George Albert Lopez

George Lopez is a man who lived many lives. His first life, as a son and brother, began on July 28, 1954, when he was born in an elevator at General Hospital in Los Angeles. He was the fourth of Lupe and Ysidro Lopez’s ten children. George spent his early years living with his family in Medina Court, El Monte, California. Growing up in Southern California during the sixties, George and his siblings lived the life of local adventurers, exploring the terrain of El Barrio. One thing that was true about the Lopez clan is that they always had each other’s back—they were a close-knit group, often getting into brawls to defend each other. In his youth, George’s neighbors, like the Diaz family, became an extension of his own family. Along with collecting records and listening to music, one of his favorite pastimes was visiting the Diaz household and eating Mama Josie’s homemade tortillas and frijoles. George was also involved in the larger community as a youth, typified by his participation in protests against an American Nazi Party headquarters that had opened in El Monte. In June, 1975, George graduated from the El Monte Union High School District.

George’s second life as a devoted husband and father began when he was 20-years-old. Margaret Diaz, his childhood friend, helped him land a job in a sheet metal factory, an experience that would literally change his life, because that was where he met the love of his life, Ofelia Medina. At first George spoke very little Spanish and Ofelia spoke very little English. However, they would spend many hours on the phone together. After only three months of dating, the two were engaged, and within six months, they were married at La Placita Church at Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles, on August 6, 1977. For 36, going on 37 years, along with raising six children, George and Ofelia welcomed two daughters-in-law, one son-in-law, and six beautiful grandchildren into their family. But George’s role as a father figure was not limited to his biological children; he showed the same type of devoted love to many of those around him. He was known particularly by all for his fatherly compassion, advice, and steadfast love.

In addition to being a devoted husband and father, George was a hard worker. He worked two full-time jobs while earning his Associates in Corrections and Social Sciences degree from Rio Hondo College in 1981. It was during his college career that George delved into the Chicano history of Los Angeles and the United States. He was heavily influenced by the Brown Berets and their focus on community organizing and educational equality. He also believed strongly in the importance of knowing the history of his people and family. One of his favorite novels was The Eagle and the Serpent by Martin Luis Guzman—one of the greatest works of literature about the Mexican Revolution. He would later pass the wisdom he learned about Mexican culture and struggle on to the younger generations of his family, always emphasizing the importance of education, equality, and integrity to those who would listen.

Shortly after attaining his degree, George started his first job as a prison guard at High Desert State Prison in Susanville, California. Before beginning this job, he had worked within other prisons in Northern California in various roles, including prison counselor. In time, he moved on from his job as a guard to return with his family to Southern California and become a Parole Officer. George’s career as a peace officer not only earned him recognition and awards from the State of California, but also close, lifelong friends such as Irene Reyes, and Evonne and Steve Del Rio amongst many. All remained close throughout their careers and even after George’s retirement in 2007.

The life from which George never strayed, and the one that carried him through the trials-and-tribulations of life was that of a religious man. In 1982 George joined the Knights of Columbus. To George, attending church every Sunday was the bare minimum of his expression of faith. He also said a daily rosary, and before he met Ofelia was studying to join the church in an official role. George loved every child that he baptized as one of his own, and wholeheartedly embodied the responsibilities of being a Godparent. He made sure to guide them to be close to God, honor their loved ones, and was always available to offer advice whenever he could. His faith in God and his love for people never dwindled. Even after being diagnosed with gastric cancer in April of 2013, George continued to pray every day—not only for his own healing, but those around him. He also called his cancer “his blessing,” because he said that it brought him even closer to God and to his family.

George wrote on November 23, 2013, “Remember to offer your suffering in union with Jesus suffering as an act of gratefulness for the love God has given us through his suffering,” and “I believe we can bring our family closer to God by showing God gratitude for his love of us. We should practice our faith not because we fear going to hell, but we fear of offending God who is all good and deserving of our love.”

George Lopez was a man who lived many lives; and to the very day of his passing on May 24, 2014, he gave his entire heart and the full extent of his love to each of them. He will be greatly missed, but his memory and spirit will always remain strong in the hearts of the many people he touched so profoundly.