Ruben Dario Lopez, a former El Camino Jr. High School Social Studies Teacher has died. He was 85 years old. Ruben passed away on the 29th of December 2025 at home with his family.
Ruben, an only child, was born on August 22nd, 1940, in Dallas, Texas, to his Texas born parents. In the winter of 1941, his family moved to Southern California. He attended public schools in National City, San Diego and Venice, California. While attending Sant Monica City College, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served honorably from 1961-1965. Later, once out of the military service, he received his BA from Cal State Northridge and his Secondary Teaching Credential in U.S. History from Loyola Marymount University. Mister Lopez worked 30 hours a week to get his retail clerks union benefits to support his family, while attending college full-time. It took him nearly five years to complete his education. Thanks to his wife Anne’s help and the G.I. Bill of Rights funds, he endured. Eventually he also earned a master’s in education from Pepperdine University.
In 1974, he was accepted to teach at El Camino Jr. High School in Santa Maria, California. He enjoyed classroom teaching for 26 years. He also taught part-time evening courses at Allan Hancock College for two years. Ruben Lopez retired from teaching in 2000.
In retirement, he continued to enjoy his three lifelong interests: film, jazz, and books. Each day in retirement, he noted how blessed he was to have good health, time, and resources to enjoy his three passions in life.
In addition to his wife Anne, Ruben Lopez is survived by his two wonderful sons, Richard Lopez of Cambridge, Massachusetts and David Lopez with wife Rachelle and their daughter Allesandra.
Ruben’s final request was that no formal memorial service be held.
