Richard Raymond Castillo

The second child of Mary and Carmen Castillo, Richard was a San Diego native raised in Shelltown and attended San Diego High School, graduating in 1959. It was at a social club dance at Neighborhood House in 1956 that Richard would meet the love of his life, Mary Esther Posada of Valencia Park. One dance was all it took.

They were married in September 1960 and shared almost 60 years of marriage. While attending San Diego State University, their daughters, Deborah Marie and DeAnn Marie were born. Richard worked at Sears while attending college and Mary worked at Walker Scott Department store. Upon receiving his B.A., he worked as an investigator for the State of California, before attending law school and becoming an attorney.

A veteran trial lawyer, he tried more than 500 matters in his career, including 96 jury trials to verdict. His practice focused on commercial and employment law litigation, and he counted many Fortune 500 corporations among his clients, including Walmart, Wells Fargo, and Ford Motor Corporation.

Mr. Castillo was involved on many note-worthy legal cases including the 1990’s discrimination case of Bua and Rios vs. County of San Diego which resulted in a hiring consent decree.

He was a founding partner of Castillo & Guevara P.C, which for a period in the 1990’s was California’s largest Latino owned law firm. Mr. Castillo served on the Steering Committee of the California Minority Counsel Program for many years until his retirement from active law practice.

During the Savings and Loan crisis of the 1990’s, Mr. Castillo served as lead counsel on behalf of the Resolution Trust Corporation on many matters involving the failures of San Diego’s largest financial institutions, including the Director and Officer investigations and litigation involving Home Federal and Great American Savings and Loan.

Mr. Castillo started his legal career in the San Diego City Attorney’s office, where he served as a Deputy District Attorney and consumer fraud investigator. He has previously served as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Labor. He served for many years on the Board of Neighborhood National Bank and Neighborhood Bancorp, a community development bank dedicated to serving San Diego’s underserved communities.

Named as one of San Diego and Southern California’s top lawyers by San Diego Magazine and the Los Angeles Daily Journal, he is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbel, the nation’s most respected attorney rating service, their highest rating. He was involved in the formation of San Diego La Raza Lawyers Association and has served as SDLRLA President.

Mr. Castillo received his B.A from San Diego State University and his J.D. from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and was a member of the California State Bar (ret.).

Professionally, he accomplished a lot. But he was most beloved for his life away from the office and his commitment to family and friends.

Daddy was a lover of many things. Trout fishing in the Eastern Sierra, playing guitar, golf, a devout follower of Aztec Basketball and the San Diego Padres, gardening, cognac, fine wine, laughing, strong-wise women, his 1969-912 Porsche, dogs, travel, Christmas Eve, and Thanksgiving. But, outside of Mary, what he loved most was watching his extended family grow and engage in life. Daddy was a quiet man, but his love was generous and warm. He was kind, wise, thoughtful, supportive, forgiving, understanding and a gentleman. To know daddy was to love him.

In passing, family surrounded him. He is predeceased by Mary (2020) and is survived by his daughters, Deborah Marie Castillo and DeAnn Marie Salcido, son-in-law Richard Garces, grandsons Daniel Delgado and Joseph Salcido, his beloved Wheaten Terrier, Cisco Malone, sister-in-law Gloria Ortega numerous primos, nieces, nephews and life-long friends. Many were able to share their love of Richard through stories and words of gratitude at his 83rd birthday celebration in September. It was a day he cherished.

A rosary & visitation for Richard will be held Wednesday, December 11, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Goodbody Mortuary, 5027 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92115. A funeral mass will occur Thursday, December 12, 2024 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum, 4470 Hilltop Dr, San Diego, CA 92102. A graveside service will occur Thursday, December 12, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Holy Cross Cemetery & Mausoleum, 4470 Hilltop Dr, San Diego, CA 92102. A Celebration of Life will follow.