Gill Ruiz, co-founder and president of Mi Vida car club, passes away

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The co-founder and president of a local car club passed away recently after battling cancer.

Gill Ruiz, 63, brought a lot of history to the community as he was a well-known figure for car shows. 

Ruiz was the co-founder and president of Mi Vida Car Club. He was a beloved man in the club and also among the community.

Club Vice President Conrad "Lefty" Robles knew Ruiz for over 30 years and says everyone was impacted by Gill.

"We all had such a close connection to him whether we knew him for 30 plus years or you met him just a couple years ago. He just had that kind of an impact on people. All around, just a great person. Anybody who met him had walked away with something from him and that's why right now, it's a very difficult time for all of us," Lefty said.

The car club was originally founded in Globe, Arizona, but Ruiz moved to Yuma to build the club there.

Robles also says Ruiz brought the club to life.

"In the words of our founder Anthony: He gave it the name, but Gill gave it the fame because Gill's dedication to the club is unmatched. It's something that he just dedicated his whole life to," Robles said.

For member Robert Sanchez, he only knew Ruiz for a short period before passing away, but said Ruiz was a huge impact on him despite being a new member.

"Right away, we kicked it off. It was like an older brother that you never had. He made you feel welcome. He made you feel at home, he made you feel inclusive, included in whatever it was you were doing," Sanchez said.

Robles and Sanchez also shared the biggest lessons Ruiz left for them.

"The biggest lesson that I learned from him is his leadership style. I mean, he would go out to all the car shows all over the southwest from San Diego to Tucson. I mean, he traveled a lot," Sanchez said.

"I say his kindness because he had this way of teaching you without teaching you just by example leading and without you, even knowing, even though after he's gone, he left certain things in order so that we are able to do better and grow from it," Robles said.

Mi Vida and other car clubs in the state will do a final ride this Saturday by the old K-Mart to honor Ruiz's life.