Carlos Rey Sotelo

On February 5, 2021, Carlos Rey Sotelo passed away unexpectedly on his way from his job to his dorm when he fell and was picked up by God on that late, foggy night in San Diego. Carlos Rey Sotelo was born on January 17, 2002, in the city of Wildomar, CA. He was the youngest of five sons that Jose and Mabel brought up in this world. Carlos had attended Machado Preschool, Rice Canyon Elementary, Terra Cotta Middle, Temescal Canyon High, and was following his dreams of becoming a Computer Engineer at UCSD. Carlos was a shining star since he was little, a very happy, friendly, loving boy. Every day after school, he would get his homework done before playing with his friends and family. He loved to work with his hands. He won't be able to craft more meals with his lovely smile and personal touch. He can't sculpt clay with that kind of love and attention to minuscule details again, and above all, we will not be able to see his bright smile that shined wherever he was. We were thought to be better persons because he touched our lives, family, friends, and people he had inspired. His memory will push us through the hard times; we will think of him and hear him telling us with his smile, "You can do it. It's not that hard." We will remember the dedication, patience, resilience, and love he put into anything he worked on, whether it was relationships, academics, or cooking. He had the wisdom of an older gentleman and the joy of a young man. His tenacity and determination inspired those around him to be the best person they can. Carlos is survived by his mom Mabel Sotelo, Dad Jose Sotelo, and brothers: Vicente, Miguel Jose, Daniel, and Immanuel Sotelo, and a sister in law Jaqueline Sotelo. The world did not need another computer engineer; it needed an angel. Letter from B.M. "He is effortlessly funny and smart and humble, and he always inspired me to be the same. He would learn things quickly and wouldn't hesitate to help his friends and classmates, especially in math or engineering. In class, he would make me and other classmates laugh uncontrollably without even trying to, by a quick glance across the room or a quick joke under his breath. Everyone was in a good mood around him because he made it easy to joke around and smile. I don't think anyone can describe a bad experience with him. When our friend Kirsten invited us to her cabin in Lake Arrowhead, we went climbing on the rocks, and Carlos would always get way ahead of everyone. He was so talented in everything he tried. Sometimes he would walk around school with his ceramic cacti, and they were so beautiful. He was always protective of them, too, which was pretty funny. He was loved by so many". Letter from A.M. In addition to his humor, I got to witness how smart Carlos was. We always said he was a god at math, And even in other subjects that he didn't like, he always made it look so easy. He would quickly jot down a few words in history, enough to pass the quiz, then turn it over and start drawing. He was smart yet humble; I don't know how he never let it get to his head. One of the things we did was watch the same telenovelas. He said it made him feel like a grandma, but I know he was sucked into it. He was also good at giving advice. When I was nervous and indecisive about living on campus, he said, "You shouldn't dwell on what if's cuz you're just gonna sike yourself out gotta take some risks. Plus, if they do send us home, we will have spent time doing something new." Then he said, Carlos, has always been more level-headed than me. I remember Carlos was so good at hiking, and I joked that he was a mountain goat. He was always cooking something, and he told me that he loved cooking for the people he loved. What else can I say? He was supportive and kind, yet always joking around. He was creative and driven. He loved his friends, and more than anything, he loved his family. Visitation Thomas Miller Mortuary 1118 East Sixth Street Corona, CA 92879 (951) 737-3244 | Monday 4/12, 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm Cemetery OUR LADY QUEEN OF PEACE Tuesday 4/13, 1:00 pm Mass St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church 951-277-1801 | Tuesday 4/13, 10:00 am - 11:00 am