Forever in our hearts: Leonardo Ortiz Espinoza, 1959-2008

By Natalee O.

In February 2008, on Thursday the 18th, at  5:30 pm, Leonardo Ortiz also known as (Nalo) abruptly passed away  in his sister Lola’s house . He left this world comforted by the presence of  his loving sister Lola  and wife  Neva  and is now in a better place. Although his death was over 15 years ago , his memory continues to live on . As  a student from Airport High School , I am writing about this because many of my family members no longer remember him . I want to encourage my fellow students at Airport High School to remind your siblings and family members that those people that passed away matter and need to be remembered not as bad but as good people.

Ortiz was 49 years old at the time of his death and was known to have been a very  hard working man. He loved his kids deeply. He was a devoted father, who would do anything for them and  taught them to be a person of good , he loved his grandchildren  and he loved taking care of his animals he especially loved being around his horses . He was also very friendly, had a bunch of friends and also loved helping other people . Leonardo won multiple awards for horse racing and even won 10,000 pesos once according to Equineinfoexchange,  horse racing is a popular sport in Mexico . 

Ortiz  is lovely remembered by  his spouse , Neva Lugos ;  his sons , Florencio Ortiz , Leonardo  Ortiz ,Enrique Ortiz , his daughters , Chafa  ,blanca ,and  Maria Eugenia , ; his daughters- in- law , Maribel , and  Dellia: and his sons-in-law, Sual , Sual and Apolinar.  He is also remembered by  his siblings Lucia , Lusia , Emma , Lola , Nicolas , Miguel and Gaudencio . His loss is also mourned by his aunts and uncles Juan , Beto , Veronica  and Susana, as well as his grandchildren Evelyn , Mariana , Jessie , Natalee ,and Leonardo jr 

Leonardo’s gone but never forgotten. A memorial service was held in a  pantheon (cemetery) at 11:00 am on February the 21st in Putla Villa de  Guerro Oaxaca  .