Community Corner
Music and a Crowd Fill Peppino's in Remembrance of Foothill Ranch Man Killed in Crash
Scores turn out in support of the family for late Gregg Wiles.
The benefit for the family of late Foothill Ranch resident Gregg Wiles felt more like a rock concert than a charity event.
Wiles' Irish band Lads of the Pub, Wiles' friend's band Third Rail Blue and a reunited line-up of Wiles' original band Parallels all had guests at Peppino’s in Foothill Ranch dancing in their seats as they reminisced.
“He got me with his saxophone,” Wiles' wife Lori said with a smile, remembering how Gregg charmed her.
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Although his day job was as a computer programmer for the city of Santa Ana, many remembered Wiles for his commitment to music. Saxophone, keyboard, guitar, pennywhistle, mandolin, banjo: He could play all of them, Wiles' longtime friend and band-mate Kanoa Watt .
Wiles, 51, died Jan. 30 at the intersection of Portola Parkway and Towne Centre Drive. He is survived by his wife, Lori, sons Spencer, 20, Keenan, 18, Nolan, 16, and daughter Katherine, 13.
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The evening at Peppino's, organized by Watt, paid tribute to Wiles' love of music, family and friends. Twenty percent of the money collected by the restaurant will go to the Wiles family.
“The benefit is reflective of the man,” said Kris Concepcion, battalion chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, standing in line to put his name on the list for a table. He said he knew the Wiles family through his daughter.
The restaurant was packed. Peppino's manager Jeff Eschauiste said the wait to get a table was more than an hour.
In salute to his father, Spencer Wiles jammed along on his saxophone with the bands. He's as passionate about music as his father, said Lori, and is studying jazz at college.
“All we can do is stick together and count our blessings,” said Gregg’s brother Mike, 53. “We’ve never had to face anything like this, so all we can do is take it one day at a time.”
“I’ve felt tremendous support and love from the community,” said Lori Wiles.
A sign-in book as been set up in Gregg's honor at the O'Connor Mortuary website, and the city of Santa Ana has started a fund benefit the Wiles family. Checks can be made out to the Gregg Wiles Memorial Fund and sent to Santa Ana Federal Credit Union, 800 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Santa Ana, 92701.
