Edgardo B Espiritu

Born on June 7, 1935, in the Philippines to Arsenio and Belen Espiritu. Edgardo was one of nine children. He is preceded in death by his beloved parents and siblings Roberto, Romeo, and Corazon.

In 1959, Edgardo married the love of his life, Lydia. Together, they shared 66 years of love and partnership, raising their children Stephanie, John, Alan, and Arbel. He is preceded in death by his son Arbel and lovingly remembered by his surviving children. Edgardo was a proud grandfather to eleven grand-children and a great-grandfather to five great-grandchildren.

Edgardo graduated from the University of the Philippines in 1955, earned his law degree in 1958, and was an active member of the Upsilon Sigma Phi fraternity. He was a dedicated alumnus and served as the longest tenured president of the UP Alumni Association. He had a distinguished career spanning finance, diplomacy, and public service. His career in banking included leadership roles at Metrobank, Philippine National Bank, and Westmont Bank. In public service, he served as the Secretary of Finance of the Philippines for two years in 1998; and later as Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St. James in the United Kingdom for seven years from 2003-2009.

Known for his integrity, humility, and unwavering principles, Edgardo was admired as a man of honor and kindness. He was generous, selfless, and deeply committed to serving others. He leaves behind echoes of integrity, acts of courage, and the quiet, steadfast labor of love for the Philippines. His career “was a tapestry of service woven with threads of unyielding principle.”

He enjoyed golf, cheering for the Dodgers, and listening to classic music—his favorite song being “The Impossible Dream” by Frank Sinatra. To his family, he was a constant source of strength, often using his trademark phrase to remind his family: “Be safe, always.”

Throughout his life, Edgardo received many distinguished awards and recognitions. Yet, his proudest legacy was the family he loved and the countless lives he touched through his service and commitment to lead by example. He understood that “true leadership was not about accumulation, but the dissemination of knowledge, opportunity, and above all, integrity.”

A viewing will be held on Sunday, May 4, from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a rosary from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at Turner & Stevens Live Oak in Monrovia, California. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, May 5, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Rita Catholic Church in Sierra Madre, California.

“His physical presence is gone, but the light he gathered and scattered endures.” Edgardo Espiritu will be deeply missed and forever remembered for his wisdom, compassion, and life of purpose.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to:

The ERDA Foundation, where Edgardo served on the ERDA Tech Board of Trustees and worked to empower and educate disadvantaged Filipino youth.

[email protected]

https://erdafoundation.ph/

Or

St. Rita Catholic Church: https://st-rita.org/