Eladio Esguerra Cruz

Eladio “Ed/Addie” Esguerra Cruz, beloved husband, father, lolo/grandfather, kuya/brother, tito/uncle and friend, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2026, at the age of 87 in Burlingame, California. He was born to the parents, Emilio Sayo Cruz and Maria Concepcion Esguerra, in Bulacan, Philippines, and lived after college a life in Parma, Ohio and then San Jose, California defined by faith, intellect, creativity, and deep devotion to family and community. Ed was the devoted husband of Juanita (Fernando) for 57 years and a loving father to Eric and Melissa (Cruz-Lam). He was a cherished father-in-law to Robin Cruz and Dominic Lam, and a proud lolo/grandfather to Ryan, Daniel, Jordan, Orion, Nolan, JJ, and Vivian, all of whom brought him immense joy. He is survived by his siblings Emilio Cruz and Primitiva Cruz Legaspi and was preceded in death by his sisters Gloria Lawas, Nini Mendoza, and his brother Gaudencio Cruz. Ed earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from Araneta University in the Philippines. His professional career reflected both curiosity and excellence. He began in Battery Research at Union Carbide in Cleveland, Ohio and later worked as a Quality Engineer and Chemist in the Battery Technology Department of the Space and Satellite Division at Ford Aerospace in Palo Alto, which later became Space Systems/Loral, where he performed critical chemical and metallurgical analysis of nickel-cadmium and nickel-hydrogen battery cell components to ensure optimum quality and life of the batteries operating in space on critical communications satellites. He also worked at Read-Rite in California. A lifelong learner and communicator, Ed was also an active member of Toastmasters. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Ed lived fully through his many passions. He loved photography, travel, and writing for the Knights of Columbus newsletter, found peace in gardening, and had a special affection for animals. Music and celebration were central to his life—he enjoyed singing in the Simbang Gabi choir and was always ready to dance. His joy was contagious, and his presence lit up every gathering. Ed’s faith was a guiding force throughout his life. He was deeply involved in the Cursillo, founding member of Simbang Gabi at Holy Family, a former Grand Knight and active 4th Degree council member of the Knights of Columbus, and served faithfully with the Holy Family Eucharistic Ministry. His devotion to God and service to others left a lasting impact on all who knew him. A celebration of Ed’s life will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Holy Family Parish Eladio Esguerra Cruz, fondly known as Ed and Addie, will be remembered for his wisdom, gentle humor, strong faith, and the boundless love he shared with his family and community. His legacy lives on in the lives he touched and the values he passed down.

Eladio Esguerra Cruz

February 18, 1938 - January 26, 2026