José Luis Sierra died last Friday, September 5 in a Pasadena hospital. The death of the 56 year-old journalist was sudden and a surprise to many of his colleagues, who during the weekend turned to social media outlets to remember him.
A highly respected journalist, José Luis was most recently a producer for Noticias MundoFox. But he was most known for his work at Los Angeles’ daily newspaper La Opinión, where he spent two decades as a reporter and editor. He also worked as as a producer and assignment editor at Univision’s KMEX.
Among those mourning his passing is former colleague and partner Pilar Marrero, who wrote a heartfelt tribute on her Facebook page.
“José Luis Sierra was a self made man, a dedicated journalist, a great mentor and a very special and complicated man,” Pilar told Media Moves. “I think he’d be satisfied to know that he left behind a great legacy: the love and respect of many.”
Antonio Mejías-Rentas, who also worked at La Opinión with José Luis, shared this with Media Moves:
“José Luis loved and understood the power of the written word. He had a nose for news, but also a commitment to social justice, and he was part of a generation of young journalists who helped La Opinión become a major player in local news.
I did not work directly with him, but I witnessed his growth as a City Hall reporter and when he moved to the metro desk, he earned a reputation as a caring, nurturing editor. He was a true mentor to many Spanish-language journalists still working today, and that’s a tremendous legacy.”
La Opinión published a tribute that included a collection of memories from his friends and colleagues.
For those interested in attending, funeral services for José Luis will be held on Tuesday, September 9, 2014, at the Continental Funeral Home, located at 5353 E Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90022. The wake is from 12 to 4 pm and the mass, with the mass taking place from 3 to 4 pm.