John Gregory Ortega Bacalso was born in Los Angeles on Sept. 14, 1963, to Antonio Rabaya Bacalso and Mercedes Yap Ortega. Greg spent his early years growing up in the Miracle Mile area of Los Angeles with his parents and his grandmother, "Mama" Calixtra Ortega - who dubbed him as her favorite grandchild. With his curly hair and silly grin, the Earth revolved around him for his grandmother and all those he touched. At that time, he attended military school, learned how to speak French and discovered his passion for the sport of fencing. During high school, his parents relocated him and his two siblings - Chunky and Nicole - to the Philippines. He graduated from Davao City High in 1979. The family soon relocated to Imperial Beach, Calif., for a few years prior to settling down in Carson, Calif. - where he became big brother to his third sibling, Courtney. Greg attended ITT where he studied Electronics Engineering Technology. He eventually graduated with his Bachelor of Applied Science Degree in 1993. He started his career working for companies such as UPS, Hamilton and Cox Cable. He eventually ended up at the University of Southern California as a Broadcast Engineer starting in 1998 - where he worked until his death. He passed away on Saturday, Jan. 17, in Torrance, Calif. He was surrounded by his brother and sisters. He was preceded in death by his parents: Antonio and Mercedes Bacalso. He is survived by his siblings: Michael Bacalso; Michelle (Mark) Bacalso; and Courtney (Ron) Cabuang; his nieces and nephews: Nicole and Julian Donini; and Celeste and Lil Ron Cabuang; and his former wife Ladylyn Cordero. He also leaves behind numerous extended family members and friends whose lives he touched immensely - and whom he will continue to watch over.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of John Gregory Bacalso, please visit our flower store.
