Obituary

Hugo Oliva Sr. was a man who turned his dreams into reality when he took $50, a student Visa, and a giant leap of faith in himself in 1958 to travel to the United States to study English and Electronics Engineering. Born March 17, 1931 in Santiago, Chile to Manuel and Delia Oliva, Hugo developed a love for soccer and basketball as a young boy. The middle son of three brothers, Hugo also discovered his love for working on intricate projects when he helped his father build a modest beach house on Chile’s beautiful and famed Vina Del Mar coastline.

While studying English at Hollywood High in Los Angeles, he met his loving wife Esther and together they embarked on a wonderful life together. With Esther’s encouragement, he took an entry level engineering position with the Hilton Corporation, settling in Torrance, California to raise his family, before retiring from the Hilton Corporation as their Senior Engineer in 1996 after 30+ years of exemplary service, and moving to Rancho Santa Margarita. Despite retiring, Hugo continued to work on countless outside projects but also enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family and friends.

Hugo‘s family was by far his greatest treasure. He was a dedicated family man through and through. He adored his wife of 50 years before her passing in 2019, and cherished every moment spent with his two children, Esther and Hugo Jr., and his five grandchildren, Sarah, Michael, Gabi, Isabella, and Christian. Hugo was a doting grandfather, beaming with pride at the countless school graduations, dance, and sporting events he attended over the years. He especially loved celebrating family gatherings, ensuring that every holiday or birthday was complete with delicious meals, music, laughter, games, and of course, his unforgettable, and just a “tiny bit” exaggerated tales.

Hugo’s legacy is one of resilience and perseverance. He never ceased to amaze his family and friends with how strong he was, having battled through various ailments, coming out stronger each time. Those who knew him well will forever cherish the many memories with Hugo and are very grateful for the lasting impact he made on their lives.