Gonzalo R. Romero

Gonzalo was born June 25, 1924 in Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, the youngest of 5. His mother, a midwife by profession, was a full-blooded Pascua Yaqui Indian although Gonzalo looked very Castilian throughout life, similar to Anthony Quinn with whom he was friends in his teens. He was called 'Talo' (nickname for Gonzalo) as a child, walking across the Sierra Madre mountains with their donkey, his chicken, and everything else that they owned for a better life in America, settling in La Habra, California for several years. Afforded little schooling, he learned to ready and write proficiently in Spanish and English along with Italian and Tagalog (Philippino) and drove farm vehicles at the age of 8. He later went on to own over 100 vehicles in his lifetime, loving to drive.
He loved caballos (horses) and hated flying, especially after taking a daredevil ride in a World War I bi-plane over Culver City which was purely farmland at the time. He never went aloft again. He loved Latin music, dancing in a Zuit suit to the music of Xavier Cugat at Pacific Ocean Park on Saturday nights. He loved Tijuana, remembering when the town had only one paved street (Calle Benito Juarez today). He owned the restaurant in the Hotel Ceasars where the Ceasar Salad was invented.
He was skilled in construction trades, working and living in East Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Culver City, and Wilmington for many years. In the 1960's – 1980's, he served as a caddy at the Bel Air Country Club for many famous people such as actress Majel Barrett, bandleader Les Brown, astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, physician David Boska, Club Pro Eddie Merrins, and many others. There he was known as 'Mario' as christened by the members. He took the Oath of Citizenship on March 31, 1998 in Los Angeles, CA.
He married his surviving spouse Thelma in 1983 and has one son, Mario, by a prior marriage. He and Thelma have lived with her daughter, Terry and husband Mark since 1993 when a grandchild, Mark, joined the family. He was named "Bo" (an infant contraction of the name 'Mario') by baby Mark at this point and was called such for the rest of his life. He would drive 'Markitos' (little Mark) to and from school everyday, usually stopping at a playground on the way home, until Mark was appointed to the United States Air Force Academy in 2012 where he will graduate in June 2016.
He was the patriarch, 'Tio', for a very large and extended family of nephews and nieces, cousins, grandchild Mario 'Chico' who with wife Liberty have 3 great-grandchildren.
He was known for his modest, humble demeanor and for his tremendous heart and sense of humor. He was always happy. He successfully battled diabetes for 50 years with the help of his wife and later Alzheimer's disease. He rested in his golden years, deeply enjoying watching Western TV movies and shows such as "Gunsmoke" and "Bat Masterson". He passed on December 12th from heart failure with his wife and stepchildren attending. He is interred at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes near other family members such as his brother Willie Romero who predeceased Bo.


Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275