Meet Rick Guerrero
"Family is what makes Houston home.”
Family is what makes Houston home for New York native Rick Guerrero. Whether it’s hanging out with his family and cooking his favorite Ecuadorian dishes or listening to traditional Latin music; family is at the pulse of everything. Looking back, Rick remembers hopping into his parents Ford Taurus at just 10 years old to make the long trek to hot and humid Houston in 1994 all the way from Long Island. This is where Rick spent his childhood with his two siblings learning the lingo of his family’s native Spanish language and enjoying bakery treats from Entenmann’s Bakery where many of his family members earned their living. Like many of us that have moved to Houston, Rick’s parents rerouted the family for more opportunities – better housing, better schools, better jobs.
Family was important then, but now that Rick has a family of his own – family is at the core of what’s important like the same principles his parents sought that paved the way for a better life in Houston. Spending time with wife, Linda, and daughter Cassie (22), daughter Sarah (12), and son Hector (17) means much more than making memories and ensuring opportunities are there. It means inspiring the same traditions into their lives that Rick’s parents instilled in him. Appreciating the traditional Latin music, speaking Spanish the Ecuadorian way, and enjoying the best Ecuadorian dishes like Ceviche, hallacas, and plantains.
On Saturday nights, you can still find Rick’s parents sharing stories with Rick and Linda and their kids on how they pursued a passion for a better life while staying true to their traditions and culture and demonstrating why family is what makes Houston home.
