Guillermo A. Chavez

Guillermo Alfonso Chavez died peacefully at home in Dixon, CA on May 8, 2022 with his loving wife and family by his side. They will remember him for his joie de vivre and generous spirit. Born in Managua, Nicaragua on May 17, 1940, Guillermo was raised on his family’s farm. He was the eldest of 8 siblings. Growing up, he developed deep, lifelong bonds with the natural world, writing poetry, photography, and cycling.

In 1962, Guillermo immigrated to San Francisco’s Mission District. He was hosted by family friends, a debt Guillermo later paid forward many times. He met his wife Clara, a neighbor, on Guerrero Street and they married at City Hall on February 14, 1968. They moved their growing family to Pacifica before settling in Dixon in 1979.

Prior to opening his Dixon shop, Chavez Auto Body, in 1981, Guillermo earned his diploma from a California Apprenticeship Program, working at Chevrolet and Toyota shops in San Francisco for 10 years.

He was a self-educated businessman. In the 1960s, he learned English by taking classes and studying at the San Francisco Public Library. In the 1990s, he became a US citizen. In more recent years, he read his favorite daily newspaper, El País, digitally. Guillermo was an avid outdoorsman. He raced road bicycles, camped, fished and hunted throughout Nicaragua, California, Alaska, Arizona and Utah. Though an accident in 2010 paralyzed Guillermo, he never let his mobility limit him, physically or mentally. Guillermo’s life continues to inspire many. His family will deeply miss his wit and political and philosophical discourse.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Clara; three sons, Alfredo (Jacqueline), Luis (Amelia) and Oscar Chavez; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; three sisters and three brothers. He was preceded in death by his mother, father, and brother.

The family would like to thank his medical team for their ongoing care over the years.