DJ Throws Party to Remember His Brother Richard Ontiveros, 1973-2011

Richard Elias Ontiveros passed away Sept. 30 at the age of 38.

In his honor and to raise money, his brothers held a party Friday at their home on Connecticut Street. $5 entry fees and donations helped raise nearly $1,000 and cover remaining funeral fees, Ryan Ontiveros said.

Ryco Ontiveros, aka DJ Reo, played R&B, rap and spun records until after midnight when the Sheriff's Department showed up and told them to quiet down.

Richard had muscular dystrophy and was in a wheelchair since he was 13 years old. He went to college and wanted to be a school guidance counselor, but various ailments and surgeries kept him from pursuing a career.

After a tracheotomy eight years ago he was put on bed rest and rarely left home, his brother Ryan said.

“He was so content with the life he had at the moment, even though it was so rigorous for him to be bed rested,” he said. “He just wanted to be at home with the family, and be with the kids and enjoy every moment of his life. Nothing let him down.”

On Sept. 29, Richard was having trouble processing food and had to have emergency surgery, but he put off going to the hospital.

“He hated going to the hospital,” Ryan said. “One time he went to the hospital and he was there for almost like four months.

“I didn't want to tell him I love you and I didn't want to say bye. I really didn’t want to because I looked at him and he was really pale and sick but I didn’t want it to be my last bye,” he said.

It would be the last time he would see his brother alive.

“We went to see him the next morning and on the freeway there, they told us they were performing CPR,” Ryan said. “When we finally get to the place, it’s 20 or 30 minutes after they called us and everything’s off and there’s no doctors taking care of him."

There was no final goodbye, but the two did get to spend time together, and two or three weeks before he died, the brothers talked about death.

“I asked him, ‘Are you afraid of dying?’ And he goes, ‘I am, but I found God, so I’m not afraid of dying, cause I know when I go to Heaven, I’m going to be able to walk, I’m going to be able to run and I’m going to be able to do all the things I can’t do down here.’

“ ‘And when I see you up there,’ he goes, ‘We’re going to be able to walk with each other and dance and run and play like I wanted to when we were kids, but I couldn’t cause I was always in a wheelchair.’

Richard was laid to rest Saturday after a ceremy at the Community Mortuary in Chula Vista.

Correction: It was originally thought that Richard Ontiveros' funeral was to take place at Glenn Abbey Mortuary Sunday but it was later confirmed that the service took place Saturday at the Community Mortuary.