Museum, California Arts Council, and the City of Santa Ana - including creating a 65-foot mural at the Orange County Transportation Center in Santa Ana. Personal life He was previously married to Rosie Lopez Schelerth. Vasquez is the father of six children. His son, Emigdio "Higgy" Vasquez has apprenticed and assisted his father on many mural projects, including restoring and re-creating murals in their original style. Vasquez's daughter, Rosemary Vasquez Tuthill is a fine art painter and muralist. Death and legacy Vasquez died from pneumonia on August 9, 2014 in Newport Beach, California. He was 75 years old. Several groups recognized Emigdio for his contributions to art and culture. In 2004, Emigdio was inducted into Santa Ana College Alumni Hall of Fame; in 2007, Cal State Fullerton University recognized Emigdio as one of the 50 most influential Hispanic graduates from its 50 years of existence; and on May 25, 2013, his birthday, the city of Santa Ana Proclaimed that day as Emigdio Vasquez Day. His ex-wife, Rosie Lopez Schelerth, had written about Vasquez's early life and their marriage in her self-published autobiography, Hi! My Name is Chicken (2008). The Cypress St. Mural Restoration: "El Proletariado de Atzlan" documentary about Emigdio Vasquez and son Higgy Vasquez, was produced and directed by Katherine Bowers for Chapman University. It was selected for the Orange County Film Fiesta. The documentary is about restoring the Cypress St. Mural by son Higgy and includes the story of the life and times of Emigdio Vasquez, his journey from his birthplace in Jerome, Arizona to Orange, California and where Vasquez's early interest in drawing led to a lifetime of fine art painting. The overall project was also honored and selected as part of the Getty Center’s “Pacific Standard Time." References External links USCB Article Video: The Cypress St. Mural Restoration, "El Proletariado de Atzlan" Video: Preserving Anaheim's Citrus Park Murals by the City of Anaheim 1939 births 2014 deaths 20th-century American painters American male painters 21st-century American painters American muralists American artists of Mexican descent Chicano art Deaths from pneumonia in California People from Orange, California People from Jerome, Arizona Social realist artists People from Orange County, California 20th-century American male artists