Diogenes Vazquetelles Jr. Obituary
Diogenes Vazquetelles Jr (Dino) went home to be with our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. He left us so suddenly on the evening of June 20, 2022, at the young age of 73.
Born on August 1, 1948, in Manhattan, N.Y to Puerto Rican parents- Diogenes Vazquetelles and Epifania Vazquetelles. He attended public schools in "El Barrio" also know as Spanish Harlem, including Margaret Knox JHS 99. (Many years after graduation he returned and was employed as a Parent Program Assistant in the late 60's and early 70's.). He graduated from Benjamin Franklin H.S., Bronx Community College, and City College of New York (CUNY) earning an Associates and a bachelor's degree in Psychology.
He was employed with New York State Department of Corrections for about 30 years. He began in Youth Delinquency and eventually retiring ten years ago as a New York State Parole Officer.
Diogenes was a well-read person. One would find him "book in hand" most of the time. He could read three different books at the same time and keep up with each of the plots. He would often mention that his older brother Danny had been the one who hooked him into reading and once he began, he could not stop. One of his borrowed quotes was "Too many books …too little time.". Besides reading, he enjoyed Calligraphy (lettering), walking (at one time he was a Cross Country and Long-Distance Runner), driving and traveling whenever possible. Most of all he enjoyed spending as much time with his wife and daughter.
Diogenes met his wife Jeanette Surita at Margaret Knox JHS 99 in 1968. They became friends and their relationship blossomed, after a courtship of 11 years they got married in New York, in a chapel on Fifth Avenue and 97th street. by the first Episcopalian woman minister and in the 1980's. Diogenes and Jeanette became parents when their only daughter Meagan Elizabeth was born.
While many would mis-read Diogenes due to the stern look he often presented . Once you got to truly know him you would discover that he had a passion for justice and was compassionate. He would gain the love and respect of many. God would use the many gifts Diogenes possessed to work and give guidance to many young men who were lacking an active father in their lives.
Diogenes was, intelligent, had a sense of humor and loved to laugh.
His beautiful life will be forever cherished in the lives of his wife, Jeanette Surita-Vazquetelles, his daughter Meagan Elizabeth, his brother Edwin, his sisters: Evelyn, Leonor, and Alice and Brother-in-law John Pabon. His Father-in-Law Ramiro Surita Sr., Sister-in-Law Sylvia DeJesus and husband Jose DeJesus, and Brother-in-Law, Ramiro Surita. He will also be dearly missed by his many nieces and nephews.
