Miguel Cervantes

Miguel Cervantes, a beloved local, born and raised in the heart of Santa Cruz, spent his life riding the waves and cruising the beach. Many would describe him as a "jack of all trades" and the one to call when a project needed to be done. Miguel would show up with a smile on his face and a heart that was ready to give. His generosity was always present, shown in his cooking or his harvest of vegetables that he would share with loved ones and the community. Through delicious homemade cooking, or “concoctions”, as he would say, his love was shown through giving. Miguel just wanted to see people smile and be around the people who loved him dearly.

Miguel took immense pride in being a local. He explored every mile of the Santa Cruz coastline we are so lucky to call home; he knew all the best spots, the secret beaches, and the perfect places to catch a "killer" sunset. Spending most of his time down at the harbor, he loved to hang with his buddies, doing what he loved out at sea. Fishing, crabbing, abalone diving, he did it all with the friends he had treasured for years. Gordon Bell, a local himself, was his closest friend, who was always ready for one of Miguel's adventures, and he treasured that friendship for many years, all the way to the end of his days.

Not only did Miguel have a deep love for the ocean, he also lived for adventures outdoors like backpacking and sleeping under the stars. From a young age, he explored the trails of the Santa Cruz Mountains, roamed the woods of Big Sur, and hiked on trails that very few have ever walked on. Miguel loved Tahoe, Yosemite, Sonora, Baja California, and many more. He lived for seeing new places to hike, ride his trail bike, or go offroading and motorcrossing. Miguel had a knack for the outdoors, making an art out of wild adventures. Miguel knew how to find adventure and leave with great memories. Nature was in his blood, and that is where he felt most free, exploring.

Working for the Live Oak School District for just over thirty years, Miguel was well known by many faculty members. With the title of Grounds Maintenance, he was much more than that. Highly skilled in electrical, HVAC, plumbing, and landscaping, Miguel was the guy to call. He was proud of the career, community, and people he met and gained relationships with along the way. Loyal, hardworking, and committed to his work, Miguel carried that ring full of keys to every school close to his heart till the day he retired at the age of fifty-five.

Miguel was a son, brother, father, grandpa, uncle, and friend. He was the son of Joel and Fransisca Cervantes. Brother of three sisters, Cecilia, Alicia, and Lisa. Miguel's love for his family and friends kept him going. He loved to spend time with the people who loved him unconditionally. He learned his generosity from his parents, always willing to give the shirt off his back. He enjoyed watching his nephews, Joaquin and Mateo, in their sports or school activities. He went out of his way to make his sisters laugh throughout their childhood and adult years, showing the love of a brother that never fades away.

Miguel was a father of two. He was a girl's dad at his finest, and he could not have been more proud. Always involved in his girls' activities, volunteering on their sports teams, or going to all the school fieldtrips, Miguel was always there. Throwing the softball around and watching the dance routines from the couch over and over again is what he lived for. From teaching his girls to dirtbike in the Hollister hills, to surfing at the Capitola beach, Miguel was an active father. Not a weekend went by that wasn't filled with bike rides, softball games, Capitola guards, or planting flowers and vegetables in the garden. Miguel loved being a dad.

I, Amanda Cervantes, loved being your daughter. You taught me everything from braiding my hair to building a solid campfire. There are memories I will never let die in my heart, like watching you love my kids, Lorena and Lorenzo, unconditionally. I know you lived for being Papa Miguel, and it kept you going the last few years of your life. I hold the small moments deep in my heart: you brushing my hair while singing AC/DC, Metallica, and Bob Marley. I will never forget our last backpacking trip in Death Valley—just the two of us, father and daughter, sleeping under the stars on one last adventure. Those experiences made me who I am today. I am strong because of you, Dad. I am my father’s daughter in every way, and I could not be prouder to say you were my father.

I hope you live on in the things you loved most: the waves, the redwood trees, the boats, the vegetable gardens, the food we eat, and the smiles that people will give when they hear your name. You will live on within your family, your friends, and every monarch butterfly we see flying by; we will make sure to think of you. Rest easy, Miguel. You were and always will be loved.