La Puente —Romando Victor Enriquez, age 86, died yesterday at Torrance Memorial Hospital after a long battle with lung cancer.

Mr. Enriquez is survived by a wife, Remilia, four children: Sean Enriquez, Cecilia Enriquez Vitel, Ronald Enriquez, and Susan Enriquez Alduna. He also leave behind fourteen grandchildren, Sandra, Alexis, Vanessa, Adrian, Grace, Benjamin, Catrina, Brian, Roland, Richard, Jessa, Raymar, Rueena, and Ryan.

Romando is a veteran of the United States Navy, where he earned the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He grew up in La Puente, the son of Romeo and Ada Enriquez. As a child, he learned to work on cars from his father, who ran the local mechanic's shop. Retiring from the Navy after 20 years of service, he began to take over the shops duties from his father, whose deteriorating health had left him in charge of the family business. After the death of his father at the young age of 52, he took over the auto shop full time, where he eventually expanded the business to include several locations. His success in business can be directly attributed to his work ethic and his natural mechanical ability. His attention to detail was legendary. He took pride in the fact that he always left his customers satisfied. Gerald retired from the business three years ago to pursue his other passion, fishing.

Services will be held this Saturday at 3pm at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, and he will be interred at Rose Hills Mortuary in Whittier.