Oscar “Pepe” Humberto Quintero

Oscar “Pepe” Humberto Quintero of Salt Lake City, Utah, passed away May 5, 2024. He was 85 years old.

Son of Aminta Graciela Quintero Rogers (née Orantes) and Humberto Quintero, Oscar was born on January 30, 1939 in Santa Ana, El Salvador. His heritage was that of the Pipil people, a strong and spiritual indigenous group native to Central America. He lived in El Salvador until his father passed away, and at age 12 moved to the United States to live with his mother and her American husband, Lee Rogers, in San Francisco. There he learned to speak and read English through watching television and sneaking into movie theaters, which gave him a love of film that brought him joy throughout his life. His love of a broad range of music, from Tito Puente, to Vivaldi, to the Mamas and the Papas, kept him dancing with friends and family alike.

Oscar enlisted in the United States Army and proudly served for four years during the Vietnam War. To him, being an immigrant, getting his citizenship, and serving in the military were acts of love for his new country, but he was haunted with the atrocities of war he experienced until he died. During his time in the service, other servicemen gave him the nickname “Pepe,” which he kept for the rest of his life.

After his time in the Army, he dealt craps in Las Vegas casinos during the summers to pay his way through college. There he met members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and decided to convert to the Church. His love of and devotion to the Church’s teachings carried him through his darkest and happiest moments in life, and he faithfully testified of the love of Christ and the Plan of Salvation. He was a life-time student of LDS scripture. Everywhere he traveled, he made it a point to visit the closest LDS temple and attended temples all over the world. While the experiences of his life left him with immense trauma, he always tried to connect with people around him through service based on his devotion to Christ. Church members also came to visit from his local congregation toward the end of his life. They took him to do his temple work and always brought gifts. He received an in-home sacrament which he was grateful for.

Pepe was highly intelligent and finished his Master’s Degree in Education at Utah State University in Logan, Utah. Teaching was a passion of his from the moment he graduated. He was incredibly gifted with teenage children, particularly those society labeled “troubled” or “behind.” While he taught in public school he also created and ran a successful tutoring center in Sandy, Utah. His students always advanced rapidly, and his center always had incredibly high enrollment. Everywhere he went, past students would approach him to ask if he remembered them (he always did!). Those students always shared their deep gratitude for the gift of being accepted and seen, and of knowing how to read and write. His impact on many people will be felt for generations to come because of his talents as a teacher and tutor.

Pepe loved to travel and loved warm, tropical landscapes, beaches, and the ocean. In the early 2000s he moved to Florida, where he swam in the ocean every day for exercise. Fitness was important to him, and he loved running and strength training. He was a marathon runner and completed over 15 marathons. He was even hoping to do the senior games this fall with the Salt Lake City VA. He was highly social and was embraced by the community at the local senior center.

Toward the end of his life, Pepe’s daughter Marita and her daughter Casey took him in and cared for him in their home in Sugar House. Pepe loved Casey and would stay up late and wait for her to get home from work. They were, and are, truly best friends. His hobbies were woodcarving, watching Blue Bloods, All in the Family, Taxi, Becker and various ballets on YouTube. He would sing Karaoke with caregivers in the evenings. He loved naps, looking at family photos, pie, hot chocolate, smoothies, and baklava.

He is survived by his children Marita Bambrough, Aminta Quintero-Jackson (Scott Jackson), Mario Quintero (Kelle LaPoint), Sara Quintero (Chris Brunstetter), and Eddie Quintero (Katie Tucker) as well as grandchildren Casey Bambrough, Mia Quintero-Babka (Hayden Babka), Marissa Quintero, Benjamin Jackson, Ella Jackson, Joseph Jackson, Baer Brunstetter, and Luc and Zoe Brunstetter, and great-grandchildren Shaylee Swilor, Traeson Swilor, Lydia Swilor and Olivia Bambrough. He was preceded in death by his grandson Russell Issac Swilor. His presence in this earth-side life was mighty; he is now at peace and in happiness, able to be free of the complexities this life presented him. A private service will be held at Utah Veterans Memorial Park.