Nicanor "Nick the burrito man" Avila, Jr.
Marriages
Annabelle Avila
Burial Details
Obituaries
Vail Daily page A5 - December 29, 2001
Nicanor Avila, 75, was a familiar lunchtime face for many in Vail Valley, by Matt Zalaznick.
The valley lost a familiar face and a familiar flavor Christmas Day.
Nicanor Avila Jr., 75, of Leadville, who was known to many in the Vail Valley as "Nick the burrito man" for selling homemade Mexican lunches in offices from Minturn to Edwards, died of a stroke Tuesday after being hospitalized last weekend.
Avila ran Avila's Kitchen in Leadville with his wife, Annabelle. The couple used to get up long before dawn to make their popular burritos and tamales in the Leadville kitchen.
He then carried the tamales and more than a dozen varieties of burritos in his cooler to hungry valley employees. His route often took him along the commercial stretch of Highway 6 in Eagle-Vail.
"He was just a wonderful, wonderful man. He was one of those few special people who really made your day," said Rhonda Erickson, co-owner of Special Events Ltd. in Eagle-Vail and a regular customer. "We looked forward to seeing him every Thursday with his burritos."
The burritos and tamales made from old family recipes ranged from the standard beef and chicken to salmon and turkey, Werner said.
He also served breakfast burritos with eggs and spicy chorizo sausage, Werner said.
"He was a welcome sight first thing in the morning for a bunch of hungry raft guides," said Steve Pittel, one of the owners of Nova Guides in Minturn.
Nick came right down to the boathouse to feed the guides, Pittel said.
"We're going to miss his burritos," he said. "Everybody enjoyed them."
Avila loved to sing and play Mexican songs on his guitar. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman in the mountains around Leadville.
"He was just a festive person," said Avila's son-in-law, Ezra Werner.
Avila had just resumed his lunch route about three weeks ago after taking nine months off, Werner said.
He used his kitchen in Leadville only to make the burritos he took on the road because he wasn't interested in running a restaurant any longer, Werner said.
"He liked the idea of being done by noon," he said.
Avila was born in Mexico in 1926 and grew up in Texas. He moved to Denver after World War II and ran several El Rancherito restaurants on the Front Range before moving to Leadville about 10 years ago.
Avila also served in the Army after World War II.
Avila suffered a stroke Saturday but never regained consciousness and died Tuesday at St. Anthony's Hospital in Denver.
Avila is survived by his wife, Annabelle, 10 children, 25 grandchildren, two brothers and five sisters.
A viewing will be held Sunday at Runyon, Stevenson, Capitol Mortuary at 6425 W. Alameda Ave. in Lakewood.
He will be buried at noon, Monday at Fort Logan in Denver.
