Mario Florez

Mario C Florez, 85, born on December 22, 1938, passed away April 23, 2024. He resided in North Hollywood, CA at the time of his passing. 

Mario was born in Cuzco, Peru to Mariano and Josefina Florez and was the fourth of their five children. He lost both his parents at a young age and grew up in a boarding school. Later, relatives invited him to live with them and attend high school in Lima, Peru. Upon completion of high school he moved to Argentina to attend the University and was recruited to play professional soccer. 

He later emigrated to the United States where he spent time in the Pacific Northwest and was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and baptized a member of the church. That membership led him to Brigham Young University where he studied mechanical engineering. There, he was also introduced to Anna Workman, the love of his life, and the couple wed in 1975 in Salt Lake City, Utah. With no other family in the United States, the Workman family became his family. He grew to love Anna’s mom, dad, seven brothers and sisters, and dozens of nieces and nephews.  While in Utah, Mario also discovered another love of his life, tennis.

Shortly before moving to California to pursue new career opportunities and better weather, the couple had their daughter, Laura, in 1976.  While in Glendale, California, they welcomed two sons, John in 1978 and Mark in 1980. After several years in Glendale, the family bought their home in North Hollywood where they raised their family. The final piece of Mario's pride and joy, his kids, came in 1988 when Matthew was born.

Mario retired from aerospace engineering in 1996 leaving him time to perfect his tennis game and was often found on the tennis courts of the Burbank Tennis Center or practicing in his backyard. In retirement, he discovered perhaps his favorite calling in life, being Papa to his five grandchildren: Lilly, Jack, Max, Sam and Luke.

Mario loved his family.  He LOVED his family and loved showing them off. Whether in person or photograph, he would show them off whenever the opportunity was presented. 

He was loved and will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him. 

Funeral services will begin at 11 am on Saturday, May 11 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 11022 Riverside Dr, North Hollywood, CA. A brief viewing will precede the service at 10:30 am.