You may have seen this on the news, but my grandpa, Alberto Viveros Piedra aka el Gato by his friends, was struck at Anaheim Boulevard and Lincoln Avenue on March 31st at around 1am. He was only five minutes away from home after work around 1 AM—something he had done so many times before—when a senseless driver, with their lights off, hit him.

He never made it home. We never got the chance to say goodbye.

He wasn’t sick, didn’t have any health issues. He was strong, in perfect condition, and took walks every single day. He took pride in everything he had—especially his car. Even if there was a single piece of trash, he would clean it right away. Just to see how his car was left after the accident breaks our hearts. That’s just the kind of man he was—disciplined, caring, and full of pride in the life he built.

This loss has taken us completely by surprise more than anything. We never imagined something like this could ever happen to him.

Now, the people who love him are gathered here at the very place where his life was taken from us, trying to make sense of a loss that feels impossible to accept. He was more than just a man going to work and home after—he was a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather, and the heart of our family.

He leaves behind 12 children, 30 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren who will never get to see him again, hear his voice, or feel his presence. The emptiness he left behind is something we will carry forever.

We are not seeking anything beyond help to lay him to rest. And if there’s one thing we know about him, it’s that he did not hold grudges. He had a forgiving heart—he would have likely accepted an apology from the driver without hesitation. That’s the hardest part… someone so good, with strong work ethic, deep morals, and humble as he was, was taken from us in an instant.

Any support, any help at all, is deeply appreciated as we try to give him the rest and peace he deserves

SPANISH: Puede que hayan visto esto en las noticias, pero mi abuelo tubo un accidente en Anaheim Boulevard y Lincoln Avenue. Estaba a solo cinco minutos de llegar a casa después del trabajo alrededor de la 1 de la mañana—algo que había hecho tantas veces—cuando un conductor irresponsable, con las luces apagadas, lo choco.

Nunca llegó a casa. Nunca tuvimos la oportunidad de despedirnos de él.

Él no estaba enfermo. Era fuerte, estaba en perfectas condiciones y salía a caminar todos los días. Cuidaba mucho todo lo que tenía—especialmente su carro. Si había aunque fuera un pedacito de basura, lo limpiaba de inmediato. Así era él: disciplinado, cuidadoso y orgulloso de lo que tenía.

Esta pérdida nos tomó completamente por sorpresa. Nunca imaginamos que algo así pudiera pasarle a él.

Ahora, todos los que lo amamos estamos reunidos aquí, en el mismo lugar donde nos lo arrebataron, tratando de entender un dolor que parece imposible de aceptar. Él no era solo un hombre saliendo del trabajo—era un padre, abuelo, bisabuelo, y el corazón de nuestra familia.

Deja atrás a 12 hijos, 30 nietos y 5 bisnietos que nunca volverán a verlo, a escuchar su voz ni a sentir su presencia. El vacío que dejó es algo que llevaremos con nosotros para siempre.

No estamos buscando nada más que ayuda para poder darle descanso. Y si hay algo que sabemos de él, es que no guardaba rencor. Tenía un corazón noble y perdonador—muy probablemente habría aceptado una disculpa del conductor sin pensarlo. Y eso es lo más triste… que alguien tan bueno, con una gran ética de trabajo, valores firmes y una vida limpia, nos fue arrebatado en un instante.

Cualquier apoyo, cualquier ayuda, se agradece de todo corazón mientras tratamos de darle el descanso y la paz que tanto merece.