By the time 15-year-old Nicholas Mendez arrived with pails and soap to begin washing cars Saturday morning, the line of well-wishers was stretching down Rio Linda Boulevard.All day long they kept coming, forming a steady stream of minivans and pickups and luxury cars, each one touched by the story of the boy who tried to resuscitate his dying father and who is now trying to pay for his funeral."It's just not right," said Jerry Bergen, who lives in Fair Oaks but steered his Mercedes-Benz to Rio Linda to donate his Saturday golf winnings to the Mendez family. "This kid probably hasn't had many breaks in his life to begin with." Eddie Mendez Jr. collapsed in his home June 17 and died as his son gave him CPR and his wife shouted instructions from a 911 operator. The modest funeral on Friday cost $6,000, far more than the tree trimmer's family could afford. They borrowed what they could from friends and acquaintances.On Saturday, Eddie Mendez's wife, son and daughter hoped to raise enough cash to pay it back by hosting a car wash at the corner of Rio Linda Boulevard and M Street, in the parking lot of the Original Granite restaurant. They said they were stunned by the response of people who had read about them in The Bee.When family members arrived at 9 a.m. to begin washing cars, they saw a line of waiting clients and a stranger who handed them a fistful of donations she had collected from people who had already come and gone."People washed their own cars and gave us donations," said an incredulous Dawn Mendez, Eddie's widow.Many of the donors didn't bother with the car wash, but wound their way through the crowd to tuck a $20 into Nick's hand. They recognized him, and his mop of blond hair, from the newspaper photograph. Many of them gave him a hug and handshake, too."One lady came up to me, and she was crying on my shoulder," said Kaitlyn Mendez, 12, Eddie's daughter.By the time Mark Granite arrived at 10 a.m. to open his Original Granite hamburger stand, there were about 40 cars waiting to be scrubbed in his parking lot."It shows there are good people," he said. "Some people gave $100 or $200 without even washing the car."Nicholas Mendez's story seemed to resonate especially with men."Over and over, I heard from men that they lost their fathers at a young age," said the boy's grandmother, Bonnie Sublett. "The story touched their hearts. It made them cry."A stranger approached the boy before noon with an envelope."He said, 'Count it after I leave. I hope it helps,' " Sublett said. It contained about $3,700 in cash.A group of firefighters from Rio Linda pulled up on an engine with a $1,000 donation. Mel Rapton, a Honda dealer, drove up with a check for $500.A man from the Pomo Indians tribe brought a $5,000 donation.James Thompson came before noon with his children to help wash.He didn't know the Mendez family but was moved by their plight."It wasn't my payroll weekend, so I didn't have money to give, but I figured I could help out," said Thompson, who spent more than five hours on the job, proud that his 8- and 14-year-old daughters refused to stop washing cars and go home.Throughout the day, despite the heat and a worsening sunburn, Nicholas Mendez greeted strangers with a broad smile, a handshake and a soggy hug."They all want to meet him," Sublett said. "This is heartwarming."The family had not added up the proceeds from the car wash as of Saturday afternoon. But Dawn Mendez said she will set up a trust fund for her family on Monday to handle the donations, which continue to pour in.Meanwhile, Nicholas Mendez is making plans for whatever is left over."I want to get him a tombstone now."

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MENDEZ Jr., Eddie
Of Citrus Heights, CA, passed away June 17, 2006, at the age of 38. Survived by his wife, Dawn; children, Nicholas and Kaitlyn; parents: mom, Sandra Saunders and father, Edward Mendez and Vickie Valerio; siblings, Donald, Richard and Monique Mendez; in-laws, Bonnie Sublett and Don Richards. Visitation Thursday, June 22 from 4-8pm at Price Funeral Chapel, 6335 Sunrise Blvd, 725-2109 and a Funeral Service Friday, 10am at Price. Interment at Sylvan Cemetery.
Published in the Sacramento Bee from 6/21/2006 - 6/22/2006. ∼LOVING ANGEL SON, YOU WERE CHOSEN TO BECOME OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL AT THE YOUNG AGE OF 38.
YOU LIVED YOUR LIFE GIVING TO OTHERS & WALKING IN LOVE.
OUR LOSS IS DEEP BUT YOUR ARE IN HEAVEN NOW & I KNOW ONE DAY YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS WILL BE WITH YOU AGAIN "WITH ARMS WIDE OPEN" "I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH" Your Mother