Jesus "Jess" Aguirre Trias

TRIAS, Jesus A., Retired Lt. Colonel, U.S. Air Force “Jess”, 89, passed peacefully into his heavenly home, Tuesday, September 8, 2020. He was born on June 29, 1931 to Jesus B. and Dolores Aguirre Trias in Tucson. He started 1st gr Elisabeth Borden Elementary where he learned to speak English. After graduating from Tucson High went to the University of Arizona graduating in 1954. During his high school and college years, he was employed at Jacome’s Department Store. Alex, and the brothers, took him “Jr”, under their wings as he became part of family teaching him the value of principles and integrity. He took ROTC while attending the UofA. Upon his graduation, he was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Air Force in 1954. His first assignment was Davis Monthan AFB, followed by tours in Japan, Travis AFB, CA, and SAC Headquarters at Offutt AFB in Omaha, NE. While stationed at Offutt AFB, he met Florence Bodtke and they were married on June 30, 1962. From SAC, he was sent to Miami, Florida working as an analyst with post Cuban Missile Crisis intelligence. Then to Command Headquarters Albrook AFB in the Panama Canal Zone. From there, he served his country proudly for a one-year tour in Vietnam, 1971, then assigned to the Pentagon and the National Security Agency (NSA) in the Washington, D.C. area. He retired in July 1981. He received numerous medals and awards during his 28 years of service, among them were the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal, and several additional Vietnam Medals. His entire Air Force career was spent in the Intelligence field, utilizing his fluent Spanish, his first language, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, and as an interpreter for South American Generals. After retiring he and the family moved from their home of nine years in Bowie, MD to Tucson. He found employment as an analyst with the Arizona Criminal Intelligence Agency, then Director of Criminal Investigation with the Dept of Public Safety. With each assignment he always developed the best in his personnel. He spent his entire career in many disciplines of intelligence always with defending America and its principles and values. As parents, Jesus “Jess” and Florence, were blessed with three children. Jess Andrew, born in Omaha, NE, Michael Anthony, born in North Miami Beach, FL, and Christina Theresa, born in the Panama Canal Zone. He instilled the same principles and discipline to his children, sometimes not to their liking. He was so proud that each one graduated from college and were successful. His love of his family was his the most important treasure. He was preceded in death by his son Michael, who died of ALS in 2008, his parents, his sister and brother in-law Christina and Randolph Chavez, his brother Robert and sister-in-law Jane, brother in-law Bill Bodtke, He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Florence of 58 years, son Jess (Amy), and their children Andrew and Hallie of Chandler, daughter Christina Trias (Nick Raspanti), her daughter Julia (Jesse) Zuniga of Tucson, daughter in-law Jill Trias, daughters, Eleise, Elaine, and Maggie of Mesa and one great grandchild, Penelope Zuniga .His brother John Trias (Patsy) of Tucson, brother in-law Melvin Bodtke (Shirley. deceased) of NE, sister in-law Alice Peacock (Jim, deceased) of MO, and nieces and nephews. Visitation will be at Bring’s Funeral Home, Friday, September 18, 2020, from 5:00-7:00 PM Because of the Virus certain restrictions will be required. Private Funeral Mass and Celebration of Life at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Saturday, September 19, 2020 at 12:00 Noon. Burial at Our Lady of the Desert. Donations can be made to St Pius X 1800 N. Camino Pio Decimo for the Food Bank and the Good Samaritans, or a charity of your choice. Live webcasting of the visitation is available at: http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/36786