Lionel E. Trejo

Lionel Trejo, age 75, passed away on January 29, 2026. He was born in El Salvador and he came to the United States as a teen in 1966, beginning a life shaped by devotion to family, quiet strength, and an appreciation for the joys – both simple and stylish, that life had to offer. Out of necessity, the passing of the patriarch and survival, the Trejo family came to the U.S.

Lionel shared a deep bond with his mother and his brothers, a connection formed early and carried throughout his life. At just 16, he arrived in this country alongside his brother Jose. His youngest brother, Carlos, had preceded them by two years and the three spent much of their youth caring for one another, always side by side. Known lovingly as “Ney” to his family, he was the oldest and took that role to heart, looking after his family with steadiness and care and also giving lots of encouragement to his younger siblings, nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews alike. He worked alongside his mother, Angelica, caregiving and cleaning homes and offices, learning the value of hard work and responsibility early on. He worked on a paper route in his youth with his brothers, Jose and Carlos, and he made quite a few friends on that route and enjoyed time with his friends.

He found comfort in familiar routines, like watching sports, spending time with family, and enjoying good conversations. Ney was gentle by nature and often chose to go along with others rather than push back, likely because making the people around him happy mattered deeply to him. He loved dining out at his favorite spots, savoring the experience as much as the meal. When Tio Ney ordered, it was always with enthusiasm. A special memory I have of him was a dinner we had at Nick’s. First, he encouraged me deeply to have the dish I really wanted. When it was his turn to order, he proudly shouted out, rolling his r’s, “rrrrack of lamb!” It was that kind of enthusiasm for ordering food that was enjoyable to watch and be a part of. He was unapologetic about what he liked.

Music and beauty brought him joy. He adored Marilyn Monroe and appreciated both Motown and classical music, each reflecting a different side of his personality. He had a serious sense of style and loved keeping up with fashion trends – Miami Vice included. He loved his fashionable, good quality, sweaters, too!!  He enjoyed dancing and even worked on perfecting a moonwalk at one point in his life. His laughter was unmistakable and infectious: full, joyful, and completely genuine. If you made Tio Ney laugh, you knew you had truly delighted him.

Ney lived a mostly private life and cherished his independence, though he held many special relationships close to his heart – some playful, some secretive. He shared inside jokes and quiet fun with select people, especially his nieces and nephews, who looked out for him in countless ways. He appreciated the care doctors and nurses alike gave him, recovering from surgery after surgery with resilience and determination. He was a Stanford Medical man through and through.

One special memory of Tio Ney shared by his niece was of a sleepover she and her brother had at his apartment. So it always felt like it was an adventure. It was early in the morning that she woke up and Tio Ney was already awake. He was playing some music to dance to and he just stood there and said, ‘Dance, Angelica’ and then with so much encouragement, he got up and danced and grabbed my arms to dance and kept saying, ‘dance, Angelica, dance’. Years later, she would see him do the same with her daughter and with so many other children. The genuine encouragement and excitement for someone to try something new was one of his greatest special gifts. This made him great with children, even on his grouchy days!

Above all, Tio Ney loved his family. His affection, humor, and presence are deeply felt by those who knew him well.

Lionel ‘Ney’ Trejo will be remembered for his warmth, his laughter, his sense of style, and the quiet love he gave so freely. He leaves behind a legacy of love, resilience, and unforgettable fashion sense.