Luis was never the loudest voice in the room, but his intellect and compassion spoke volumes. Luis was a person who cared deeply. He cared deeply about his family and friends, about his work and the public that he served, and about humanity and the plight of the most marginalized among us. He was a hard worker and achieved great heights in his education and career, but everything he did was to give back to the people that he cared about most.

For me personally, Luis was a great friend ever since we met freshman year of college. He helped me survive many an econ class, and he turned me on to great music that never would have been on my radar. For the past 10 years we've both been living in DC, and he's been the same loyal and selfless friend as always. When he won free Nats tickets, he reached out with an invite to the game. When he was working at the White House, he made absolutely sure that I got an inside tour of the West Wing.

The last time I saw Luis, right before the pandemic hit, was at my house in the DC suburbs. Luis was living in the city and he didn't have a car, but he wanted to make the long trip on the Metro to see my new house and to meet my daughter.

I will always remember Luis as a humble, devoted and incredibly thoughtful friend. He knew what mattered most in life, and he didn't let anything distract him from that. His own life was far too short, but it was overflowing with meaning and purpose, and it was in inspiration for all of us who were lucky enough to know him.

I want to send my sincerest condolences to Luis's parents, brother, and family. Luis was a great friend and human being and will be deeply missed.

Luis tried to carry as many conch shells as he could, stacking them one at a time in his hands and arms until he needed to use his t-shirt as a hammock to hold the overflowing stack of grey- and salmon-colored, large, whole, unbroken, spiraling shapes.

Our friend Devon smiled and laughed, having seen many more of these shells than both of us, and knowing that our backpacks and the small fishing boat we arrived on to Shacklesford Island, South Carolina, and my mom's small sedan that waited for us afterwards, were not the ideal locations to carry such a large amount of fragile trophies from the beach. This was maybe 2003 or so on a road trip in college.

Luis was sensitive, resonating deeply with beauty in the world, whether it was shells on a beach, or lyrics in a punk song. He sought to collect, inspect, cherish, and create.

Luis' beauty has departed, and despite the instinct to want to stack it in a T-shirt and carry it with me, he lives on no longer in physical form, and this loss is just so unfair and emptying.

But, he lives on in memories I will cherish. Just as the conch have left behind beautiful shells - their former homes - the things Luis leaves behind remain inspiring, and things I will hold on to tightly. His family, his friends, his songs, his memories, his photos, his work for our government, they all still resonate.

I will miss him, and cherish the beauty he has left behind. May his memory be a blessing for all who knew him.

Tonight I learned that a wonderful young man that I was privileged to work with and learn from died yesterday. We met at the beginning of what should have been a long and lustrous career. Instead he left this earthly coil yesterday at 38.

Despite the difference in our ages/backgrounds [see photo below--Luis Saucedo is on the left; Angel Hernandez, Luis' former roommate-on the right]--we learned how to support each other on shared projects. As projects progressed--we learned how to signal wordlessly to each other when one of us wanted to to fight for our policy positions but also when to stand down. Though just out of grad school--Luis' intellectual contributions and confident, counter-arguments were invaluable. Luis Saucedo knew the stakes involved - especially as he knew the work the Ginnie team produced would be used publicly. The wrong word in an appointee or civil servant' public speech or press release could make or influence markets as well as impact bond trades rapidly, if not couched correctly.

Luis Saucedo's sudden passing is especially painful because of the poignant sense that much of Luis' achievements (and the family he wanted) will never come to fruition. I cannot find the words to articulate the tribute he deserves. However, the Welsh have a unique word for the irretrievable loss of a person or time that will never again exist: "hiraeth." Luis was first my mentee, than a peer, but lastly an admirable and righteous human that held himself and others to an almost unachievable standard. Luis, I hope you knew how loved and admired you were.

I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the Saucedo family and friends of Luis.  I had the pleasure and privilege of meeting Luis while we were colleagues at FHFA where we were able to quickly strike up a friendship.   Outside of lunches and office catch-ups, we met at other events and get-togethers outside of work from time to time, and I always felt at ease sharing my thoughts with him and discussing mutual interests.  The qualities of character Luis impressed upon me (and I'm sure many others) -- kindness, generosity, thoughtfulness, and more -- were things we need more of in this world.  Having Luis as a friend and confidant was a gift that I will not soon forget, and I will cherish my memories of him.

It is with great sorrow that I write.  Reflecting on how powerful Luis was as a friend to me and a symbol of greatness and quiet strength. When I first met him at FHFA, in two seconds, we were friends. It was so nice to meet another guy from LA, who loved the Dodgers, and aspired to improve the lives of others.  A guy who gave it all for public service and like me had lived in Sacramento.  When I needed a friend at work or out of the office, I could always depend on him, no questions asked. I hope he knows how much he meant to me, that he is a Lion, and that I will miss him dearly.  Gabriel 

Dear Saucedo Family,

I met Luis through a mutual friend. While I had only known Luis for a short time, I want to emphasize the kindness he demonstrated in connecting me with others. Luis' altruistic nature will not be forgotten. My heartfelt condolences to the Saucedo family.