Support Joaquin Guzman's Family in Their Time of Need

Dear City of Los Angeles Family,

We are writing to all of you to let you know about our loss of Joaquin Guzman.

Joaquin, a man whose work ethic was as unshakable as his generosity, spent his career cleaning the toughest corners of Los Angeles while never losing his warmth or sense of duty. He passed away 2.11.2025 at Antelope Valley Medical Center, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, quiet determination, and an unwavering commitment to his family.

Born with an innate drive to provide, Joaquin began his career with the City of Los Angeles in 2017, joining Support Services in the East Valley. By 2020, when the city’s homelessness crisis demanded its most dedicated hands, he transferred to the CARE / CARE+ program in the South, taking on the most demanding areas with the same steady resilience that defined him.

Colleagues quickly learned that Joaquin never turned down work. If a task needed to be done, he was there—often before being asked. He was a man who made reliability an art form, a worker others could count on, and a friend who carried himself with quiet grace.

Outside of work, his devotion to his family was equally steadfast. A man of multiple jobs and long hours, he labored not just to make a living but to build a future—ensuring his three children had opportunities he had once only dreamed of. He took pride in putting them through college, sacrificing sleep and personal time so they would never have to struggle as he had.

Despite the weight of his responsibilities, Joaquin was never without a kind word or a ready smile. He carried an unshakable optimism, a belief that hard work was always worth it, and that helping others—whether on the job or in his personal life—was the right thing to do. His coworkers knew him as a man with a heart of gold, one who set the tone for what it meant to serve the city and one another.

Joaquin is survived by his wife and three children, who carry forward his work ethic, his kindness, and his legacy of unwavering dedication.

In the streets he helped clean and the people he inspired, his presence will be missed—but not forgotten.

With love,

Los Angeles Department of Sanitation