Hector Torres

As a young man in his early twenties, he moved with his two sisters and their families along with their mother to San Francisco, California, the city that would become his beloved home for many decades. He proudly served his country during the Korean War before returning to the Bay Area to build his life.

Hector married Luz Soto in 1956 and together they built a beautiful family. As Luz faced a long and difficult decline from Alzheimer’s disease, Hector was devoted to ensuring she was cared for with dignity and love, always making certain she had the very best care throughout her illness.

Over the years, Hector worked a variety of jobs, always giving his best, until he retired as a mechanic with the Bay Area Rapid Transit system — work he took great pride in. Even in retirement, his hands were never still. He had a natural gift for figuring out how things worked and fixing whatever needed fixing, and he was still tackling home repairs at 95 years old.

His Catholic faith was the foundation of everything he did. Hector was a devoted parishioner at Holy Cross in Mesa, a Fourth Degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and a faithful volunteer with the Saint Vincent de Paul food pantry, where he gave generously of his time to ensure his neighbors had food on their table. He served quietly and consistently, the way he did everything — without fanfare, and with genuine love for the people around him.

Hector was also a man who took remarkable care of himself. He ran a marathon in San Francisco, was doing pull-ups well into his nineties, and faithfully attended the gym every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday until he was 95 years old.

To his daughters and their families, he was an unwavering source of love, generosity, and support. Whenever they needed him — for anything, at any time — he was there. No question, no hesitation. He gave freely and consistently throughout his entire life.

That love extended fully and genuinely to his sons-in-law and grandson-in-law as well — he embraced them as his own and treated them with the same warmth, generosity, and care he gave to everyone he held dear

In the 1990s, when his first daughter’s family relocated to Arizona for work, Hector didn’t hesitate. He packed up and followed, because being close to his only granddaughter was simply more important than anything else. And he showed up for her in every way — picking her up from school and buying afterschool treats, showing up to everything that mattered, and creating the kind of memories that stay with a person for a lifetime. He was present for it all. Their relationship was something truly special, built on countless small moments of love and devotion.

That same warmth and dedication carried right into the next generation. Hector embraced his two great-grandchildren with the same whole-hearted love — sitting with them, reading to them, playing with them, and delighting in every moment. They adored him, and he them.

Hector is survived by his two daughters Wanda and Yolanda, their spouses Steve and Michael, his granddaughter Stephanie and her husband Santhosh, and his two great-grandchildren Advaita and Jiddu, all of whom were blessed beyond measure to have him in their lives.

He will be remembered for his faith, his strength, his generosity, and the quiet and steady way he made every life around him better. He lived long, he lived fully, and he lived for others.

Visitation will be held at Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Home, 400 South Power Road, Mesa, AZ 85206, US, on June 18, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Rosary Service and Eulogy will be held on June 19, 2026 from 10:00 am to 10:30 am at Holy Cross Catholic Parish. A Funeral Mass will take place at Holy Cross Catholic Parish, 1244 S Power Rd, Mesa, AZ 85206, US, on June 19, 2026, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am.