was not being a zealous Chicano advocate, Fred was tutoring members of the CSU football team and working various jobs in Fort Collins.

Fred was also a family man. During his Junior year at CSU, Fred and Denise welcomed their first of six children, Ramona. Shortly after Fred graduated from CSU with a degree in Microbiology and a minor in Mathematics, he and Denise had their second child, Francisco. After the birth of their third child, Reina, Fred and Denise decided to raise their family in Southwest Denver and purchased a home in the Harvey Park neighborhood where the family still lives today. While living in Harvey Park, Fred and Denise had their third daughter, Estella. Believe it or not, they were not done. Two short years later, the couple welcomed the last of their children, the twins, Manuel and Kevin. There was no one in the world Fred loved more than his children. Fred loved to boast about the accomplishments of his children, and he went out of his way to attend every sporting/academic event. He was always the loudest parent on the sidelines and the most anxious parent at Mock Trial competitions.   

Sports were another big part of Fred’s life. Fred coached football and baseball for over twenty years and touched the lives of many athletes that played for the PAL Mustangs, Bear Creek High School, Bear Creek Little League, the PAL Redskins, and more. It was not uncommon for Fred to be stopped in the store by a former athlete that he had coached, and they always thanked him for the impact he had on their lives. Fight night was also an important day of the week to Fred, and there were few basketball or football playoff games he was willing to miss.

Fred also worked a lot. Throughout high school he worked at Giambrocco and had an internship relocating inventory from Stapleton airport to DIA. He worked for Rocky Mountain SER, Dr. Gilbert Vigil, had his own lawn aerating business, but most notable was his career in telecommunications. Fred started working at Qwest Wireless in 1998. He loved the call center life and was sent to Guanajuato, Mexico to train the employees there multiple times. Each time the company was acquired or merged, Fred made more friends. He eventually served as a Director at CenturyLink/Level III alongside his most trusted colleagues. Whether it be asking Fred to baptize your child, or to attend a Big Head Todd concert, Fred was going to do what he could to help. He was also always ready to have a good time. His dance moves spoke for themselves.

On his last day, Fred watched the Nuggets sweep the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals surrounded by friends and family. To no one’s surprise, in the last 18 hours of his life, over 70 individuals went to the hospital and paid their respects to the man we all loved and miss dearly.
 

Fred was preceded in death by grandfather Francisco Sandoval, grandmother Dorothy Sandoval, grandmother Antonia Girardin, and cousins Kerry Girardin Jr., Nathaniel and Anthony Sandoval. He is survived by father Fredrick (Rita) Sandoval, mother Joni (Dennis) Young, brother Derrick (Amber) Borrego, sisters Janelle (Dorian) Smith and Amanda Mares, daughters Ramona, Reina and Estella Sandoval, sons Francisco (Unity) , Manuel and Kevin Sandoval, grandsons Azriel and Francisco Sandoval Jr. and Amir and Emilio Mandragon, many aunts and uncles, and numerous nieces and nephews. 

He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends, clients, and associates.

A rosary and memorial service for Fred will be held Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at 9:30 AM at Saint Bernadette Catholic Parish, 7240 W 12th Ave., Denver, CO 80214. Reception to follow.

Please send written condolences to the following address, 6396 Peacock Ct. Eastvale, CA 91752, in care of Ramona Sandoval.