Carlos Valero's Obituary
Carlos Leonidas Valero Rodríguez
August 8, 1938 – March 12, 2025
It is with deep love and heavy hearts that we say goodbye to our beloved grandpa, Carlos Leonidas Valero Rodriguez a man whose life was marked by resilience, devotion, and an unshakable love for his family.
Born on August 8, 1938, in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Carlos grew up with a passion for sports, excelling as a competitive swimmer, goalkeeper and a basketball player. His sights were always to the sky, with dreams of joining the Ecuadorian Air Force and becoming a pilot. Though life had other plans, his adventurous spirit remained unshaken.
Seeking new opportunities, he left Ecuador and made his way to the United States, where fate introduced him to the love of his life, Martha Torres, in New York City. Their love story would span 52 beautiful years of marriage, during which Carlos wholeheartedly embraced the role of father to Martha’s daughters, Elizabeth and Patricia.
Carlos and Martha spent years dancing. His love for singing made him first pick as MC in most social events they attended throughout the years. He frequently sang to Martha, serenades were present to his last days. His singing will be forever remembered.
But if there was one role Carlos cherished above all, it was being a grandfather. To his grandsons Eric, Joseph, and Nicolas, he was more than a grandfather—he was a second father, a mentor, a best friend. He was always there, picking them up from school, taking them to their practices, sharing stories of his youth, and making them laugh with his endless jokes. His love extended even further as he became a great-grandfather, forming cherished bonds with Amariah, Joel, Eric II, Javier, and Isaiah.
Carlos was a man of wisdom, warmth, and an unwavering dedication to his family. He taught us the meaning of loyalty and love, and though he is no longer physically with us, his spirit lives on in every lesson he passed down, every story he told, and every life he touched. His light shines through us, and we will carry his memory forward, honoring the incredible man he was.
Rest in peace, Grandpa. We love you, and we will miss you always.
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