Arturo "Gary" Velasco

Gary Velasco, born March 20, 1960, in Stanford, Connecticut, passed away on May 21, 2026, after a long battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

He was born to Anni Seidel Velasco and Anselmo Velasco, both of whom preceded him in death. He was raised in Connecticut alongside his sisters, Luisa and Monica.

Gary is survived by his sisters, Luisa (David) Cabana and their two children, Rebecca (Andy) and David (Victoria); and Monica (Joseph) Steyer and their three children, Andrew, Kristina (Fred), and Alex.

In 2000, Gary moved to Ruckersville, Virginia. He is survived by his beloved wife, Dawn Evans, and his two children, Ariel Velasco, 24, and Devon Velasco, 21.

Until the moment he took his last breath, Gary lived his life with unwavering devotion to the people he loved. He was a lifelong musician, artist, and aviation enthusiast. As an adult, he added historian and author to the list of his passions. Gary found success in every pursuit because he refused to accept limitations or take no for an answer. He did not measure success by what he had, but by what he did and how he did it. He spent every day of his life doing what he loved—and to Gary, that was true success.

Flowers are welcome, though the family also suggests memorial donations in Gary's name to the ALS Association, Gentiva Hospice, or All Blessings Flow.

Services will be held at Evergreen Church of the Brethren, 645 Evergreen Church Road, Dyke, Virginia, on Wednesday, May 27th. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m., followed by funeral services at 2:00 p.m. Burial will immediately follow across the street at Evergreen Cemetery.

Friends and family are invited to gather afterward in celebration and remembrance of Gary's life at Fiorano's Mediterranean Restaurant in Ruckersville.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Batten Funeral Home of Ruckersville, Virginia.