By Michele Cerra Lachoff, niece
Carlos Reyes Lugo was born December 9, 1951 and passed away on July 25, 2024 surrounded by love and family. Second child to Charles Reyes and Mary Lugo, he joined older sister Julie to complete their family. They would be part of the sixth generation of Lugos born here, one of the first 8 families to settle in what would become Culver City. Carlos attended St. Augustine’s Elementary before transitioning into the Culver City School district, graduating from Culver City High School in 1969. Carlos was always very active – playing sports including baseball throughout much of his childhood and attending camps through the YMCA like the High School Caravans. After high school he went on some fun adventures including a cross-country trip in his VW bus. Carlos married his high school sweetheart Cathy Duncan, whom he met in photography class at CCHS, in January of 1982 and they went on to have 2 daughters, Monica and Rita.
Carlos worked in construction for many years in various roles from carpenter to working superintendent and then joined the City of Culver City in 1984 as a Building Inspector. He became the Senior Building Inspector in 2001, and Carlos retired in the summer of 2018, as noted by the city, “after 33 years of providing excellent customer service to thousands of CC permit holders and residents.” This transition was just in time for him to take on the new title of Poppy to his granddaughter Emmy who was born in August of 2018.
Carlos was less one to be in the spotlight as the other Lugos around but his breadth of impact was at least as wide. Just about everyone in town has a story about Carlos Lugo. Some of those include how, as a building inspector, he helped make sure their house was safe and to code, how he helped support them through the city process with competence and kindness and/or how he coached their child or supported them in some way or another as a volunteer or friend. Carlos spent many years giving back to the Culver City community. He coached girls’ softball for Culver City Little League for over four years and was also involved in AYSO and spent time out on many a soccer field.
As a coach, rain didn’t mean a canceled practice, he would always find a way to keep everyone moving, including borrowing space at a soundstage on the Sony Studios lot where he could share the history with the team that the yellow brick road had once been in the same spot. He was a member of the Culver Palms Family YMCA Board of Managers, working at both their Christmas Tree Lot and at the fourth of July Concessions for over 10 years each. Most recently, he was on the Board of Directors of L.A. Goal for the last five years.
Carlos loved talking to people and could strike up a conversation just about anywhere, but especially on the golf course. He loved playing with his friends through the years, but he also loved going up to Penmar or to many other local courses and joining a group, meeting new people, and then having fun stories to share later. He was the true patriarch of our family, always making sure everyone was well with check-in phone calls or stopping by in person if he heard you had any sort of issue at your house to either solve it himself or find someone to help. He took care of many as family, regardless of if you were officially related by blood. And, of course, he has been a rock to my wonderful aunt, his lifelong love, since their days at CCHS.
We will miss hearing his stories about his travels including trips with Cathy to their favorite spot in Cayucos with Cole the dog, getting into mischief on studio lots or on mountains as he was never afraid to venture a little off the beaten path. He always had a way with animals, and had some of the best trained dogs around. Many people around town have already told us they will miss running into him at Pavilions, Trader Joe’s or Sorrento’s, or walking around the condo with his entourage (Cole and often the cat Aria, too). As a true CC native, he felt that most situations could be solved with some Tito’s Tacos so he was often spotted there as well. He had a standing coffee group with friends that he attended regularly as well in downtown Culver City.
There will be no public services, his ashes will be spread at sea by family at a later time. Many have kindly asked how they can help support Cathy and the girls – in lieu of flowers, we have set up a Go Fund Me for donations to help cover additional expenses to support my amazing and strong Aunt Cathy through her continued recovery from her accident in 2022. Details can be found here: https://gofund.me/48445a74
Carlos was a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. His legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of his family and the many people he impacted in his lifetime.