Guillermo Colino

Guillermo Colino was born to Flora Aguilar and Guillermo Colino in Lima, Peru on March 03, 1937. From humble beginnings, he was focused on upward mobility. He was always a hard working individual; he enlisted in the Peruvian Navy at the tender age of 16, helping to support his family. He realized quickly, however that although the Navy had prestige, it would not get him where he wanted to be. He enrolled in college and worked full time while earning his degree in accounting. After he graduated he was offered a highly esteemed position as a professor—an honor which he accepted but he wanted more.

He was a dedicated civil servant who worked as an agent in the Department of Peruvian Customs moonlighting as a college professor at night. He had family of four, by then and another child on the way and had already decided what his next move would be. Because of the unstable socio-political situation in the country he set his sights on a better future for his kids in the United States. That ambition led him to Florida, where he landed and worked his way westward doing odd jobs until he found his true love: California.

Guillermo thrived there. He polished his self-taught English and got himself a stable career as a bus operator at RTD where he worked for 34 years. He took pride in his career, and though he complained about the challenges of driving busses in L.A., he loved being surrounded by people. His routes at RTD were an adventure, and with each stop, he gained countless memories and meaningful relationships.

Guillermo was strong-willed, a dedicated civil servant, a man of his word, a great motivator and friend with a personality that was larger than life. He had no patience for fools and refused to do things anyway but his own. Guillermo loved life; when the priest came to perform the last rites he kicked him out exclaiming, “not today!” Even death deferred to him; he did not pass away until the next morning.

He is survived by his wife, Eliosa Colino, and six children: Lorena Sebastiani, Giovanna Briones, Guillermo Colino Jr., Ursula Colino, Michael Colino, and Bryant Colino and nine grandchildren: Jeremiah Colino, Angelo Colino, Bill Colino, Victoria Colino, Francesca Briones, Julianna Briones, Ian Colino, Rio Colino, Ryan Colino with another grandson on the way.

Arrangements under the direction of Holy Cross Mortuary, Culver City, CA.