My beloved husband Judge Enrique Romero (Ret.) was born in Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico, on October 18, 1946, and passed away at age 74 on August 31, 2021, in Los Angeles, California, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.  Our daughter Sage and I were by his side.  His parents and three of his younger siblings have predeceased.

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Enrique was the third born of seven children.  He and his siblings grew up in a time when Acapulco was considered the “playground of the Hollywood elite.”  To Enrique and his family, Acapulco was the foundation of the beginning of a life well lived: of experiences and lessons learned, some of which remained with him for the rest of his life and helped define the loving husband, father, son, brother, friend, lawyer, and judge he would become.

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Enrique attended the private bilingual Primary School Mac Gregor Colegio.  His father, a Customs Broker, relocated his family to Los Angeles where Enrique attended Cathedral High School, becoming a proud life-long Phantom.

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Having attended UCLA and USF Law School, Enrique earned degrees in Spanish literature and Russian history, a master's in public policy, and a second degree in law specializing in in taxes, estates and wills at Georgetown Law.

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After working at the UN, Enrique settled into practicing law for 13 years.  In 1989 he was appointed to the Municipal Court bench, and then elevated to Superior Court.  In 1999 he took up the practice of a private judge settling cases through Mediation and Arbitration.  In 2017, Enrique was thrilled to join the Hon. Louis Meisinger, Hon. Michael Latin, Hon. Richard Stone, and Managing partner Dario Higuchi as one of the founding members.  Based on their interests, work ethic, and especially their family values, Enrique knew he joined a great group of friends and colleagues to partner with.

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I met Enrique on April 17 1988, at Self Help Graphics, a small art gallery in Boyle Heights.  I was there to see Gronk’s exhibit, but instead I saw Enrique.  He had curly hair, a beard, and was wearing jeans and a white guayabera.  I thought he looked like the most interesting man.  I asked him if he was an artist.  He played with that and said, “Yes, this is my work.”  I knew it wasn’t, but I liked his mischievous nature.  

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That was the beginning of an amazing 33 years of our life together: the years that brought us our beautiful, strong, intelligent daughter.  Enrique was certain that Sage would be watching and his life would be a reflection of his convictions.  He was determined to show us that his commitment was his passion: his commitment to each case, to art, to his laughter, to his friends and family, to his daughter, to me.  Enrique was not motivated by accolades, but by knowing he was present and giving each moment his all.  If work was before him, he cherished the opportunity to make a difference.  If music was playing, he was dancing and singing.  He will always be the embodiment of uncompromising courage and the vulnerability of love.  He was my prankster, my rock, my teacher, my love.  As he wrote on the last birthday card he gifted me, ‘til death do us part and beyond.’ 

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Sage and I, along with the entire Signature Resolution family, would like to thank each of you for your kind expressions of sympathy and support following Enrique’s passing.

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Enrique Romero’s Memorial will take place on September 29, 2021 at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia California at 5pm.  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Judge Romero Scholarship Fund at Cathedral High School.

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Carpe Diem,

Minerva Zermeno