Industry tributes circulating on LinkedIn around June 9, 2026 — including from Mike Minidis of the JC Ford ownership family — noted the passing of Jose "Cuco" Estrada (also referred to by colleagues as Refugio Estrada).

Public posts described a career-long JC Ford equipment tenure and called him a source of institutional knowledge for tortilla and tortilla-chip lines, installs, and training. Some comments referenced family ties in Zacatecas. Posts said he "passed far too soon," but Tortilla News could not locate a standalone funeral-home or newspaper obituary confirming date of death, age, or formal biography.

JC Ford, a longtime tortilla equipment supplier, was acquired by Middleby in November 2024. This brief is based on industry tributes only; readers with a primary funeral notice are invited to share it for an update.

See the LinkedIn tribute thread for colleague remembrances; treat biographical details beyond those posts as unverified until a formal notice appears.

Companies JC Ford

Read the release / full story at Industry tributes (LinkedIn)