Obituary of Hector Edward Roberts

Hector Edward Roberts, known to his family as Eddie, age 47, who lived in Minneapolis, died on February 23, 2023, as a result of advanced-stage alcoholism.

Growing up in San Diego, Hector was a precocious child. He loved to read and excelled in school and in sports, particularly playing tennis and also baseball. By the time he was 8, he was helping his mother out at her flower shop. At 12, his uncle gave him a Leica camera, and Hector’s love of photography would continue his whole life.

In high school, Hector was a peer counselor, and volunteered at the aquarium. He participated in the school newspaper as both a photographer and a journalist, and also was part of the yearbook staff when he was in college. He graduated from the University of San Diego, where he continued developing his great love of literature— both in English and Spanish. Some of his favorite writers were Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Gabriela Mistral, Jorge Luis Borges, Federico García Lorca, James Joyce, Arthur Rimbaud, and John Keats. He also studied systematic theology.

Hector spent his career as an artist, theater manager, production manager, and operations manager.

After school, Hector worked as a stage manager with “Triple Espresso,” a show that brought him to Minneapolis where he would eventually become the

operations manager. He handled logistics and communications for that show’s international tours, loading in the production to stages in Copenhagen, Belgium, Berlin, Dublin, and in London at a West End Venue, The Arts Theater, where “Waiting for Godot” first premiered.

Later, Hector worked as a production manager for the Southern Theater, Mixed Blood Theatre, and Theater Mogul, based out of New York City, where he managed every aspect of their touring production, “Defending the Caveman,” and also designed new lighting, video, sound and scenery.

Hector wrote a play that was presented by Teatro del Pueblo, “Out of Cordoba,” and adapted Gabriela Mistral’s poetry into a theater script that was performed at the Minnesota Fringe Festival. The title was “The Chasm: Two Prevailing Winds of Gabriela Mistral.”

Hector was a creative, sensitive spirit with passion and intelligence. He loved music, was a fan of Mexico’s national soccer team and the Chargers, as well as the Minnesota Lynx. He also supported progressive causes and would phone bank for his favorite candidates.

He was a terrific cook — he enjoyed making carne asada, tamales, and other Mexican dishes as well as other types of cuisine for his friends and loved ones. He could be incredibly charming and funny and loved to be a goofball.

In 2015, Hector suffered a seizure from alcohol withdrawal while in Hawaii for work. Between that time and his death, he sought treatment numerous times and would have periods of sobriety. In those periods, he took up volunteering opportunities and would sometimes work as a freelance photographer and theater designer.

Hector is preceded in death by his mother, Ruby Roberts (born Vicenta Lima de Torres), uncle Prudencio Lima de Torres (Lorenzo) and Elias Trujillo, and his aunts Teresa Clamente and Margarita Lima de Torres. He is survived by his brother, Cesar Roberts, the cousins who grew up as his sisters — Mary Ella Ramirez and Rosa Trujillo Perez, as well as many other cousins, including Ruben Suarez and Carlos Cruz. He is also survived by his former partner Sheila Regan, who supported Hector in his last years as a friend, as well as friends Mariana Aguilar, Michael Klaers, Ross Willits, Shanti Hinojos, Dennis Viera, Eloise Hatting, Daria Kolganova, and many others.

A celebration of life will be held for Hector on Wednesday, March 8 at the Cremation Society of Minnesota. The gathering begins at 5 p.m., with a program at 6 p.m. A reception will follow.