Guillermo Muñiz passed away peacefully on Thanksgiving of natural causes.
Guillermo was born in Guadalajara, Mexico, the fourth of 11 children to Virginia Ramirez and Francisco Muñiz.  He left school to work full time at age 10 to support his family.  An accomplished amateur cyclist, he immigrated to the US in 1956 through the Bracero Program and moved to Pittsburg, CA in 1957 where he worked locally at the Western California Cannery and at the New Mecca Cafe.  It was there that he met and married his wife, Teresa Guzman, and where, in 1964, the two of them bought the New Mecca Cafe upon the death of owner Moises Vasquez.
The Mecca remains an anchor of downtown Pittsburg, and its success was Guillermo's American dream, enabling him to share and connect with the community that supported him.  He loved supporting local youth programs and offered his own life story as an example of life's possibilities despite coming from humble beginnings.  He catered to the major league sports teams for decades.  He loved to sing.  Most importantly, he loved people and connected easily with people from all walks.  Guillermo Muñiz Plaza in downtown Pittsburg was named in his honor in 1998.  He had tremendous gratitude to the Pittsburg community that embraced and supported him.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Teresa; two children, Alberto Muñiz (Lourdes Gutierrez) of Pittsburg and Marcela Muñiz (Josh Roper) of San Francisco, and his granddaughters Alejandra and Mariana Roper of San Francisco. He is also survived by four sisters, Graciela, Teresa, Virginia, and Martha Muñiz Ramirez, and a brother, Fernando Muñiz Ramirez, all of Mexico. He was also "Uncle Guillermo" to many.  He is preceded in death by his son Bill Muñiz in 1989, and by five siblings, Jorge, María Luisa, Guadalupe, Ernestina, and Francisco Javier Muñiz Ramírez.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at 5:00pm with a vigil at 6:30pm. Funeral liturgy Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 10:00am both days at Church of the Good Shepherd. Committal services following at Holy Cross Cemetery in Antioch. In lieu of flowers, donations in Guillermo's memory can be made to Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa.