DOWNEY - Del S. Esguerra, a longtime resident of Downey and a member of local service clubs, died Oct. 9 after a long battle with lung cancer. He was 77.Born in Quezon City, Philippines, his first job was as a furniture designer. A writer and artist, Esguerra wrote a weekly sports column for the Pacific Daily News, a book on his family's immigration to the United States titled "Agos," and his fine art photography was published in "America at the Millennium: Historic Photography Anthology." Esguerra won trophies for fishing, golfing and bowling but devoted most of his time to community service. He was a member of the Downey Lions Club, Downey Kiwanis Club, Toastmasters Club of Downey and was past grand knight with the Knights of Columbus. He is survived by his wife Angie; son Angel; daughter Celia Winstead; sons-in-law Jim Winstead and James Adams; brothers Rafael S. Esguerra of Los Angeles, Rev. Fr. Gorgonio Esguerra of Xavier Jesuit House in Cagayan de Oro, Philippines and Arturo Esguerra of Long Island, N.Y.; and sister Remedios Lorenzo of Dededo, Guam. Vigil services were held Thursday at Downey Zrelak Family Mortuary. A funeral Mass was scheduled for Friday, Oct. 19, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, with interment at Resurrection Cemetery in Montebello. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations in Del Esguerra's name to the Cancer Research Institute (cancerreesearch.org).

********** Published: October 18, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 27