Steven Hinojosa was born Feb. 23, 1961 in North Carolina to Rumaldo and Sarah ‘Francis’ Hinojosa. He passed peacefully at home on Jan. 5, 2013 after battling advanced cancer. Steve was a fixture as the "can man" for Fallbrook’s Tomara Pacific Recycling for several years where many people knew him and still recognized him after the site closed down.

Most every night, Steve and wife Linda could be found at Happy Jug liquor store working till the wee hours. He grew up in Oceanside, Calif. and traveled to Oklahoma to earn a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. After returning to Southern California, he worked for Camp Pendleton as a civil servant for the Napalm project for several years.

He always wanted to be a pilot, but an eye problem always prevented his dreams of flying. He loved all things aeronautical and taught his daughters to identify fighter jets by sight and sound from a very young age. He was also an amazing guitar player and played the saxophone as a boy. He was an avid and steadfast Chargers fan. In the offseason he loved to watch 007 DVDs.

He was funny, fair and always treated others with respect. He is survived by his loving wife Linda; oldest daughter Carla Hinojosa; stepson Andrew Harker, his wife Marianna, grandson Henry; youngest daughter Sarah ‘Tini’, her husband Joshua Doney, grandson Greyson; father Rumaldo Hinojosa; brother Tony Hinojosa, and sister Mary Martin and their families. He was preceded in death by his mother Sarah ‘Francis’ Hinojosa and brother Miguel Hinojosa.

An open memorial will be held on Jan. 18 at Berry-Bell and Hall Mortuary at 4:00 in the afternoon.