Orlando Jose Erazo

Orlando J. Erazo passed away July 12 after suffering a cardiac arrest. He will always be remembered as a loving husband and father who had a knack for making people laugh and who dedicated his life to helping those who suffered from addiction.

Orlando was born May 18, 1944 in San Francisco Morazán, a small town in El Salvador located in the department of Chalatenango. The youngest son of Gumercindo Erazo and Sara Cardoza, he was the tenth of their twelve children. In January of 1956, at the tender age of 11, he enrolled at San Jose de la Montaña, a Jesuit seminary and boarding school in San Salvador. A brilliant student, he skipped several grades and earned a high school diploma in 1960 at age 16. His fondest memories included field trips to nearby volcanoes and hosting a show on a local radio station. At 21 years old, he received a credential to teach High School. After deciding against the priesthood, he left the seminary and his beloved country to sow his wild oats in the United States. In 1966, he moved to San Francisco, California.

He worked 20 years for Pan American Airlines which allowed him to indulge in his favorite pastime: traveling. Over the course of his life, he visited more than 30 countries including Israel, Australia, Morocco, Spain, Portugal and almost all of Latin America. When he wasn't vacationing, Orlando made full use of his position in Pan Am's catering department by feeding the seagulls that congregated at SFO sourdough bread soaked in cognac. After getting laid off from Pan Am, he took business administration classes and launched two successful companies: Erazo's Cleaning Services and Erazo's Castles, a real estate investment firm.

His wanderlust continued and in order to maintain his travel habit, Orlando took a part-time job at American Airlines in 1986. In between flights, he would read newspapers from around the world, organize potluck lunches and change the lyrics of popular songs to make them about his co-workers. He was a proud member of the Transport Workers Union – Local 505 for which he served as shop steward. After 20 years at American, he retired in 2006 to pursue other interests like napping, watching soccer games and studying Portuguese on Duolingo. A voracious reader, he also enjoyed public speaking, writing poetry and telling jokes. One week before his death, on July 4, Orlando celebrated 39 years of sobriety.

Orlando is survived by his devoted wife, Mercedes; his five children, Orlando, Jessica, Vanessa, Brando and Tanya; and three grandchildren, Ezra, Sarai and Shea. He is also survived by his siblings Eleazar, Marta Lilian, Esperanza, Dermidio, Adalberto, Miriam and Consuelo.

For those who wish to make memorial donations, the family asks they be made to Project Ninety. 720 South B Street. San Mateo, CA 94401.

Visitation begins at Oak Hill Funeral Home on Sunday, July 23, 2017 at 3pm, with funeral service at 4pm till 6pm in the Chapel of Oaks.

Arrangements under the direction of Oak Hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park, San Jose, CA.