Armando Viveros Perez

Oct. 25, 1944 – March 15, 2011

Armando was born to Jose and Lucia Perez on October 25, 1944. He was one of three siblings that grew up in the small town of Villa Jimenez in Michoacan, Mexico. He grew up in a humble yet loving home where work was more of a priority than school. He was able to attend school up to the sixth grade. From the age of 10, he worked various jobs around town like selling Jell-O from a tray, delivering buckets of water to houses in his small town and making saddles with his father. Once he was old enough to leave home, he worked making dentures at a plant in Mexico City before returning to Michoacan to work in a refinery. At the age of 22, he married his neighborhood sweetheart, Rosa Maria Perez, and soon after decided to make the move to the U.S. in 1966. With Rosa, eight months pregnant with the first of four children, they drove across the U.S. border. Once in the U.S., Armando worked at the Music Center in downtown Los Angeles for eight years before deciding to open Rosa’s Restaurant in Hermosa Beach, California in 1974. Both Armando and Rosa lived the American dream and they continued with the restaurant for 37 years before deciding to sell the business and retire. The only thing Armando knew for 37 years was to take care of his family and the family business, paying little attention to himself. Five to six years prior to selling the business, he began going to Gold’s Gym in Redondo Beach to work off some weight. He absolutely loved the gym and after his retirement, Gold’s Gym was like a second home to him. Armando was used to interacting with many people when he had his business and he found the same environment at the gym. It was a place where he wasn’t known as “Dad”, but Armando Perez or Mr. Perez, a successful business proprietor, not to mention that it was the place where he could practice his best skill, which is to be a social butterfly. Sadly, this is where he had his last moments on earth. Even though he wasn’t with his family at the time of his death, he was in the company of the many friends and acquaintances he had at the gym that cared about him. His many interests and hobbies included working out, cars, watching Lakers and Dodger games, attending family functions and most of all, interacting with many people he crossed paths with in life. Armando V. Perez leaves behind his wife, Rosa Maria Perez, four children: Jackie, Armando Jr., Eddie, and Rosalinda along with sons-in-law: David Verdugo, Sean Elliott, daughter-in-law: Rosie Perez and grandkids: Alyssa, Anthony, Mikey, Ryder, and Reese.

We will never forget and will always love you Dad!