Eddie Avila Ruiz

Reverend Eddie A. Ruiz, lovingly known as Eddie to his family and friends and Father Eddie to the many lives he touched throughout his priesthood, was born on April 17, 1949, in Brawley, California, to Ernesto A. Ruiz and Virginia Avila Ruiz. On Sunday, October 11, 2026, at the age of 77, Eddie peacefully entered eternal rest at Sharp Memorial Hospital in San Diego, California, following a long illness. Surrounded by family and love, he left behind a lifetime of cherished memories and a beautiful legacy of faith, kindness, generosity, and compassion.

His Early Years and Journey to the Priesthood

Eddie grew up in Brawley, California, where he attended Miguel Hidalgo Elementary School, Barbara Worth Middle School, and Brawley Union High School. His Catholic faith took root early in life. As a young boy, Eddie served as an altar boy at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Brawley, where he also enjoyed attending Mass with his family. Little did anyone know then that the young altar boy would one day return to his hometown as a beloved parish priest. In the early 1980s, Eddie moved to San Diego, joining his parents and younger siblings, who had relocated there in 1973. Before entering the priesthood, he worked as an accountant for The Toro Company in El Cajon, California. For several years, Eddie felt a calling to the priesthood, but he continued to put it aside. It was not a decision he made lightly. Eventually, however, the calling became something he could no longer ignore. With faith, courage, and a willingness to embrace a new chapter in his life, Eddie answered God’s call. He attended the University of San Diego, earning his Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies on May 28, 1995. He continued his theological education at Saint John’s Seminary in Camarillo, California, where he proudly earned his Master of Divinity in June 1999. Along the way, Eddie formed many meaningful friendships with fellow students and future members of the clergy. Several of these friendships lasted throughout his lifetime, bringing him companionship, laughter, encouragement, and countless wonderful memories. Eddie treasured these relationships, and they enriched his life immeasurably.

A Joyful and Blessed Ordination

On June 25, 1999, Eddie was ordained to the Catholic priesthood at St. Michael’s Church in Poway, California, by the Most Reverend Robert H. Brom, Bishop of San Diego.It was a beautiful and joyous day, filled with faith, love, and celebration. His beloved mother, Virginia, and many family members were present to witness this extraordinary milestone. For those who attended, it was a day of tremendous pride, happiness, and gratitude as they watched Eddie embrace the vocation to which God had called him. Of all the people who celebrated Eddie’s journey to the priesthood, perhaps no one was prouder than his mother. Virginia was Eddie’s number-one fan, his biggest cheerleader, and one of his greatest sources of encouragement. Her face would light up whenever she spoke about her son becoming a Catholic priest. The pride and joy she felt were unmistakable, and her love for him shone brightly. For Virginia, watching her son embrace his vocation was a blessing beyond words.And for Eddie’s family, his ordination was more than a milestone in his life. It was a treasured family memory and the beginning of a remarkable ministry devoted to serving God and others.

A Life Devoted to Serving God and Others

Father Eddie dedicated many years of his life to serving the Catholic community through the Diocese of San Diego. His parish assignments and leadership roles included:

• St. Joseph Catholic Church, Holtville: Administrator beginning October 1, 2004, and later Pastor from May 17, 2006, through June 30, 2010.

• Vicar Forane, El Centro Deanery: July 27, 2007, through June 30, 2015, serving in a leadership role within the Diocese.

• Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Brawley: Pastor from July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2015.

• St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Brawley: Pastor from July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2015.

• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, Brawley: Pastor from July 1, 2013, through June 30, 2015.

• Holy Trinity Catholic Church: Pastor from July 1, 2015, through June 30, 2019.

Following a period of leave beginning July 1, 2019, Father Eddie officially retired on March 9, 2020. Throughout his ministry, Father Eddie touched countless lives through his kindness, compassion, patience, and genuine interest in others. Parishioners remember a priest who always made time for conversation. In fact, several have lovingly shared that once Father Eddie started talking, he could go on and on! But that was part of his charm. He listened, engaged, and made people feel that what they had to say truly mattered. His conversations were thoughtful, heartfelt, and never rushed. Some parishioners fondly recalled that when Father Eddie first arrived at their parish, he could be easily embarrassed. But it didn’t take long for their warmth and affection to help him feel right at home. One parishioner from Holtville beautifully expressed what so many felt about Father Eddie: “Fr. Eddie is a true saint. He was always so kind and patient with everyone, he was compassionate and caring, he loved to talk, and we were all so sad when he left Holtville to go to Brawley, and then the Valley for San Diego. Now he is our angel in Heaven watching over us.” These heartfelt words reflect the love and admiration Father Eddie inspired throughout his ministry. During his years serving the Imperial Valley communities, Father Eddie also earned an affectionate and rather impressive nickname: “The Emperor of the Valley.” His family only recently learned of this special title from a fellow member of the clergy. Eddie had never mentioned it himself. That was simply his nature. He was humble, unassuming, and never one to seek recognition or toot his own horn. Needless to say, his siblings thought the nickname was pretty awesome! For Father Eddie, the priesthood was never about titles or recognition. It was about faith, service, and the people he was privileged to serve.

A Special Blessing to His Family

While Eddie’s ministry touched countless parishioners, his vocation also brought extraordinary blessings to his own family.As a priest, he had the joy and privilege of celebrating sacred milestones for loved ones, including officiating a niece’s wedding and baptizing children within the family. Even before entering the priesthood, Eddie had embraced important spiritual roles in the lives of his nieces and nephews. He served as a godfather and spiritual guide through Baptism, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation. These were not simply ceremonial occasions. They were meaningful expressions of his faith and his deep commitment to the spiritual lives of those he loved. For his family, having their own brother or uncle share in these sacred moments was an especially beautiful blessing. His presence made these milestones even more memorable, creating treasured memories that will remain with his family for generations.

Family Was Always at the Heart of His Life

As one of eleven children, Eddie was part of a large and loving family filled with different personalities, shared traditions, lively gatherings, and countless memories. Family meant everything to him. With ten siblings, holiday celebrations could be quite the balancing act! Eddie did his best to divide his time among family members, spending one holiday here and another there, making sure everyone had an opportunity to share in the joy of being together. He adored his 26 nieces and nephews and always wanted the very best for them. When someone needed help, Uncle Eddie was often ready to lend a hand, offer guidance, or provide support —provided, of course, that whatever they were asking was on the up and up! His family continued to grow, blessing him with 44 grandnieces and grandnephews and 12 great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews. To his family, he wasn’t only Father Eddie. He was their brother, uncle, great-uncle, confidant, and friend. Eddie enjoyed family visits and the simple happiness of spending time with those he loved. He welcomed visitors with his familiar, genuine smile, and when it was time to say goodbye, he almost always sent them off with a heartfelt, “I love you.” Those three simple words, spoken so freely and sincerely, are among the many things his family will miss most.

Christmas: A Season Especially Dear to His Heart

Of all the seasons and celebrations throughout the year, Christmas held an especially cherished place in Eddie’s heart. His love for Christmas began when he was a little boy and stayed with him throughout his life. Growing up, decorating for Christmas was a big event in the Ruiz household, and Eddie carried that wonderful family tradition into his own home. He delighted in transforming his home for the season, filling it with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, a Nativity scene, Christmas wreaths, festive decorations, and his beloved nutcrackers, including two tall nutcrackers that helped bring the Christmas spirit to life. Over the years, his nutcracker collection continued to grow, thanks in part to a sister who faithfully gave him a new tabletop nutcracker every Christmas. And, of course, Christmas wouldn’t have been Christmas for Eddie without his favorite box of See’s Candies Nuts & Chews, a much-anticipated gift that he always received from her and from parishioners and friends! Another sister made sure he had festive Christmas pillows and cozy throw blankets to complete the holiday atmosphere. Other family members had their own special way of celebrating Christmas with him too! These thoughtful traditions became part of the joy of celebrating Christmas with Eddie. Each gift was more than a present; it was another expression of the love shared between him and his family. His enthusiasm for the season extended to his television viewing, too. Eddie loved watching Hallmark Channel Christmas movies, and he was especially happy when Christmas came around twice a year with the channel’s “Christmas in July” celebrations! But beyond the decorations, sweets, gifts, and heartwarming movies, Eddie never lost sight of what Christmas truly meant. For him, the greatest joy of the season was celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, sharing his faith, and spending time with the people he loved. Christmas brought together so many things that mattered most to Eddie: faith, family, tradition, generosity, and love.

The Eddie We Knew and Loved

Although Eddie was known for his calm, quiet, and gentle demeanor, he also had a wonderfully fun-loving side.In the 1980s, he developed quite an appreciation for GQ magazine and men’s fashion. He enjoyed looking sharp and keeping up with the latest styles. He also loved music and attending concerts, often accompanied by siblings, a nephew, or close friends. Those outings brought laughter, excitement, and wonderful memories. His appreciation for good music, fashion, laughter, and friendship added a delightful balance to his thoughtful and reserved personality. Eddie also had his favorite television shows, and his tastes were wonderfully varied. He enjoyed Mexican telenovelas, San Diego Padres baseball, tennis matches, and the heartwarming Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel. He and fellow members of the clergy would text each other about the Padres game that was about to start. He also followed the daytime soap operas The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, sometimes watching alongside one of his sisters. When he missed an episode, he would ask her to fill him in on everything that happened. After all, he couldn’t be left wondering what his favorite characters had been up to! These simple pleasures, shared interests, and little everyday conversations were part of what made Eddie so special to those who knew him best.

Simple Pleasures and Thoughtful Gestures

Eddie appreciated life’s simple pleasures. He loved going out to eat with family, friends, and fellow members of the clergy, enjoying good food and even better company. He was also a devoted Starbucks fan. A favorite coffee paired with a cheese Danish or an Everything Bagel from Einstein Bros. Starbucks and Bagels could make his day. When he preferred a quiet day at home, he enjoyed relaxing with a favorite television show, catching up on his reading, or treating himself to something delicious delivered through Uber Eats. He especially appreciated when family members stopped by with homemade meals or one of his favorite fast-food treats, such as Popeyes chicken. His parishioners knew how to make him happy, too. Some lovingly prepared homemade tamales for him, a gesture he always appreciated. But Eddie wasn’t only on the receiving end of those thoughtful acts. Eddie also made delicious homemade beans, salsa, and pozole, and whenever he prepared these family favorites, he often set aside generous portions to share with family and friends. It was one of the many thoughtful ways he showed his love, making sure those closest to him could enjoy a little something special from his kitchen. That was Eddie. He found happiness in life’s little comforts and enjoyed sharing what he had with the people he loved.

A Legacy of Faith, Kindness, and Love

Eddie lived a life that was rich in the ways that matter most. He valued his faith, treasured his friendships, loved his family deeply, and treated others with genuine kindness and respect. He never needed to be the center of attention. He didn’t seek praise or recognition. Instead, he quietly made a difference through his compassion, generosity, and willingness to be there for others. To the many parishioners whose lives he touched, he was Father Eddie — a trusted spiritual leader, a compassionate listener, and a beloved priest. To his friends, he was a loyal companion who valued their time together and the memories they created. And to his family, he was simply Eddie — the gentle, loving brother and uncle whose smile could brighten a room, whose humor could bring laughter, and whose heartfelt “I love you” always reminded them how much they meant to him. His life was a beautiful reminder that faith and joy belong together, that kindness is never wasted, and that the simplest expressions of love often leave the deepest impressions.

His Loving Family

Eddie is survived by his beloved siblings: Irene Ruiz of Avondale, Arizona; Rachael Ruiz and her life partner, Bashar Tomina, of Santee, California; Yvonne Ruiz of Sun City, Arizona; Socorro Allen of Santee, California; Yvette Ruiz of La Mesa, California; and David Ruiz and his wife, Anita, of El Cajon, California. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Yolanda Ruiz, Brawley, California, wife of his late brother Tony, and is lovingly remembered by his 26 nieces and nephews, 44 grandnieces and grandnephews, 12 great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews, extended family, cherished friends, fellow clergy, and the many parishioners whose lives he touched.

Eddie was preceded in death by his beloved parents, Ernesto A. Ruiz and Virginia Avila Ruiz, and his siblings Sylvia Ruiz, Ernest “Bobie” Ruiz, Tony Ruiz, and Luis Ruiz.

Until We Meet Again

While our hearts are heavy with the loss of our dear Eddie, we are comforted by the love he shared, the memories he leaves behind, and the faith that guided him throughout his life. We will miss his welcoming smile, his gentle nature, his thoughtful conversations, his laughter, and the simple joy of being in his presence. We will miss the brother who loved his family, the uncle who always cared, the friend who treasured his relationships, and the priest who devoted his life to serving God and others. And when Christmas comes around, we will think of his beautiful decorations, his beloved nutcrackers, his favorite See’s Candies, and the joy he found in celebrating the birth of Christ. Most of all, we will miss Eddie. But his love will remain with us in the family traditions he cherished, the memories we share, the lives he touched, and the countless ways he showed us what it means to live with faith, kindness, and an open heart.

Rest peacefully, our dear Eddie. You were deeply loved, you made a difference, and you will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Until we meet again, we love you. ❤