NEWPORT BEACH : Fund-Raiser Will Aid Blast Victim’s Family
A fund-raiser for the family of Antonio de Santiago, the bartender killed in an explosion at the El Torito restaurant in Fashion Island, will be held tonight at Lucy’s BBG in Newport Beach.
Donations will be added to the De Santiago Trust Fund to support his wife and two daughters. Moreover, El Torito Restaurants Inc. in Irvine has promised to provide matching donations.
De Santiago was killed Aug. 1 when a water heater exploded near the rear of the restaurant, blowing out the walls, and severing a gas line.
De Santiago had worked two bar-tending jobs, one in Newport Beach and the other at El Ranchito in Santa Ana, to support his family. His wife and daughters Eloisa, 14, and Mireya, 11, live in Fullerton. He had been living with his girlfriend and her daughter.
El Torito Restaurants Inc. of Irvine paid for De Santiago’s funeral last week and established a $10,000 trust fund for his daughters.
The restaurant group also gave De Santiago’s wife a $2,500 check for groceries and clothing and made arrangements for more than 20 relatives to come up from Tecate, Mexico, for the funeral.
The Newport Beach Fire Department is continuing its investigation to determine exactly what caused the boiler to blow, said Capt. Nick Waite.
Lucy’s BBG is at 353 E. Coast Highway.
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