Chaguito, my brother, was not only the best brother; he was an amazing son, uncle, father, and husband. He built friendships with everyone he crossed paths with. My brother’s hard work and dedication, his passion to help others, his unquenchable sense of humor, and his humble, caring heart will always be remembered and deeply missed.
Santiago Perez Jr. was born on Sunday, September 25, 1983, at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital. He was the youngest in the family and attended local schools: Harding Elementary School, La Cumbre Middle School, and San Marcos High School, Class of 2001. After graduating, he enlisted in the Marines and began his training at Camp Pendleton.
Even though it was hard to see him leave, I was proud of him. One summer when he was young, Santiago had gone to camp on a Friday. He had never been away from home before. We went to visit him the following Sunday for family day, and he ended up coming home with us. He never lived that down! But Santi was known for his jokes and good humor, and he would always laugh with us when we would joke about his camp experience.
