Wallace "Wally" Rezende

1922 - 2010

A 54 year resident of Redondo Beach, passed away on Sunday, November 7, 2010 in Redondo Beach. Born in Trinidad, British West Indies on May 10, 1922, Wallace was 88 when he died. He was a member of St. James Catholic Church. Wallace gained acceptance into Cambridge University, but declined due to the outbreak of World War II. He enlisted in the British Air Force as a flight engineer for 5 years. Wallace was employed by Chevron (Standard Oil) Refinery, El Segundo, CA for 35 years. He thoroughly enjoyed 26 years of retirement. He loved the sea, sailing, jogging, reading, European history, woodwork, traveling abroad and soccer (especially the World Cup). He worked the LA Times and Daily Breeze crossword puzzles every day. A lifetime sailboat enthusiast, Wallace built his first sailboat at age 14. Throughout adulthood, he sailed numerous sailboats of his own and especially loved his last and favorite boat, Passage East, a Columbia 30. He was very proud of his Portuguese heritage and was passionate about fairness, kindness and compassion. Wallace met his wife, Margaret, while on furlough in Dublin, S. Ireland in 1944. Returning home to Trinidad after the end of the war, then relocated to Southern California in 1948, the couple married in Los Angeles in 1949. They raised their four children in the South Bay. Wallace is survived by his wartime bride of 61 years, Margaret "Terry" Rezende (Redondo Bch); sons, Paul Rezende (Germany), Vincent Rezende (Redondo Beach), Kevin Rezende; daughter-in-law Paula (Torrance); daughter, Denise Robinson (Redondo Beach); 3 grandchildren: Jennifer Cecil (Craig) of AZ, Katrina Feltman of MI and Alicia Feltman of CA; 7 great grandchildren: Joseph, Colby, Hannah, Travis, Trace, Layla and India. He was preceded in death by his parents, Antonio and Virginia Rezende. The Service will be held at Rice Mortuary in Torrance on Saturday, November 13, 2010 at 2:00 PM followed by a gathering of family and friends in Rice's Lighthouse Reception Room from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Covenant House or St. Joseph's Indian School, South Dakota. Please sign the guest book at www.dailybreeze.com/obits. Please use this website, www.lafuneral.com. to send the family messages, share memories, or to obtain directions to the services. Check back to view the online video tribute.