Jesus Anthony Portillo's Obituary
Jesus A. Portillo passed quietly in his sleep on May 25, 2022. He had been
fighting heart issues for many years, and that big heart of his finally decided
it was time to rest.
Before presenting the facts of his life, mention must be made of him and
why this is such a loss to so many. Jesus did have a big heart, a big laugh,
an undying faith, and an unending supply of jokes. That is what he is
remembered for by everyone who came in contact with him, even if it was a
barista giving him his cappuccino. He will forever be remembered for his
happiness, and most particularly, his kindness. When he would call, he
would identify himself as “your friendly, neighborhood Jesus.” That was
him.
Born on June 18, 1946 to Esperanza and Alfred Portillo and raised in
Chicago, Illinois, Jesus graduated from St. George in Evanston, Illinois, and
went on to attend theater school through the Goodman Theater.
When visiting his sister Carol Dudley in the 1970’s, after she had relocated
to the Bay Area, he decided that was where he wanted to make his home.
He entered the taxi cab industry, making enduring friends.
In the mid-1980’s, he lived for a while in Massachusetts, but returned to
California in 1999 during which he and Ralph Hoffschildt, his friend of 40
years, made an epic crosscountry trip stopping at all the ballparks they
could along the way. Which leads to his lifelong love of baseball. From a
young age, Jesus had loved the game, fostered by his beloved Chicago
Cubs, and in particular, Ernie Banks. When he moved to the Bay Area, he
switched allegiance to the San Francisco Giants, but never forgot the Cubs.
Jesus’s return to the Bay Area proved to be the beginning of a new chapter
in his life, one in which his immeasurable contributions to the many
organizations he either joined or founded, all with the aim of bettering the
lives of others, primarily youth at risk. Among some of the organizations
that benefitted from his contributions was Faith in Action, and he was the
founder and leader of the Aspire and Achieve program, which provided
tutoring, mentoring, workshops and field trips to students in the Manhood
Development program at Oakland Technical High School, further evidence
of his commitment to his causes. In joining the Kiwanis Club of Oakland
and serving as President of that chapter, he found another avenue in taking
charge of their Scholarship Committee. Taking great pains in ensuring
that the program thrived even during the months of Covid lockdown, setting
up Zoom meetings and devising fair and accessible methods for interviews.
His membership in the Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church proved to be a
crowning point of his life, and his joy and feeling of accomplishment
enhanced with the many ways he contributed to the Church’s activities and,
most particularly, Sunday School and youth activities. He was a very
proactive member of their Social Justice Committee. His energy was
boundless, his sincere interest in the people who benefitted from his
attention, limitless.
Jesus is survived by his sisters Carol Dudley, Lupe Bach, and Diane
Collins, and his brother, Alfred Portillo, and by his cousin Daniel Portillo
who he counted as one of his best friends. There are also many cousins
mostly in the Chicago area who will miss his visits, and most especially, his
nephew John Dudley, with whom he shared a loving, close relationship. He
is also survived by Kasa Cotugno, his partner of 23 years, Michelle and
Clem Cotugno, Jessica and Carmen.
There will be a memorial service at 1 p.m., Lakeshore Avenue Baptist
Church on June 18. His birthday
What’s your fondest memory of Jesus?
What’s a lesson you learned from Jesus?
Share a story where Jesus' kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Jesus you’ll never forget.
How did Jesus make you smile?