Hermie Lopez

Hermie Lopez

December 28, 2016

Mr. Hermie Lopez, age 85, of Reno, Nevada, died peacefully Wednesday morning, December 28, 2016.

Born and raised in Berkeley, California, he was the son of Marcelo and Lourdes Lopez. Hermie graduated from Berkeley High School and the University of California, Berkeley. He settled in Reno, and married Jacqueline Ritchie in 1963. Together they raised two children. For over thirty years, he was a successful radio and television ad executive, working for several local advertising agencies, KOLO, and KTVN. In his later years, he worked as a motivational consultant, and as an educator at the Nevada State Prison.

Hermie loved his longtime and childhood friends, dubbed the "A.C." His passion was cooking, which he learned from his father. He was a voracious reader, and he took great pride in his large collection of books, which was of neighborhood renown. He loved socializing and gatherings, and looked forward to get-togethers of the A.C. and its families. He was a regular at Louis' Basque Corner and both Shakey's Pizzas. Hermie was a fixture in the Moana West Racquet and Reno Tennis Clubs, and organized an annual Round Robin Tournament. He took great pleasure in frustrating his tennis buddies with his infamous "moon lobs." Hermie was an excellent dance partner, a skilled poker and billiards player, and a fan of Cal-Berkeley Golden Bears' and 49ers' football.

He enjoyed fishing, and taught his sons to fish on the Truckee River, and on the Feather River near Graeagle, California, where the family vacationed each August. As his children grew, he learned photography. Hermie was a loving father and friend. He woke early every day, would spoil the family dog, April, in the quiet of the pre-dawn while he cooked Chinese food and omelets, and read the paper.

Hermie was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his sister, Mildred Calica, of Alameda, California; his former wife, Jacqueline Lopez, of Sparks; two sons, Christian Lopez (Anne Burnett) of Athens, Georgia, and Jason Lopez (Binh Ton Nu Hoa Tong); a grandson, Jesse, of Athens, Georgia; and several nephews, nieces, and cousins.

Hermie Fernandez Lopez, May your spirit fly with Love on the wings of Heaven, always and in all ways.