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Obituary for Gerald Leroy Sanchez
Gerald Leroy Sanchez, age 52, of South El Monte, California, passed away on February 11, 2018. He was the son of Rodolfo and Paz Sanchez.
Gerald is survived by his daughter, Erin Taylor Sanchez, of Baldwin Park, and Erin’s mother, Diana Sanchez of El Segundo; his parents, Rodolfo and Paz Sanchez of South El Monte; his brother, Sammy Sanchez of Baldwin Park; and his sister, Annette Sanchez-Hecht (Torrey Hecht) of Long Beach. Gerald is also survived by his nephews and niece – Christopher Lopez, Torrance Hecht, and Jasmine Hecht – and his beloved dog, Billie, who was near-and-dear to his heart.
After graduating Mountain View High School, in El Monte, Gerald attended the University Technical Institute, in Arizona, to receive his certification as a technician in the transportation industry. Upon graduating, Gerald meticulously maintained automobiles at various car dealerships throughout Southern California. He eventually transitioned into the service advisory fields at Elmore Toyota and Puente Hills Ford. He was a superior auto mechanic and was a friendly service advisor to all he came in contact with.
Gerald was passionate about all things sport. Various sports surrounded Gerald’s life such as NASCAR, NHRA, Golf, UCLA Athletics, the L.A. Dodgers, and the Pittsburgh Steelers. One of his favorite experiences was driving a Toyota NASCAR vehicle during the pre-race events at the Long Beach Grand Prix, and another favorite was attending the NHRA Winternationals in Pomona with his brother, Sammy.
Gerald was most proud of his beloved daughter, Erin, and her accomplishments in life: her self-reliance, independence, and the pursuit of her college education greatly impressed him and brought him much joy. Gerald called Erin his “#1 daughter” and often told her how beautiful she was and how much he loved her.
Being a jokester, Gerald was often clowning around to make one smile. With Erin being his only child, he affectionately joked with her, saying, “Out of all of my daughters, you are my favorite!” Along the same lines, he would say to his only sister, Annette, “You are my favorite sister!” He definitely knew how to make one laugh.
Gerald recently celebrated his 52nd birthday, with family, on December 22, 2017. Sadly, just two months later, he lost his fight against alcoholism and succumbed to cirrhosis of the liver. His family and friends miss him greatly and are deeply saddened by the void left by his passing.
Gerald’s family invites all who knew and loved him to attend and celebrate his life at his memorial service. For information on the service and reception honoring Gerald’s life, please refer to the “Obituary & Events” and “Event Information” tabs on this page. *You can also enter this link into your browser and search for Gerald’s name on the Everlasting Memorial Funeral Chapel website: www.everlastingmemorialfuneralchapel.com/obituaries/obituary-listings
