Memorial fund set up for kids of Menlo Park robbery victim Memorial fund set up for kids of Menlo Park robbery victim (January 19, 2005)

** Rodrigo De Loza fatally shot at Newark market where he worked.

By Renee Batti

Almanac News Editor

A memorial fund has been established to benefit the two small children of Rodrigo De Loza, a 27-year-old Menlo Park resident who was fatally shot January 13 during a robbery of a Newark market where he worked as a butcher.

Mr. De Loza had first confronted three men wearing ski masks who entered the Ramirez Market and demanded money; he was then shot in the back as he tried to escape, according to the Newark Police Department. As of Monday, no suspects had been arrested, a police spokeswoman said.

The shooting occurred shortly after 8:30 p.m.; Mr. De Loza was pronounced dead at 9:32 p.m. at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, according to the Alameda County coroner.

Carlos Aleman, owner of the market, said Mr. De Loza was the sole source of financial support for a daughter, who is about 3, and a 2-year-old son.

Mr. Aleman has owned the store for only a few months, he said, and Mr. De Loza began working for the market more than a year ago. In the time he got to know Mr. De Loza, "he struck me as a very good guy," Mr. Aleman said. "He was very family-oriented, even though he was divorced."

A funeral service is set for Wednesday, January 19, from 3 to 9 p.m. at Crippen & Flynn Woodside Chapel, 400 Woodside Road, in Redwood City. For more information about the service, call the chapel at 369-4103.

Mr. De Loza's body will be returned to his native Mexico, where most of his relatives live. Mr. De Loza's children live in Redwood City with their mother and his ex-wife, Mayra Jaimes, Mr. Aleman said.

Mr. Aleman said that he is planning to offer some financial help to the family, but the memorial fund was set up because "the more we can do the better the children will provided for."

Donations to the Rodrigo De Loza Gonzalez Memorial Fund can be sent to the Newark branch of Bank of the West, account number 115009896. For more information, call the bank at 510-797-2531.
--Bay City News service contributed to this report.

E-mail a friend a link to this story.