Edward ‘Fast Eddie’ Lopez; Oxnard Student

Edward Manuel Wayne Lopez of Oxnard died Monday following open heart surgery at UCLA Medical Center. He was 14.

He was given the nickname “Fast Eddie” because of his ability to come through several open heart surgeries with flying colors. Born June 21, 1982, in Ventura, Edward was admitted to UCLA Medical Center six weeks after his birth to undergo the first of many treatments, said his mother, Leslie Lopez, 38, of Oxnard.

“He was born with the heart problem, and he was sick all his life. He was in and out of the hospital,” she said.

Edward’s life was tough--he survived three open heart surgeries--but “he fought all the way,” his mother said. He always found support in family members, including his brother, Joseph Lopez Jr.

Edward was back at the hospital recently so doctors could remove a blood clot. The surgery was a success, but a week later, he developed another clot. “His body just was too weak for another one,” Leslie Lopez said. “This time, he never woke up.”

His condition did not keep him from enjoying athletics, such as swimming. And like many of his eighth-grade classmates at Robert A. Frank Intermediate School in Oxnard, Edward could often be found in front of the TV playing Nintendo.

In addition to his mother and brother, Edward is survived by his father, Joseph Lopez; grandparents Mary Ann Renteria of Oxnard, Manuel Renteria of Phoenix, and Florence and Fidel Lopez of Oxnard; great-grandparents Consuelo and Joseph Renteria of Oxnard, Ramona and Roy Guevara of Oxnard, and Jessie Medina of Oxnard, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.

Viewing will be at 4 p.m. Thursday at the James A. Reardon Mortuary in Oxnard, followed by a rosary scheduled for 7:30 p.m. The funeral is 11 a.m. Friday at Santa Clara Church in Oxnard. Burial will be in Santa Clara Cemetery, Oxnard.