Dr. Mario Palomino Valdez's Obituary
Dr. Mario Palomino Valdez passed away on July 18, 2016 at his home in Central Tucson with his family by his side. He is preceded in death by his wife Angelina Valdez. He is survived by his daughters Alma Angelina Valdez-Pena (Eduardo) and Silvia Valdez-Rogers (Andrew), granddaughters Andreanna and Melissa. He is also survived by his grandson Mario Valdez Rogers.
Mario was born on January 19, 1930 in Mexico City, Mexico. He studied medicine at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). While attending college he was an amateur boxer, a sport he dearly loved along with soccer. Mario traveled to the United States soon after college and would meet the love of his life Angelina in Downtown Tucson. They would soon marry and live in three different states Arizona, New Mexico, and Oregon. Mario passed state medical exams in four different states Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and Colorado. Mario and Angelina finally settled in Tucson, Arizona and Mario would work as a family physician in Tucson for nearly forty years. Thirty of those years he had a practice off of 12th Avenue in South Tucson. During his Governorship, Bruce Babbitt appointed Mario to the Arizona State Board of Medical Examiners. In 2007, Mario Valdez retired shortly after the birth of his first and only grandson.
The family would like to give special thanks to his number one assistant Socorro for the excellent job she did caretaking for him for many years. Eva was a wonderful caretaker as well. The family would also like to thank Eddie Pena for his tender loving care for his father-in law’s final days. Mario Valdez was active in several community partnerships and will be missed by his family and many others.
What’s your fondest memory of Mario?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mario?
Share a story where Mario's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mario you’ll never forget.
How did Mario make you smile?

