March 31, 1949 – April 3, 2026 • Age 77
Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, Mexico • Burbank, California
Benjamin “Ben” Torres Gonzalez, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away peacefully on April 3, 2026, at the age of 77. Born in the vibrant city of Tlaquepaque, Jalisco, Mexico, Ben carried the warmth and spirit of his homeland with him throughout his life, building a home and a legacy in Burbank, California that his family will treasure forever.
Ben was a man of quiet strength. Reserved by nature, he let his actions — and his cooking — speak louder than words. After a dedicated career as a machinist, he retired and poured his energy into the thing he loved most: feeding the people he loved. His birria was legendary. Family and friends knew that a gathering at Ben’s meant something extraordinary was coming out of that kitchen, made with care, patience, and a recipe only he could truly claim.
Though he was a man of few words, the ones he did offer were often wrapped in wit and delivered with a perfectly timed sarcasm that left everyone laughing. His dry humor was a gift, and those who knew him well treasured every moment they caught a glimpse of that mischievous side.
Ben is survived by his devoted wife, Tina; his children, Eric, Edgar, and Martha; his six cherished grandchildren, Matthew, Mariah, Isabella, Christian, Angelo, and Valentina; and his brothers, Salvador, Leopoldo, and Jose. He was a son, a brother, a husband, a father, a grandfather, an uncle, and a friend — and he was deeply, irreplaceably good at all of it.
He will be missed at every family table, in every quiet room, and in every bowl of birria made in his honor.
Rest easy, Ben. The family will take it from here.
