Santos Valdez López was born in Los Angeles, California. His parents Rosario Valdez López and Matias López had a small grocery store in Watts, CA. He was one of ten children. He only achieved a sixth-grade education and enlisted in the Army during the Korean war in 1950, attained corporal rank, and was honorably discharged in May of 1954. He earned four medals. He married Maria Luisa Gálvez in Guasave, Sinaloa, Mexico, on December 18, 1954, and the new family immigrated to San Diego, CA. Their twin son’s J. Antonio Gálvez López and J. Angel Gálvez López were born five minutes apart on September 27, 1955. With the GI bill, Santos obtained his eighth-grade diploma from adult education in 1958 and his high school diploma in 1959. Their daughter, Maria L. Gálvez López, was born in San Diego on October 28, 1959. The family initially lived in the Logan Heights, Southcrest, and Otay Mesa areas of San Diego County. Santos worked as a laborer and was a longstanding member of the laborers union. What Santos López’s children learned from both their parents was their work ethic. Santos continued to work as a laborer and retired in 1995 but continued to work part-time until 2005. He passed peacefully at 1:32 AM on Friday, October 9, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Maria Luisa Gálvez López; His son’s Dr. J. Antonio G. López, a cardiologist, and J. Angel G. López, an international professional tennis coach; his daughter Maria L. G. López; seven grandchildren and one greatgrandchild.
To honor the memory of Santos Valdez López, the family suggests donations to Youth Tennis San Diego, a non-profit organization (Tax ID# 95-6095644) whose purpose is to promote the educational, physical, and social development of all youth through organized tennis and social activities. Donations may be sent by mail to Youth Tennis San Diego, 4490 West Point Loma Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92107. Please include Santos V. Lopez in the memo line. Or online at https://www.barnestenniscenter.com/donate. For questions regarding donations, please contact Barbara at 619-221-9000 x103. Also, the family suggests donations to the Autism Society of America (tax ID number 52-1020149) whose national office address is 6110 Executive Boulevard, Suite 305, Rockville, Maryland 20852, (insert either dollar amount or a percentage) in support of its full mission.” If you wish to have a planned gift for the Autism Society of America, please contact [email protected] or 1 (800) 328-8476.
