Dear grandpa I miss you so much and you died when I was three I do not even remember you that much but I miss you and I love and I will have the bear you gave me and will keep it forever ❤️  with all my heart nataila you granddaughter.

Nick I miss you n all the great times we shared! Love you Brother!Bent rod's and tight lines always!!

It's still very painful thinking about losing Nick in such a horrific way. I am grateful to have known him so well, and loved him. He was a terrific guy and loved life. Live, Laugh, and Love defined his being. Poor Nick. 💔😢

I miss Nick SO much and am still experiencing the grieving pain that accompanied his loss. Because I loved him so, at times my grief feels all-encompassing, and it's compounded by feelings of confusion. What happened, and why? Poor Nick, he loved life and his memory guides me to persevere and continue to do so. I still have the goldfish that I was given at his funeral reception. While reading about to care for it, I read that with proper care they can live 20-30 years. And, as tribute to Nick's memory, challenge accepted. 

Another year without Nick. It not getting any easier for me. I miss him VERY much, his face, his voice, his sense of humor and him making me laugh so hard, his drive for adventure, his compassion and empathy for all living things, and most of all his touch. He was a GREAT man. 💔😢

Miss you  my friend!! Thanks for the memories, tight line's n bent rods !!

Thank you for including me in the email distribution of the tribute video. It was very moving. I have so many more pictures of the time we spent together and have been reviewing them regularly since Nick's loss. I really adored and loved him, and still do. My condolences to all who share love for him. This is SO painful. My heart is forever broken. 😰😰💔💔

My Son , I had you when i was very young , you made me grow up fast . The day I had you at the hospital and i saw you for the first time  i fell  in love with you  ,  you were so cute ,with that curly hair . You were so active as a little boy,  you were never  afraid to try anything the first time ,"and that !was scary for me ". And that  was why you were so good at surfing , fishing , baseball , knowledgeable about Mopar cars , politics , music, you loved music.
    We went fishing ," we had so much fun " , shopping, watching TV , listening to music , we had our favorite shows . He loved  grilling out in the patio and listing to music . "I miss you SON so much!" ! I will always remember all the love you showed me ,you were so kind caring . 
                     Until we meet again , 
                                  Love you with all my heart , Mom 
 

Nick, I will cherish the memories of living in the Hawthorne townhouse with you and your brother Bobby who is now my husband.  I was 6 months pregnant when I moved in.  Bobby said "my brother Nick will protect you while I'm at work during my graveyard shifts". Sure enough I felt protection with you there brother Nick. I never felt alone while Bobby was  working. I knew my brother  Nick was right downstairs if I need him or if I needed a ride to the hospital if my water broke!! Life changed as we grew up and we all went our separate ways. 
You introduced me to my new favorite show "Chicago Fire". We'd watch it together. Since then I've added all the Chicago shows.  Everytime we'd visit you'd always said "check this out" and showed me a new gadget or showed us more incredible patches. This last "check this out" was a kids fishing pole you got for my girls to take them fishing. In which Priscilla caught her first fish ever with you! I know that was the best moment for her. It brought tears to my eyes when I saw the video. I was so happy that she shared that moment with you, the best fisherman I know! Thank you brother for the great memories! We love you Nick! 
Till we meet again! 
Virginia Hocking  

Dear Beatrice, Bob,Kelly,Bobby and Nicole. My Sincerest Condolences at such a difficult time. I will Always remember Nick as being  A Good guy.
He was Funny and Easy going with a unique laugh and a Big Smile! I Too had great times fishing with Nick he taught  me several tricks on catching trout at Alondra park and Lake Isabella  back in the day as well as the times we went camping. His presence will be missed but his memories will live on with those who were fortunate enough to have met him. May you Rest in Peace my Brother in-law and watch over your loved ones from Above. Amen

 We had that special  fishing trip we were supposed to  go on and just  maybe I would have started liking the taste of seafood.  I wanted to hang with coolest dude on earth. We are going to have to rain check and I am looking forward to that. 

Nick you were  always there for us and I love you. Save a spot for me up there!  
Bro Fabian Cepeda


To my Auntie, Uncle, Bobby, Nicole and Kelly. My sincerest condolences. My heart goes out to you all. I'm so sorry for your  great loss.
Nick, I spent the last couple of weeks with you before you left us. We had some good laughs and shared family memories. I have great memories of staying at your house and you taking us to the beach when you surfed. I felt very cool  sitting in your El Camino. I can remember your record collection. I went back home and started my own collection. You had that great surfer hair! I can remember those curls when we were kids.  
I enjoyed sitting and watching 
you work those couple of weeks. It was my birthday and you hugged me and kissed me on my cheek.  I regret not going with you on those visits we talked about. We listened to our favorite eighties music while you layed tile. I get to look at my beautiful tile work you finished the afternoon before you passed. I got to hear your laugh one last time when you called me before you left on your bike ride. You wanted to know I was happy with my floor. You wished me a happy Fourth of July! 
Nick, I see you every where at my house, I can still hear your laugh and your political rants lol. I wish we had spent more time together.   I miss you already and love you forever. Until I see you again. Your cousin Petunia

I formally met Nick in 1982 but I knew of Nick about 3 years earlier when I started high school.  I was a freshman and Nick was a Senior. I remember seeing the kid with the wild curly hair.  He was one of the cool kids, very popular, a great athlete and all the girls liked him. I didn’t have much interaction with him until I started dating his sister 1982. He was always very friendly and was constantly joking around with me, he always made me laugh.  I was there first hand for some of his early shenanigans and at times I was in awe of him. Some of the stories he’d tell me seemed pretty wild and farfetched but I knew them to be true and in some ways I idolized him. I thought it was so cool that he was a surfer, something I had always wished I could do. I reconnected with Nick about 5 years ago when his sister and I started dating again, he was still the same cool guy. Always joking around and making me laugh but the topics had changed and so had he. My boys got to meet Nick and he was really great with them. I remember coming home one day and my son Nick telling me “hey dad check out the patches Uncle Nick gave me."  Big Nick was always good with kids. 

I have a lot of good memories of you my friend. I am happy to be a part of your family once again.
I love you like a brother and will miss you greatly.
Bob Bea Kelly Littte Bobby I am so truly sorry
Hang loose Nick 
Ramon

Uncle Nick 
All My life I knew “Uncle Nick and Uncle Bobby” as a “set” As a little girl going to Grandmas house it meant getting to spend time with my “fun Uncles”. I remember coming over and sometimes and you were in the garage working on that Lime Green car. I was too young to understand anything you were actually explaining to me but I’d still ask questions and nod my head and wondered “yea but does it work.” For me it was more about getting to spend time with you.  One day my mom dropped me off at Grandmas house which was now the “Uncles Place” It was just you that day and you asked me If I wanted to run some errands with you. Our first stop was the 99cent store. I was shocked to discover with just a few bucks I could buy so much. More importantly how much candy you could get. After that we walked the strand and you told me about when you were younger all the surfing and biking to the beach you used to do. I remember thinking when I grow up I could live at Grandmas house too and make all these memories like you. I’ll never forget that day.
A few years back still recovering from my car accident I got to spend, the best quality time we ever had together. We would go to 24hr fitness together and you showed me how to lift weights and work out (the right way) and we would bond over music, you showed me your patch collection. 
Thank you for giving me a few
I looked at you so much more than just my Uncle.
The morning after your passing, when I had to I pull myself back together I got ready and went to work. I took my usual route I always take, while driving I saw something that caught my eye, a lime green classic car passed by me, just like yours. I never saw that car before,  while it went by me simultaneously that song “See you Again” came on the radio from that  Fast and Furious 7 movie. I know that was you and It couldn’t have been a more perfect goodbye.
I love Uncle Nick and I miss you.
Cindy
“The Cubanita”
“The Crash Kd”
Borroto


I am so grateful for being able to get to know you as the Brother you came to be so different than the brother you used to be. It was funny when I told you stories about some of your “meanie” ways when we were little, you laughed and couldn’t believe it “I didn’t do that! Did I?” It’s strange that moving back to Bakersfield, the thing we said we would never do, became the basis for bringing us close together. I got to know a man my girls looked up to.  A man that everyone loved.  I came to a harsh realization the other day, after something our little brother said. I realized how easy it is to take the “I love you’s” and hugs for granted as Daughters, Mothers or Sisters. We say it all the time and hugs and kisses are the way we say hello or good bye. I catch myself saying it differently now as If Im trying to make sure whomever is at the receiving end knows how much I mean it. It pains me beyond belief that it took losing you to make me understand that. I want to thank you for being my friend and big brother. Thank you for being the uncle you were to my girls, they are heartbroken. I never told you how cool I thought I was to enter High School after you and saying Im Nick Cepeda’s sister. I never told you I snuck into your room playing your records and looking through your pictures and yearbooks, maybe you knew. I never told you I scratched one of your records and broke one of your model airplanes. Mom took the blame on the airplane.  But I guess the things I did get to tell you in the last couple of years was much more important than all the rest. So many stories I would love to share but that’s for another time. I promise you I will tell Natalia all that I can about their Grandpa. exactly what I can't say sure but one thing for sure is I will start out by saying this, your Grandpa was one cool dude. 
I love you I miss you 
Your sister Kel

You were my Gold Standard 

You were my Measuring Stick

You showed me many things to do and also not to do. I thank you for that. 

I tried to be a better hitter than you. You got me there. 

I tried to be a better b baller than you. You got me there also. 

I tried to lift heavier weights than you. You got me there too. 

I even tried to party harder than you.  Well you got me there as well. 

In January of this year I flat lined twice on the Doctors table but survived. Now I see I can't win at anything with you my sweet brother haha. You got me here as well unfortunately. 

During my visit about 8 weeks ago we went to the gym and worked out together. You told me "damn Bob, after alllllll these years you are FINALLY stronger than me!" (Little did you know I was giving it all I had and often used bad form just to get up the weight while you were probably working out at about 75%) Needless to say, those words meant a lot to me. 

I thank you for teaching my girls how to fish and taking them out for their very first time. They were taught by the very best and they will miss you dearly. They loved playing with all your gadgets and toys in your room. You let them play with your collectors Hot Wheels which shocked me as you never let me get near them haha. Seeing you let them play with your valuables like that really meant a lot to me. You loved my babies dearly which breaks my heart into pieces.

When we left I gave you a huge hug, I kissed you on your cheek and I told you " I love you" Three things I have never done with you. Our departure was perfect. I will always cherish that moment at the front door. 

We will hug, kiss and tell each other we love one another at a later date. Save some seats next to you for Priscilla and Penelope at all your favorite fishing spots in Heaven my sweet brother.  They will both fish with you again eventually. 




Cousin Nick,
We didn't just share genes and DNA.  As cousins, we made memories just having fun. Easter, Mother's Day and summer brought all the cousins together on Louella Street. You with your curly hair and a baseball mitt in your hand. Grandpa's mean nasty rooster chasing us around the backyard - that ugly bird.  At my wedding, you were the guy in the super-fly satin/silk blue suit, and it was Madonna's "Into the Groove" that we danced to.  I will always remember that you were there.  I hope you will be happy doing all the things you liked to do, up there in heaven.
With sadness and love - your cousin Denise.


TO MY SISTER NICOLE AND FAMILY
I MEET NICK WHEN I WAS ABOUT 6 YEARS OLD IN 1988 WHEN HE AND OUR MOTHER STARTED TO DATE.  NICK WAS A FUN VERY ADVENTITIOUS MAN. HE HAD A LOVE FOR THE OUTDOORS AND CARS AND BIKING AND FISHING. I LOVED HIS STORIES ABOUT HIS TROUT FISHING COMPETITIONS AND TAKING HIS CAR TO THE RUBYS CAR SHOWN IN REDONDO BEACH . I WILL MISS HIS FUNNY WAYS  AND WANT TO THANK HIM FOR GIVING MY MOTHER MY BEAUTIFUL SISTER. PLEASE KEEP SHINING AND FISHING WATCHING OVER MY SISTER AND FAMILY.  TILL ME MEET AGAIN IN PARADISE. 

From Robert Hocking to my SON Nick 
I’m so so happy to have Nick in my life from the time he was 7 years old. The first thing we did together was baseball. He couldn’t even play catch right at 7. By the time he was 9 he was an All Star in little league. I was able to coach him in the senior league (13-15). There he became an All Star on the High School varsity. We went fishing together, and to many Angel baseball games. He was a joy to hangout with, and we had a lot of fun together. He will always be in my heart, and I miss him so much. 
Love, DAD 

I Love You Daddy !!
Gone Fishing poem 
I've finished life's chores assigned to me,
So put me on a boat headed out to sea.
Please send along my fishing pole
For I've been invited to the fishin ' hole.
Where every day is a day to fish,
To fill your heart with every wish.
Don't worry, or feel sad for me,
I'm fishin ' with the Master of the sea.
We will miss each other for awhile,
But you will come and bring your smile.
That won't be long you will see,
Till we're together you and me.
To all of those that think of me,
Be happy as I go out to sea.
If others wonder why I'm missin'
Just tell 'em I've gone fishin'


I met Nick in July 1988, 30 yrs. ago. When he learned I was new to the area, he asked me if I had been to various places. When I said I hadn't, he responded "I'm going to show you everything."  And from that day in Sept of 1988 forward, that's exactly what he proceeded to do. My ENTIRE orientation to CA, places and people, revolves around Nick. As in any loving relationship, we experienced trials and tribulations. We laughed, and sometimes cried, as our relationship developed. But, I remained someone in his corner, on his side, rooting for him to achieve maximum vitality and quality of life.  It should NOT be suggested that maybe he has found peace at last.  Nick found peace in, and loved, life. He was fascinated with life. As he aged, he matured and developed wisdom. Though we were geographically separated, we remained very close and spoke at least 2x per week. We vacationed together every year for 1 week. We were discussing our plans to spend the rest of our lives together & traveling after my upcoming retirement.  We even discussed them again on the Tuesday night before 4th of July. It will be nearly impossible for me to move on.  I will always be summoning the details of our times together and his too-short life.  I’m not going to stop asking what really happened, Nick was an avid cyclist. He's was strong. He knew how to handle a bike.  Not a day passes now, or will in the future, that I won't think of my love Nick.  I have a lot of memorabilia, and gifts he's given me, from all of our years and times together,  I hope that his family will share more with me from the things he left behind that will remind me of us. l deeply loved Nick and never took him for granted, and I am forever grateful to have had him in my life.💔💔💔💔💔😰😰😰😰

OBITUARY

Nick Santos Cepeda

July 15, 1962 – July 4, 2018

Funeraria Del Angel Hillcrest & Hillcrest Memorial Park

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