Ralph Valenzuela; Chief Deputy City Engineer

Ralph E. Valenzuela, retired chief deputy city engineer for the Los Angeles Department of Public Works bureau of engineering, has died at his Woodland Hills home. He was 57.

Valenzuela died Tuesday of liver cancer, said his daughter, Julie Sitton.

Born Oct. 3, 1933, in Barranquilla, Colombia, Valenzuela came to the United States in 1939 and later graduated from Loyola High School in Los Angeles. He earned a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering from Loyola Marymount University and a master’s degree in public administration from USC. He later completed an executive management program at UCLA.

In 1957, Valenzuela went to work as a civil engineering assistant in the bureau of engineering. He later was promoted to district engineer of the West Valley and in 1987 was named chief deputy city engineer, becoming second in command in the bureau of engineering.

In 1983, Valenzuela helped start the Quality Circle Group, which afforded employees an opportunity to suggest changes in the workplace. He retired in April due to his illness.

Valenzuela was a member of the Woodland Hills chapter of Optimist International, the Mexican-American Engineering Society, American Society of Civil Engineers, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, American Society of Civil Engineers and Architects, and the Institute for the Advancement of Engineering.

He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Barbara Valenzuela; son Mark Valenzuela of Reseda; daughters Julie Sitton of Phoenix and Victoria Valenzuela of Santa Barbara; brothers John Valenzuela of Newport Beach and George Valenzuela of Granada Hills; sister Marina Valenzuela Smith of Granada Hills; and two grandchildren.

A vigil is planned for 7:30 p.m. today and a funeral Mass is scheduled to be celebrated at 1 p.m. Saturday, both at St. Mel’s Catholic Church, 20870 Ventura Blvd., Woodland Hills. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park in Chatsworth. Gates, Kingsley & Gates Mortuary in Canoga Park is handling the arrangements.