Hugo Ernesto Diaz

Hugo Ernesto Diaz passed away on Monday December 5, 2016.  He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina  on November 7, 1944 to the late Lorenzo and Lidia (Tomasini) Diaz.  Hugo, his brother Miguel, his father and step mother, Maria, came to the United States in 1959.  Before joining the United States Air Force in 1963, he finished his studies at Catholic boarding school in Barcelona Spain, which then gave him the opportunity to spend time with his Tio Francisco and family there.   Hugo was the owner of D&F Collision and was known by many as the 'bodyman's bodyman'.  He took much pride in his work and was always willing to talk about the 'right way to do it'.   He also never called anyone by their name, he only used nick names he made up – which did not help his children because they never knew what to call their father's friends because they never knew their true names.  Example 'Budda Baby' or 'Leroy shoelaces'  or 'the meat packer' and we can go on and on....        He was a highly knowledgeable man who could talk about any subject – especially history - and he could discuss it in a way that you understood it better than a history teacher could teach you and you would remember it.   He loved to talk, to anyone about anything – if you were planning on stopping by you better give yourself a few hours because it was never a quick visit.He also loved gatherings with friends and family – most notably pig roasts.  Ask anyone who attended one of his many roasts and they will tell you it was a great time.Family, he loved his family very much.   He never recovered from losing the love of his life his wife, Sharon, in January of 1995.   It is a comfort to know he is finally with her again.He is survived by his children, Lidia (Tim) Diaz-Bentham, Paul Diaz, the late Jacquelina Diaz, Glenn (Tricia) Diaz, Ben (Tracie) Santana, Deborah Santana, Steven (Angela) Santana, Deanna Santana.    His pride and joy were his grandchildren, local ones are Brendan, Alexandrea and Connor Bentham that will miss his entertaining ways of telling stories,  his granddaughter Angelina (Will) Jackson in Michigan, Adam, Alexander and Ethan Santana in Michigan,  Bianca Littell in Ohio,  and Hannah Diaz in Texas .  His only sibling was Miguel (Janet) Diaz in Boca Raton, FL and his children Brian (Kate) Diaz, and Kimberly (Dan) Bradford.    Hugo was also an important, father like figure to Amanda and Travis Partyka , and Nicole and Daniele  Panek who will miss him.Finally, his famous phrase he is known for is 'cau sucker' – if you didn't remember his name you knew him by that phrase.Relative and friends are welcome to call on Saturday from 3-6 PM at the R. Mackowiak Funeral Home Inc., 56 East Doughty Street in Dunkirk.Private interment will be held at the convenience of the family.