1941–2026
Leo F. Gutierrez, 85, a lawyer and devoted public servant, passed away peacefully on November 7, 2026, in South Lake Tahoe, California, USA, surrounded by his family.
Born on February 20, 1941, in Midsayap, Cotabato, Leo spent nearly three decades in Cagayan de Oro City building a legacy of service in public administration and the law alongside Elnora “Baby” (née Peñas), his beloved wife of 56 years.
Over a multi-decade public career, Leo served with distinction at the Department of Public Information, the Commission on Population, the Philippine Ports Authority, and the Office of the City Prosecutor. As an instructor at Xavier University, he mentored a generation of students and
younger public servants, taking quiet pride in their achievements.
A devout Catholic who originally studied for the priesthood, Leo lived by an uncompromising code of integrity, quiet sacrifice, and commitment to family. His faith expressed itself in active fellowship through his deep ties with the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) in Cagayan de Oro, a brotherhood he cherished throughout his life.
For Leo, love was often expressed through sacrifice. In lean years, when small treats like ice cream were rare luxuries, he routinely went without so his children could have more. In his 50s, in 1997, he stepped away from an established life in Cagayan de Oro to relocate to South Lake Tahoe in California so his family might have a wider horizon of possibilities.
Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Pacifico de los Reyes Gutierrez and Lilia Grijaldo Flores, and his sisters, Lily Oliveros and Letty Ybañez. He is survived by his wife, Elnora “Baby” Peñas Gutierrez; children, Mary Lili Anne “Lennie”
Gutierrez, Ricardo “Ricky” Gutierrez (and wife Lanie), and Alexander Angelus Gutierrez; granddaughters, Alena Julianne and Jelena Raine “Jada”; siblings, Lena Leveriza, Eubert Gutierrez, and Mae Gutierrez; and a community of relatives, BCBP brothers and sisters, colleagues, and loved ones in both the United States and the Philippines.
The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, November 20, 2026, at 2:00 PM (PST) at St. Theresa Catholic Church, Lyons Ave, South Lake Tahoe, California (simulcast live at this Facebook link).
Private inurnment will follow on Tuesday, November 24, 2026, in Concord, California.
The family deeply appreciates prayers and expressions of sympathy from near and far. Messages of condolence or inquiries may be directed to Ms. Lennie Gutierrez at [email protected] or Facebook Messenger. For those who may wish to offer a token of love and support in lieu of flowers, account details for Mrs. Baby Gutierrez may be provided privately upon request.
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