Remembering social justice advocate Gustavo Camacho Lopez

Gustavo Camacho Lopez, co-founder of Comité de la Esperanza, died on June 4. He was 80 years old. 

Camacho Lopez worked in management most of his life, but his work with the nonprofit organization Comite de la Esperanza, prevented the construction of a jail in Boyle Heights in the 1980s. The organization also worked to save the Wyvernwood Garden Apartments, where Camacho Lopez first lived with his family. 

He was born on July 23, 1943 in San Martín de Hidalgo, Jalisco. He was married to his wife Yolanda for 59 years.

“He was very generous,” said his son, Gustavo Camacho, mayor of Pico Rivera. “He was just an individual that helped as an immigrant himself, coming over here and settling down so many family or friends came to the house and [stayed] there until they got themselves situated.”

Camacho said his father loved bringing his family together, gathering over carne asada. He taught him to work hard, provide and to be a man of his word.

Camacho Lopez moved to Boyle Heights in 1973. After a couple of years, his wife joined him and then his first three children, Maria, Eliseo and Gustavo joined him as well. His fourth child, Miguel Angel, was born in California. He passed away in December at 42. 

According to the Pico Rivera mayor, his father was “very kind, a gentleman, but also commanded respect and was able to be respected.” Advocating for his community is how his son became interested in social justice advocacy work and became involved in local government. 

When Camacho Lopez went to pick up his children in Mexico to bring them to the United States, Camacho didn’t really know him. His father had left when he was just months old. So his earliest memory is when they arrived at the Wyvernwood apartments, his father bought him an Evil Knievel toy that he cherished throughout his childhood. 

Growing up in Jalisco, Camacho Lopez would tell his family of his early life. His mother passed away when has eight months old and his father passed away when he was 12. He started working at a young age in the field, where his uncles would send him, spending nights alone. 

Camacho Lopez is survived by his wife Yolanda and his children Maria, Eliseo and Gustavo.