Antonio C. “Tony” Ochoa II
Beloved husband, father, and grandfather;
Antonio C. “Tony” Ochoa II., 86, of Houston, Texas, passed away peacefully on Tuesday January 2, 2024, at Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley in Billerica, Massachusetts, after his 10-year struggle with Alzheimer's.
He was the beloved husband for 57 years of Raquel (Martinez) Ochoa, of Houston, TX, who survives him.
Born in Bexar County, TX, July 18, 1937, the son of the late Antonio C. and the late Elvira (Contreras) Ochoa, he was a graduate of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, TX, majoring in physics and with a minor in math.
Tony II proudly served his country while stationed at Dover Air Force Base during the Vietnam War, where he maintained and repaired combat aircraft. But in addition to these necessary technical duties, Tony II was the chief projectionist at Dover AFB, where he entertained countless military personnel and their families with movies that defined the era.
Tony II's remarkable life is defined by his sharp wit, his adoration for friends and family, his brilliant scientific mind, and his passion for cinema. While stationed at Dover Air Force Base during the Vietnam War, Tony II maintained and repaired combat aircraft. But in addition to these necessary technical duties, he was the chief projectionist at Dover AFB, where he entertained countless military personnel and their families with movies that defined the era. As a film-loving father, Tony II hosted weekly movie nights on his 16mm projector in the living room of his family home, which brought immense joy to his wife, son, daughter, and friends. His enthusiasm for film went hand-in-hand with his love of music and his immense LP collection, which included hundreds of soundtracks and film scores from all his favorite movies, including "Star Wars," "Grease," "Barbarella," "The Glenn Miller Story," "The Man with the Golden Arm," "Mr. Lucky," "A Hard Day's Night," "Xanadu," "Camelot," "My Fair Lady," "The Sound of Music," "2001 A Space Odyssey," and dozens of other classic and cult titles. He and his family were forever speaking in movie quotes, as true cinephiles often do. Other heartfelt family memories with Tony II include annual summer stays in New Orleans filling up on beignets and muffalettas, a cross country caravan to the Pacific Northwest, and unforgettable trips to Great Britain and scenic California. Tony II was a bonafide foodie, and relished tasting regional and traditional dishes wherever work and family travels took him.
Tony II's natural gift for the sciences enabled him to graduate from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, with a major in physics and a minor in math. He enjoyed a fascinating career as a Field Service Engineer with General Electric and Hitachi where he spent decades building, maintaining, and repairing X-ray, MRI, and CT-Scan machines for hospitals in Houston, Texas, and surrounding cities. Watching Tony II build a mighty CT-Scanner from the ground up -- from thousands of wires, electronic boards, motors, and switches -- was the highlight of his son and daughter's childhood. His daughter, Suzzanne, still recalls giving an elementary school presentation on CT-Scan, X-ray technology, and the wonder of magnetic imaging after marveling at one of her father's medical equipment installations.
Other cherished family memories of our beloved Tony II include watching him shine his cowboy boots and polish his LP collection; feasting on his delectable home-cooked BBQ brisket and pork chops; his insatiable appetite for Blue Bell Ice Cream; Tuesday night horror flicks at the local drive-in and late night weekends at science fiction conventions; years of amusement park rides at AstroWorld and football games at the Astrodome; picnics and live stage performances at Theater Under the Stars (TUTS); summers on the water at Galveston Island; and beloved visits to the Houston Public Library and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Though Tony II worked incredibly long hours around the clock for most of his career, he still found time to enjoy the large and small moments that culminated in a life of wonder, laughter, and curiosity.
Besides his wife, Tony II is survived by a daughter, Suzzanne D. Cromwell, her husband Brett L. Cromwell, and grandson Emory S. Cromwell, of Lowell, MA. He is also survived by loving members of his extended family in Texas.
He was the father of the late Antonio “Tony” C. Ochoa III, who passed away unexpectedly on June 29, 2023, at the young age of 53. Lovingly nicknamed "Toby" by his family, Tony Ochoa III was a devoted son and caregiver to his father and shared so many of his dad's loves and strengths.
Mrs. Raquel M. Ochoa and the Cromwell Family extend sincerest gratitude to the staff and caregivers at Life Care Center of Merrimack Valley and the hospice care team at New England Hospice.
Relatives and friends are invited to his Memorial Visitation at the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL, MA on Thursday, January 18, 2024, from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. We ask that visitors kindly omit flowers. Burial will be held privately for the family. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Contributions in his memory to the Houston Museum of Natural Science Annual Fund (in memory of Antonio "Tony" C. Ochoa II) at https://www.hmns.org. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.
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