CURBSIDE GREETER SEPULVEDA DIES OF HEART FAILURE.Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer Chris Sepulveda, a custodian who spent his retirement giving a friendly wave and a smile to motorists passing through Moorpark, died Thursday afternoon from congestive heart failure congestive heart failure, inability of the heart to expel sufficient blood to keep pace with the metabolic demands of the body. In the healthy individual the heart can tolerate large increases of workload for a considerable length of time. . The 69-year-old World War II Army veteran died in his bed at Simi Valley Hospital Simi Valley Hospital (SVH) is a Seventh-day Adventist hospital located located in Simi Valley, California. SVH is a member of Adventist Health. New Construction Simi Valley Hospital is in the process of building a new wing to the hospital. , surrounded by dozens of get-well cards from motorists accustomed to the daily greetings. "We had them up on the wall and the windowsill," said Alice Hernandez, Sepulveda's daughter. "Every time he opened his eyes, we said, look dad, look at all the people who love you." Nearly every day for 11 years, Sepulveda has sat in a lawn chair at the corner of Spring and Second, smiling, waving - and even blowing kisses - to morning commuters. Sepulveda knew most of his curbside curb·side n. 1. The side of a pavement or street that is bordered by a curb. 2. A sidewalk. adj. Located, operating, or occurring at or along the sidewalk or curb: acquaintances better by the make of their car than by their name. "He was always smiling, no matter what," Moorpark resident Ann Briggs said. "It was nice to see a friendly face. I always loved to see him." Sepulveda once described his task as "not a big deal." "I just make them feel good, make their day," Sepulveda said in an interview in 1990. "It makes them feel good. Makes me feel good, too." On Christmas Eve, Sepulveda was rushed to Simi Valley Hospital after suffering a heart attack. When residents heard Sepulveda was ill, the community reached out through greetings of their own. More than 50 get-well cards - including one from New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of and one from Texas - were mailed to Sepulveda's Moorpark home. Hernandez brought the cards to her father's bedside, hoping the prayers of strangers would perform a miracle. "On occasion, he would look around and smile," Hernandez said. "Sometimes we would think there's hope. "We're gonna miss him a lot." A rosary rosary [rose garden], prayer of Roman Catholics, in which beads are used as counters. The term, applied also to the beads, is extended to Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist prayers that use beads. service will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at Reardon Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. Mortuary, 2636 Sycamore Drive, Simi Valley. Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Holy Cross Church Holy Cross Church could be:
Sepulveda will be buried the same day at Santa Clara Santa Clara, city, Cuba Santa Clara (sän`tä klä`rä), city (1994 est. pop. 217,000), capital of Villa Clara prov., central Cuba. Cemetery in Oxnard. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be given to disabled veterans charity organizations. CAPTION(S): PHOTO Photo (SIMI only--color) Chris Sepulveda Brightened daily commute |
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