SALT LAKE CITY — John Manuel Renteria, 56, died. Renteria was born Jan. 27, 1952, in Salt Lake City to Juan and Refugio Bernal Renteria. He grew up in Bingham Canyon and Salt Lake City. He graduated from Judge Memorial Catholic High School where he was a member of the baseball team. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Utah and his Juris Doctor from Brigham Young University Law School. He married Colleen J. Pearson in 1972. They later divorced. Renteria was happiest looking out for others, especially the less fortunate. A few of his many accomplishments include being past president of Centro Civico, a member of the board of directors for Legal Services, and a member of the board of Crossroads Urban Center. He served as mediator for the Utah courts and most recently as liaison to the Latino community for National Alliance for the Mentally Ill of Utah (NAMI). He was a former owner of John’s Big Deal, and a candidate for Salt Lake City Mayor and the Utah State Legislature. He is survived by his son, John Michael; daughter, Angelina; four grandchildren, Christian, Cortland, Stetson, and Jerron; long time companion Viola Tovar and her children, Gilbert, Chris, Rosa, and Patty Mae Serrano; father, Juan; brothers and sisters, Jose Luis "Pepe" (Julie), Teresa (Cory) Lyman, Georgia (Mike) Maloney, Mike, Alfonso, and Gloria (Saul) Castruita; and several nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends. A funeral Mass was celebrated at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Committal was in Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.
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