Lorenzo Banaad Laurel

Born October 9, 1947 in San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines, he was the 4th child born to Archimedes Lopez Laurel and Marita Banaad Laurel. Out of 10 children, he was his mother’s favorite son. He was very proud to be related to the national hero of the Philippines, Jose Rizal, the brother of his great grandmother. In 1967, he migrated to the US and humbly took his first job as a dishwasher and lived in Palo Alto, CA. He was instrumental in serving as the catalyst for other family members to follow suit in pursuing the American dream.

Lorenzo was highly educated and earned multiple degrees. By 1989, he accomplished his Master of Public Administration from California State University, Hayward, CA, his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting) from San Jose State University, and also earned two Associate in Arts degrees, one from Los Altos Hills Foothill College and another with honors from Chabot College in Hayward. He graduated Class of 1965 from an all-boys Catholic school, Ateneo de Manila University, and remained active with their alumni association.

Lorenzo began his career by serving his country in 1972 by enlisting in the Navy and eventually Air Force Reserves. He became a United States Postal Inspector for San Francisco from 1980 - 2004. During 1998, he lived in Virginia to accept a promotion in Washington DC. The Philippine Postal Corporation in Manila recognized him as the first ever Filipino US Postal Inspector to be promoted as Program Manager of National Security.

Lorenzo officially retired in 2004 from the US Postal Inspection Service and from the Air Force as Chief Master Sergeant (E-9), the highest rank one can achieve as an enlisted member.

His love for the San Francisco 49ers, Star Trek, reading books, barbecuing, shooting guns, music, and traveling along with his corny jokes and radiant smile will forever be cherished.

Lorenzo passed away December 6, 2020 from complications of pneumonia after being hospitalized on November 17 for Covid-19.

Lorenzo is survived by his wife of nearly 46 years, Angelita and their two children, Alexander and Kristine, as well as four grandchildren, Kyle, Andre, Khloe Ryann, and Olivia. His memory lives on through his brothers and sisters, Encarnacion, Mauricio, Miguel, Roberto, Patricia, Margarita, and Eva. Lorenzo now joins his siblings, Camilla and Marcos, to rest in eternal peace.