Eric Perez Memorial Fund
Donation protected
Eric Perez Memorial Services
Wed. May 11th, 2022
Viewing/Rosary
Romero Funeral Home
4750 Tejon St, Denver, CO 80211
Viewing 5:00 pm-8:00 pm with Rosary @ 6pm
Thurs. May 12th, 2022
Church Services
Most Precious Blood Catholic Church
3959 E Iliff Ave, Denver, CO 80210
Viewing 9:30 am -10:30 am
Mass 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Reception 12 noon-2 :00 pm
Eric Perez was born on the 27th of February, 1996, and passed away on April 24th, 2022. He is survived by his mother, his granny, uncle, aunt, his brother and son, Gina Perez, Patricia Perez, Bobby Perez, Johnny Perez, and Jojo. Eric was preceded in death by his grandpa Pa and Aunt, Robert D. Perez, and Nelly Perez.
Eric completed his Bachelor’s degree at MSU Denver in Criminal Justice and Criminology with a minor in Chicano Studies in the Spring of 2021. During this time he worked for 6 years with the Journey Through Our Heritage program as a youth mentor and community leader. He was also an intern at History Colorado and Conservation Colorado. Eric eventually became the President of the JTOH program. Eric’s pride was in his schools and students, and he shared his passion for life and learning with hundreds of students.
The simplest pleasures in life brought great joy to Eric. He loved spending an evening with his friends and dog, good food in hand. During school breaks, Eric often would prioritize time with his friends and family, going to movies, walking his dog, Jojo, and having deep conversations. He had an uncanny ability to find happiness in his daily activities.
Eric Perez was the first in his family to graduate college. He was a valuable member of the MSU Denver Journey Through Our Heritage team for six years and was an amazing mentor to his students. He won many awards from the university and the community for his outstanding student leadership and the work he did in the community. He overcame tremendous odds and sadly, he succumbed to the opioid epidemic that has taken too many of our youth. Please help us raise funds for his family to have a decent memorial service for him. All donations will go directly to his grandma Pat Perez and his mom Gina.
In addition, the Chicano Humanities Arts Council, CFAC, and MSU Denver Chicana/o Studies JTOH program will dedicate the La Alma Jaguar Club Summer program in Eric's memory, a program that was near and dear to his heart.
Below is a letter we submitted on Eric's behalf in 2021. He was all this and so much more.
Journey Through Our Heritage
MSU Denver-Department of Chicana/o Studies
Phone: [phone redacted] Cell: [phone redacted]
E-mail: [email redacted]
Feb. 15, 2021
Dear Student Awards Committee
I am writing to recommend Eric Perez for the MSU Denver Outstanding Service Award.
I am the director of the community activist outreach program Journey Through Our Heritage (JTOH) under the Chicana/o Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver). We partner MSU Denver JTOH university students with local high school students who are from at-risk populations. It is our hope that our mentors who are also from at-risk communities can encourage other youth to take active roles as community leaders, engage in service-learning projects and consider furthering their education after high school.
Eric Perez enrolled in 2014 as a freshman at MSU Denver to better himself and his family. He is a first-generation college student who grew up on the South Side of Denver. His family history is fraught with the same issues that plague many of our young Latinx males; gang violence, jail, criminal issues, and poverty. He enrolled in college to break this cycle.
Eric mentored at one of the most difficult schools we have ever served. Ace Community Challenge was a school where all of the students enrolled were court-ordered to attend. Because of his background, Eric was able to relate to these students. When Eric was forced, due to family issues to drop out of college in the spring of 2017, he arranged his work schedule at his off-campus job to ensure he was still able to work with his students.
This dedication speaks volumes of Eric. In his desire to help those who are marginalized he has become a campus /community leader. He has taken on the responsibility of officer for several MSU Denver Student Orgs., interned with Conservation Colorado as a Promotorx, developed programming, managed office duties, researched and written numerous grants, solicited community partnerships, helped run a summer camp leadership program at La Alma Rec., and managed dozens of other projects. He was also a History Colorado intern and pushed to create a collection of Rita Wallace de Flores , one of Colorado's foremost Mexican Folklorists. If not for him, her collection would have been forgotten.
He is adaptable, organized and readily learns new skills. He possesses integrity, a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to bettering our communities by championing diversity and inclusion. In all my years of directing the JTOH program, I have not met a more deserving student.
With Regards,
Dr. Renee Fajardo
MSU Denver Journey Through Our Heritage Director
Wed. May 11th, 2022
Viewing/Rosary
Romero Funeral Home
4750 Tejon St, Denver, CO 80211
Viewing 5:00 pm-8:00 pm with Rosary @ 6pm
Thurs. May 12th, 2022
Church Services
Most Precious Blood Catholic Church
3959 E Iliff Ave, Denver, CO 80210
Viewing 9:30 am -10:30 am
Mass 10:30 am – 11:30 am
Reception 12 noon-2 :00 pm
Eric Perez was born on the 27th of February, 1996, and passed away on April 24th, 2022. He is survived by his mother, his granny, uncle, aunt, his brother and son, Gina Perez, Patricia Perez, Bobby Perez, Johnny Perez, and Jojo. Eric was preceded in death by his grandpa Pa and Aunt, Robert D. Perez, and Nelly Perez.
Eric completed his Bachelor’s degree at MSU Denver in Criminal Justice and Criminology with a minor in Chicano Studies in the Spring of 2021. During this time he worked for 6 years with the Journey Through Our Heritage program as a youth mentor and community leader. He was also an intern at History Colorado and Conservation Colorado. Eric eventually became the President of the JTOH program. Eric’s pride was in his schools and students, and he shared his passion for life and learning with hundreds of students.
The simplest pleasures in life brought great joy to Eric. He loved spending an evening with his friends and dog, good food in hand. During school breaks, Eric often would prioritize time with his friends and family, going to movies, walking his dog, Jojo, and having deep conversations. He had an uncanny ability to find happiness in his daily activities.
Eric Perez was the first in his family to graduate college. He was a valuable member of the MSU Denver Journey Through Our Heritage team for six years and was an amazing mentor to his students. He won many awards from the university and the community for his outstanding student leadership and the work he did in the community. He overcame tremendous odds and sadly, he succumbed to the opioid epidemic that has taken too many of our youth. Please help us raise funds for his family to have a decent memorial service for him. All donations will go directly to his grandma Pat Perez and his mom Gina.
In addition, the Chicano Humanities Arts Council, CFAC, and MSU Denver Chicana/o Studies JTOH program will dedicate the La Alma Jaguar Club Summer program in Eric's memory, a program that was near and dear to his heart.
Below is a letter we submitted on Eric's behalf in 2021. He was all this and so much more.
Journey Through Our Heritage
MSU Denver-Department of Chicana/o Studies
Phone: [phone redacted] Cell: [phone redacted]
E-mail: [email redacted]
Feb. 15, 2021
Dear Student Awards Committee
I am writing to recommend Eric Perez for the MSU Denver Outstanding Service Award.
I am the director of the community activist outreach program Journey Through Our Heritage (JTOH) under the Chicana/o Studies at Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver). We partner MSU Denver JTOH university students with local high school students who are from at-risk populations. It is our hope that our mentors who are also from at-risk communities can encourage other youth to take active roles as community leaders, engage in service-learning projects and consider furthering their education after high school.
Eric Perez enrolled in 2014 as a freshman at MSU Denver to better himself and his family. He is a first-generation college student who grew up on the South Side of Denver. His family history is fraught with the same issues that plague many of our young Latinx males; gang violence, jail, criminal issues, and poverty. He enrolled in college to break this cycle.
Eric mentored at one of the most difficult schools we have ever served. Ace Community Challenge was a school where all of the students enrolled were court-ordered to attend. Because of his background, Eric was able to relate to these students. When Eric was forced, due to family issues to drop out of college in the spring of 2017, he arranged his work schedule at his off-campus job to ensure he was still able to work with his students.
This dedication speaks volumes of Eric. In his desire to help those who are marginalized he has become a campus /community leader. He has taken on the responsibility of officer for several MSU Denver Student Orgs., interned with Conservation Colorado as a Promotorx, developed programming, managed office duties, researched and written numerous grants, solicited community partnerships, helped run a summer camp leadership program at La Alma Rec., and managed dozens of other projects. He was also a History Colorado intern and pushed to create a collection of Rita Wallace de Flores , one of Colorado's foremost Mexican Folklorists. If not for him, her collection would have been forgotten.
He is adaptable, organized and readily learns new skills. He possesses integrity, a strong work ethic and a deep commitment to bettering our communities by championing diversity and inclusion. In all my years of directing the JTOH program, I have not met a more deserving student.
With Regards,
Dr. Renee Fajardo
MSU Denver Journey Through Our Heritage Director
Organizer and beneficiary
Renee Fajardo
Organizer
Arvada, CO
Georgina Barela
Beneficiary