Luis Genaro Lozano
Luis Genaro Lozano was born in Los Angeles on August 25, 1957. He was the son of Raquel Pantoja-Lozano from Morelia, Mex and Rogelio Lozano of Los Angeles/Aguascalientes, Mex. He grew up in San Gabriel, the older brother of Georgina Lozano (La Habra) and Elizabeth Faoro (Santa Barbara/Sunriver, OR). Luis died in Auberry (Fresno County) on August 9, 2021. He was 63.
Luis enjoyed being a Cub Scout, and shared that positive experience with his sons, who also joined the Scouts, earning Eagle and Star Scout. Luis also participated in community parades and was often seen riding around on his skateboard as teen, or cycling, a lifelong passion. In 1975 Luis graduated from San Gabriel High School and began college at Chico State. He moved to Lompoc and transferred to Allan Hancock College so he could be closer to the coast. He made lifelong friends including Tony Telles ‘chasing the surf’ locally at Jalama and at Hollister Ranch and internationally in Oaxaca —Puerto Escondido, and also in Mundaka Spain.
Luis transferred to UCSB in 1978 and majored in Law and Society. He was hired as an extra-help cook at Santa Barbara County’s Boys Camp. In October 1984, he was hired by the Santa Barbara Public Defender’s Office as an assistant investigator. He was promoted to full investigator and worked in the Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara offices. He investigated many high-profile cases. He was Employee of the Year in 1991. He absolutely loved his job, as he enjoyed talking to people, locating (often recalcitrant) witnesses, writing reports, and going ‘toe to toe’ with law enforcement.
Being an investigator was an extension of who Luis was. He had a tremendous work ethic as demonstrated by comments of former colleagues: “He is extremely approachable . . . I really enjoyed working with him . . . I only have excellent things to say about Luis . . . his reports are excellent and promptly done. His attitude is super, nothing but A plus, plus, plus marks from me . . . Luis was assigned to me and I don’t think I would have passed probation if he hadn’t been my investigator. He always had good ideas because he liked to work–vitality could have been his nickname . . .”.
Luis took many long motorcycle trips, including at least six trips to Baja—-and to a favorite spot in Zihuatenejo, Mex with good friend Tom Duffy. He preferred riding one of his many BMR (airhead) bikes, referring to car drivers as ‘cagers’. Also, as an avid cyclist, Luis would talk everyone’s ears off about Italian bikes and craftsmanship and organized friends to ride the Gourmet Century in Santa Ynez. He served as the official flag raiser for the town of Los Alamos in the early 1990s. Luis also enjoyed skiing, reading, gardening, collecting coins, classic cars, perusing thrift stores and cooking—not to mention eating— the spicier the better!
Luis and DPD Marian Amsbaugh married in 1999, and they had two sons, Genaro and Joaquim. Luis changed jobs in 2005 and worked in Santa Maria for the SB Courts in the Bail/OR Unit for about 3 years. The couple later divorced. Luis eventually moved to Fresno County and worked at China Peak Ski Resort for two ski seasons. He was Front Line Employee of the Year in 2016- 2017 and Employee of the Month for March 2017. He was working at Lakeshore Resort at Huntington Lake during the 2019 Creek Fire and did not want to ‘leave his post’. This was typical Luis—going out on a limb for others with little or no concern for his own wellbeing.
During the last 15 years of his life, Luis struggled with alcoholism. He attended multiple rehabilitation programs, and AA, yet sobriety eluded him. Isolation was instrumental in his decline, and he succumbed to the disease. He is survived by his sons Genaro and Joaquim Lozano, niece Sierra Faoro, Cousin Carlos (Judy) Lozano, and sisters Georgina Lozano and Elizabeth Faoro.
A Gathering of Family and Friends will be held on May 7, 2022, at Nojoqui Falls County Park in Gaviota, at 2pm. Please text Marian for more information at 805-863-6633.