Luis Andres Gilberto

Andres was born in North Hollywood, CA., on July 22, 1983. As a child, he enjoyed playing with GI Joes, riding his bike, selling shiny rocks, and climbing trees. In fact, he was up in trees so much he was nick-named “Mono”, Spanish for monkey.

He graduated from North Hollywood High School in 2001, where he excelled in making enduring friendships and discovered a talent for mechanics that would lead him to positions with Mercedez-Benz and Lamborghini. He toured the country briefly in support of the metal rock band, Quiet Riot, and went on to form his own Spanish rock band, Amoveo, with his best friend Jeffrey Kennedy. Together, they wrote and recorded 7 songs, and performed the local bar circuit before they both left California for their Army stations. Andres spent 3 and a half years stationed in Fort Wainwright, Alaska, where he earned outstanding achievement as a rifleman with Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment. During his time there, he did a lot of fishing, and formed many lasting friendships.

Andres loved pumpkin seeds, Mexican candies, and his mother’s tamales, and absolutely hated, loathed, and despised Cilantro. He could whip up a delicious pot of red Mexican rice that made his room in the barracks a popular hangout among his Army friends. An avid Los Angeles Kings fan, he owned so many of their hats he could’ve opened a store. As a motorcyclist himself, he was a moto road racing aficionado, and closely followed his favorite MotoGP star, Valentino Rossi. He rooted for Chile, Mexico, and the US soccer teams, and was always proud of our Los Angeles Dodgers.

Andres is survived by his parents, Luis and Ana Gilberto, his sister and brother-in-law Jackie and James Grace, his younger sister Liza Gilberto, nephews, Jim and Alex, niece Isla, and a young lady named Izabella, whom he loved as his own daughter.

He will always be remembered for his sense of humor and fearlessness, and his love for his friends and family. He, his music, and all the wonderful memories he made with those who loved him will live on in our hearts forever.

“Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto,

me ha dado la risa y me ha dado el llanto.

Así yo distingo dicha de quebranto, los dos materiales que forman mi canto.

Y el canto de ustedes que es mi mismo canto, y el canto de todos que es mi propio canto.

Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto."

~ Violeta Parra