Nelson Romero

Those who were lucky enough to have known Nelson Romero knew 3 things about him: 1. He loved telling jokes (not all good, not all funny); 2. His family was the most important thing to him; 3. He took pride in his work as an electrician -- as a union man.

So when his family made the dreaded phone call to family and friends that he had suddenly passed from cardiac arrest on May 23, 2021, at Pomona Valley Hospital, they were stunned to hear that this joyous, affable and wonderful man had abruptly left this world. He was 64, just 1 year shy of retirement.

Nelson will be cremated in a private ceremony on July 7, 2021 and a celebration of life will be held at his home where friends and family can pay their last respects on July 17, 2021.

Nelson was born on August 14, 1956, in San Salvador, El Salvador. At a young age he and his mother moved from the capitol to a smaller province of San Miguel where she was an administrator at a convalescent home.

Being raised by a single mother during that period was tough. All the social stigma around it made for a difficult childhood. Not to mention that he had to live where his mother worked. He was surrounded by elderly and nursing staff with no playmates his age around. And yet, when he would tell stories of his childhood, he’d focus on those magical days where 5 cents could buy you all the candy you could eat, and his summer trips to visit his grandmother where he got to play with his cousins and eat ice cream every day.

As an adolescent, he was going through a similar unrest as the rest of El Salvador was. He began to awaken to the social injustices happening in El Salvador and wanted to change the system within. Unfortunately those who often spoke up were killed or disappeared by the government. His mother, fearing for his safety, made him apply to university in Mexico where he narrowly escaped a brewing civil war that consumed his native country for 30 years. In Mexico, he tried to have some semblance of being a normal medical student. But after 2 years there, his funding ran out and he had to immigrate to the U.S.

His wife Evelyn would often say, with a coy smile on her face, that when she met Nelson, it wasn't love at first sight. Nelson and her brother were best friends in high school and he would often go to their house to hang out (since hanging out at a convalescent home was out of the question.) She'd often find his constant joking and teasing of his friends annoying. But, after a near death accident where she shattered her leg, he would keep her company and make her laugh. She became smitten. She still is.

She joined him when he immigrated to the US and together they learned to navigate a whole new way of living. They were determined to set their roots in Southern California and pursue their American dream. She rejoices in all of their adventures together and recognizes that despite all their ups and downs, what she learned and admired of him was his endless love of family.

Nelson would often share stories about all the odd jobs he worked. From making pizza and delivering packages for a local courier, to fixing machines that made sweaters in East LA. He’d talk about the interesting characters he met, the compassion he’d be met with, and the things he’d learn during that period of his life. The biggest lesson he taught his children was to take pride in your work. He reminded them that a bad job is only temporary, and to always treat people with kindness no matter their job position.

Finally in the early 90s, he found his true calling -- being an electrician. He learned his craft well and would quickly ascend to foreman at various job sites in various companies. Oftentimes he would receive calls from former colleagues asking him how to do this and that for a current project they were working on. He took pleasure in teaching the new person and imparting his wisdom. He was dedicated, loyal and focused on doing a job well done. “If you’re not going to do it right, don’t do it at all,” he’d often say.

Nelson was generous with his time, often having 20 minute conversations with his only grandson about dinosaurs and sharks (Who would win in a fight? How big were they?) or teaching his oldest granddaughter how to make the perfect cup of coffee. His children would often call him to ask for his advice from reviewing mortgage rates and what type of car to purchase, to what dress to buy mom for Mother's Day. He had time for it all and he never gave them the impression that he had more important things to do. He’d often say, when someone was worried about something, “There’s a solution to everything, except death and taxes” and “Everything is gonna be ok. You’ll see.”

On the weekends, he found true satisfaction seeing his grown children hang out at his home. They didn’t just gather for special occasions, but just to spend the afternoon together. They would either order out or Nelson would whip something up in the kitchen from leftovers or food he just “happened to have” in the fridge. Evelyn, his partner of 46 years, says that at the end of the day he would smile and say, “I love it when the kids come over.”

During holidays he’d talk about a new recipe he’d found. When he cooked it he’d never followed it, often adding a dash of this and a sprinkle of that to make it his own. He’d convince everyone that his version was better, even if no one had tried the original version. But his cooking was always delicious and when he’d ask “how’s the food?” everyone would dissect the dishes as if they were judges on his favorite show Chopped. He just smiled and took it all in.

Nelson also had a potty mouth that would make a sailor cringe -- but only when he tried to fix something that couldn't be fixed, or he dropped a tool, or when he burned something in the toaster, or when... (well, you know what we mean.)

As aforementioned, he told bad jokes but you ended up laughing because he took so much joy in telling them. His laugh was contagious and the way he rubbed his belly from laughing before he told the punchline would make you chuckle too. He’d often use sense of humor to diffuse a tense conversation.

Nelson would probably be embarrassed from all the accolades and warm sentiments his friends, colleagues, and family share about him. He’d probably just smile shyly and uncomfortably say “Thank you”. But he was all this and much more. He was an excellent human being whose generosity and kindness reached many people. He will be tremendously missed by all those who knew him.

For Nelson's children and wife now there are only two worlds, the one with him in it and the one without. They will try to incorporate all his wisdom and sense of humor into raising their own children and fulfilling their own personal dreams and aspirations so that one day when their grown children write their obituary, it's an easy thing to do. They will also continue what he always told them "take care of your mom." And they will.

In that same spirit, colleagues, friends, and family have asked for a way to assist and support his widow, so their children started a GoFundMe fundraiser.

Nelson is survived by his wife, Evelyn: 3 adult children, Lidia, Nelson Jr. (The favorite) and Christopher and their partners, Yovanny, Yadira and Nicolle; 4 grandchildren, Sofia, 9, Janelle, 5, Adrian, 5, and Olivia, 1; his mother and sister who live in El Salvador; his godson Pedro and wife Karla who also live in El Salvador; and various cousins across the U.S. including Alaska, New York, Colorado and Texas.

https://gofund.me/42e6e405