Hilbert Mercado

Hilbert Manuel Mercado, 87, of Encinitas quietly and fittingly passed away on Mexican Independence Day. Hilbert was born August 15, 1938 to Manuel and Ida Mercado in San Diego. He was extremely proud of his Mexican heritage and reminisced often and fondly of his upbringing in Logan Heights surrounded by loving family, including beloved aunts, uncles and the seven Montes Cousins. He attended St. Jude’s Academy in Shell Town and Lincoln High School, where he was a quarterback, and he graduated from St Augustine High School in 1957. He served in the U.S. Army and attended San Diego State College, where he pitched on the baseball team. In 1966, he married Donna Maria Lopez at The Immaculata in San Diego. They were married for 50 years and had two children, Matthew and Alexa. Together, they were a force. Donna’s talent for cooking and Hilbert’s talent for entertaining made them the natural hub for family gatherings, and over the years they welcomed many family and friends to their beautiful homes in Hermosa Beach, Clovis, and finally in Encinitas, where they enjoyed beach life and were devoted parishioners at St. John’s Catholic Church. Following in Donna’s footsteps after her death, Hilbert volunteered weekly at the church Food Pantry, collecting and providing food to those in need, and he continued to nurture family traditions and support his six grandchildren, attending school functions and sporting events whenever he could. He was also lovingly devoted to his younger brother, Ray, making sure he attended regular boxing classes to limit the effects of his long battle with Parkinson’s. He was a regular in downtown Encinitas, where he enjoyed frequent four-mile walks and attended the VFW dances on Tuesday nights. Hilbert was the first Mexican American hired at Xerox Corporation, where he worked for many years before going into commercial real estate with Coldwell Banker and CB Richard Ellis. He had a passion for the business and developed many properties in Clovis and Encinitas, including the Carlsbad Outlet Center and Encinitas Plaza. Hilbert was preceded in death by his parents, Manuel and Ida; his wife, Donna; and his brother, Raymond. He is survived by his son, Matthew (Bianca) of San Diego; his daughter, Alexa (Thorsten) of Willow Creek; his six grandchildren, Matthew, Jacob, Nevaeh, Jaiden, Aysiah, and Gavin; three nephews, Dan, Manuel, and Joseph, and his brothers and sisters-in-law. Hilbert was a warrior with a fierce will to live life to the fullest and a self-starter who taught his children to do the same. He will be missed by all who knew him, including many loving cousins and devoted lifelong friends. He will be laid to rest with Donna at the Descanso Ranch where the family spent many happy times with her extended family.
Memorial Service will be held on
Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 11:00 AM
St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Encinitas, CA

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