Leo ‘Gallo Leo’ Medina; Wine Sales Manager

Leo Medina, a retired sales manager for Gallo wines, died at his home in Ventura on Wednesday. He was 69.

A lifelong resident, Medina was born Feb. 3, 1931, in Ventura.

During the Korean War, he served in the Army’s 225th Armored Field Artillery Battalion. He later served in the Army National Guard.

In 1997, he retired from Ernest & Julio Gallo Wine Co.’s district office in Ventura after 42 years, where he was affectionately known as “Gallo Leo.”

Medina was an avid sports fan who always cheered for UCLA, the Lakers, the Ventura High School football team and Buena High School girls’ basketball team.

He supported his grandchildren’s sporting events and was an unofficial sideline referee, umpire and coach. His family said Medina would always point out bad calls and suggest what the right call was, but most of all he was his grandchildren’s No. 1 fan.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Irene; daughters Denise Evans and Cindi Higbie of Ventura and Nancy Neilan of Oxnard; sons Steven Medina, Mike Medina and Eddie Salinas, all of Ventura; sister Lillian Gallardo of Baldwin Park; brothers Ernest Medina of Hemet and Victor Medina of La Mirada; half-sisters Ricky Johnson and Linda McClain, both of Ventura, and eight grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. today at the Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home in Ventura, which is handling the arrangements. Recitation of a rosary will be 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Ventura. Burial will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.