Gregorio Conde

Gregorio Estareja Conde, was born on November 6, 1950, in Gubat, Sorsogon, Philippines. He grew up in Oas, Albay, went to St. Peter Catholic School, Ligao, and went to St. Michael Catholic High School, Oas. From there, he graduated in 1974 at St. Thomas Aquinas University, Manila, as an Engineer. 

He later arrived in San Francisco, CA, in 1980, where he eventually joined the United States Navy, from March 11, 1981 to September 1, 1989. During his Tours of Duty, he was stationed in Spain, Puerto Rico, Japan, Korea, Guam, back to the Philippines and San Diego. He loved to play tennis everywhere while in the Navy. Every time they were deployed, his commander made sure to bring him along so that they could play tennis when it hits 3pm, and everyone would get jealous of him.

He met his wife, Helen, in 1981. At the time, Helen and her sister, Imelda, were applying for a job at Whittier Hospital, where they met Aida, who was one of Greg’s town mates in Oas, Albay, who was an employed nurse. Aida invited Helen and Imelda to her house where she introduced Greg to Helen. Greg was later deployed to Japan and started writing Helen a lot of letters. He then proposed to Helen with a diamond ring and they both got married civil in November 15, 1984, on Helen’s birthday. On January 4, 1986, they had their wedding at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Rowland Heights. Helen later gave birth to two sons, Gregory III, August 24, 1986, and Daniel, December 18, 1988.

After the Navy, he worked with the US Army Corps of Engineers from 1993 to 1998 as an engineer. From 1998 to 2008, he started his own company as a general contractor and named it Greco Construction. 

In the year 2000, Greg received a check in the mail from the government, and decided to take his wife, Helen, with him to the do the pilgrimage in the Holy land. They went to Jerusalem, Israel and Rome, Italy. During their trip, when they were at the Wailing Wall, they were asked to write on a piece of paper what they wished for and to place it in the wall. Greg wrote on that paper that he thanked God for bringing him there and asked what he can do to serve God back. When they both came back home to the US, that’s when Greg started his mission to serve God. He started by joining the Men’s Cursillo. He started going back and forth to the Philippines and built his own cemetery next to his parents’ cemetery. 

He passed away February 06, 2026. He resided in Baldwin Park, CA at the time of his passing. Arrangements are under the care of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills, CA.