Neighbor: Boy Had 'Infectious Smile'

If you happen to live on Mathews or Nelson Avenue between Rindge and Green lanes in North Redondo Beach, chances are you're familiar with a young boy named Jeremy Perez. If you have a kid anywhere near his age, there's even a greater chance he has knocked on your door asking to play with your child.

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Jeremy, who had a perpetual smile across his face, was a constant fixture in the neighborhood as he rode his bike up and down the streets looking for the next game or friend to play with.

My first interaction with the outgoing young Jeremy happened three years ago when my family and I moved into our apartment on Mathews Avenue. There was a knock at the door; Jeremy and his older sister Rhiannon wanted to know if I had any kids they could play with.

His sister had noticed our moving truck and had sent her little brother to the door to investigate. My youngest daughter, Scheala, is one year younger than Rhiannon and two years older than Jeremy.

The three became fast friends.

All of about four years old with a pumpkin smile when he knocked on my door, Jeremy reminded me of what it was like to be a child when I was growing up in the late '70s and early '80s.

In the age of the video game, computer and cellphone, Jeremy was a throwback to a time when kids constantly played outside and rode their bikes without fear through their own neighborhood.

Jeremy was the quintessential happy-go-lucky boy who played with and knew every kid in our neighborhood.

His best friend Zephyr’s house, which is directly behind my house, was where I mostly saw Jeremy.

Though the two homes were separated by an eight foot high block wall, all kinds of balls and toys would find their way over the fence and into my yard. Most of the time, the object was followed by Jeremy jumping down from the fence to retrieve the ball and hopping back over with catlike speed and without any fear of injury.

His quest for fun, along with his infectious smile and upbeat attitude, made it really hard to get mad at him.

We would sometimes play "blind volleyball." My daughter and I would hit the ball over the fence to Jeremy and Zephyr; they would hit it back. Needless to say, the ball would fly everywhere, including into other neighbors' yards. When that happened, I would say that the game is over because we had no ball. Seconds later, Jeremy would be on the move to reclaim the ball and continue our game.

When my wife came home from work Friday, she said that something bad happened at to a young boy. I responded by saying, "I hope it wasn't Jeremy."

Unfortunately for everyone around our neighborhood, it was. Our quiet neighborhood lost a very special young man who is now riding his bike with the angels.

An overflowing makeshift memorial—filled with balloons, flowers, candles, toys, and messages in chalk from his friends—on Mathews Avenue by the accident scene is a testament to the number of people Jeremy touched in his very brief life.

It's with a very heavy heart that I say goodbye to you young Jeremy—you will be in my family's thoughts and prayers for the rest of our lives.

If you have any photos or stories you would like to share about Jeremy, please do so at the bottom of this story.

A memorial fund has been set up for all those who wish to make a donation to help Jeremy's mother with burial costs. All donations should go to the Jeremy Perez Memorial Fund, care of Wells Fargo account No. 5180865940.