Gilito was born a fraternal twin in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico in 1926. After Gilito’s mother passed, his older brother, Father Jose Gabriel Lopez, brought Gilito to Las Cruces where he began work for NMSU as a groundskeeper.

Not too long after, Father Lopez introduced Gilito to a good friend, Katy Griggs Camúñez, owner of the local and renowned, La Posta de Mesilla. Katy hired Gilito and for the next 25 years, he did “a little of everything” from general cleaning to working in the kitchen. But what he loved and was most famous for among his La Posta “familia” was tending to his piranha fish and tropical birds. They were his passion. Customers grew to know Gilito as the piranha and bird man. Gilito sang with Los Pastores from 1962-2005 and was a member for 43 years. Gilito also sang with Voz Vaqueros for many years.

Gilito was an avid Aggie basketball and baseball fan! His dedication and devotion to his work, La Posta, music, his family and his faith, is how we will always remember our dear friend. He had a “heart of gold” and was loved by all who knew him. Gilito will be greatly missed by his La Posta Family! Que Dios te bendiga!