Nicolas Torres Rodriguez

Nicolas Torres Rodríguez, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and the Mission District's cherished "El Zapatero," passed away peacefully on December 1, 2025, at the age of 79, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
Born on September 10, 1946, in Honduras to Pedro Torres and María Rodríguez, Nicolás emigrated to the United States as a young man, becoming the first in his family to carve a new path. With determination and skill, he dedicated his life to the craft of shoe repair, eventually opening Alexander's Shoe Repair on Mission Street, a shop named in honor of his youngest son. For more than 30 years, Nicolas served the community with humility, precision, and a warm, friendly spirit. Known throughout the neighborhood simply as "El Zapatero," his shop became a cultural anchor in the Mission, a place where generations of families came for trusted service, good conversation, and the familiar sound of his hammer at work.
To his family, Nicolas was a man of deep generosity and unwavering love - someone who expressed his devotion through action, sacrifice, and steadfast commitment. He taught his children and grandchildren the values of humility, compassion, and hard work. To his wife, Dilsia, he was a devoted partner throughout their 42-year marriage, a steady presence whose companionship shaped their lives together.
Nicolas leaves behind a legacy rooted in family, faith, and service to others. He is survived by his beloved wife, Dilsia; his children Nicolas Jr, Pedro, Enrique, Claudia, Yohana, and Alexander; 14 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.
His memory will live on in every life he touched and in the community he helped hold together, one pair of shoes at a time.