Romulo Emilio Rivera 8/1/48 – 9/6/19

    Romulo Emilio Rivera, Jr. (Romo) was born on August 1, 1948 in Jerome, Arizona, to Josie and Romulo E. Rivera Sr.  He was the 8th of 13 children, and the first boy.  He passed away peacefully at his Happy Valley home on September 6, 2019, which he shared with Michelle Heffner, his wife of 26 years.  Having been diagnosed with diabetes and renal failure some years earlier, Romo had been a dialysis patient from 2010 until his death.

In his youth, Romo worked in a variety jobs. For example, he and his close friends often reminisced about their college days at Arizona State University when Romo worked as a bouncer at an ASU bar named Minder Binder.  But he always spoke most fondly of the days he spent working with his father, Romulo Sr., as a copper miner when Romo was in his early 20’s.

Romo was just a youngster when he first demonstrated his calling for hospitality careers by making sandwiches for his uncles when they played cards together in the Rivera home. As a teen-ager he worked at Bob’s Big Boy where he learned to be a short order cook. During college, he “hosted” many parties in his apartment for university students where he met friends with whom he remained close for the rest of his life.

His love of cooking led Romo to open his first restaurant in Grants, NM, in the late 70’s; he had embarked on his lifelong career.  A short time later, he sold this restaurant, and moved to The Dalles, Oregon where he worked in another restaurant under the tutelage of Mr. Waxman, who, according to Romo, taught him the art of making a great sauce and encouraged Romo to open his own establishment. Then, in 1984, Romo opened Romo’s La Jara on Sandy Blvd in Portland Ore.

Romo’s La Jara was a Mexican Restaurant that was ahead of its time.  Romo had developed his own personal recipes for green chili, red chili and enchilada sauces the likes of which no one had ever tasted, and to this day, no restaurant has been able to duplicate.  His food was delicious and unique.  In addition to this, Romo decided that his cuisine should be enjoyed in a healthy environment.  That philosophy caused him to make Romo’s La Jara the first non-smoking restaurant in Portland.  While this policy infuriated some people, many ex-smokers credit Romo with forcing them to kick the habit of smoking in exchange for consuming the best Mexican food they’d ever had.

With the success of the restaurant, Romo began sponsoring annual summer jazz festivals at Oregon wineries.  Local and national Jazz artists entertained, while the crowd dined on bar-b-que beef, roasted pork and other mouth-watering favorites from his restaurant.

Romo and Michelle first met when she was a customer at his restaurant.  She first fell in love with Romo’s food, and then fell for Romo.  He, and his cat, Megan, moved in to Michelle’s home on Prescott, and they married in 1993 at the home of their friends, the Aherns.  Like all of Romo’s parties, their wedding was a festival.   Later, they expanded their family to include two Scottie dogs, Oso and Molly, whom Romo adored with all of his heart.  Together, Romo and Michelle, the Scotties and Megan entertained friends and family in their home on Prescott.  When they moved to their new, larger home on Knapp street, Romo insisted on bigger and better gatherings.

Eventually, Romo moved the Sandy restaurant to 50^th and Hawthorne where it continued to flourish for many more years.

Romo touched many lives.  He loved making people laugh and often performed his imitation of a silver back gorilla, often while actually holding the infant of a customer in the restaurant.

In all, Romo’s restaurants operated in 4 locations, with the last one located on Stark Street where it closed in 2010.  His sister, Maggie, who waitressed for Romo in her spare time, periodically bumps into past customers of Romo’s who still rave about his famous enchiladas, or his rainbow chimichangas, or his margaritas- all of whom mourn the fact that they cannot find any restaurant that makes food like that of Romo’s La Jara.

A generous man, Romo donated to many charities and causes, especially when the restaurant was doing well.  Even as his health worsened and his restaurant closed, he shared his pennies with those who had none. 

Romo will be remembered for many things: for his desire to have fun, for his love for the arts, for his love of old movies, and for his love of food.   We will all miss him.

Romo leaves behind his wife, Michelle, his siblings Carrie, Marcella, Rose, Rosella,

Maggie, Geraldo, Pat, Anna and Manny, a host of nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews and many, many friends.

Friends and family will  celebrate Romo’s life at the home of his niece and nephew, Rebecca and Jordan Carter, on Saturday October 12 from 2-5p.m.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Humane Society in the name of Romo Rivera.

Our Family would also like to give thanks to Lake Road Davita, where Romo received his dialysis treatments, and to Kaiser Hospice for their professionalism, insight and compassion.