Zumba instructors and participants from across the Puget Sound area will gather at two events in early March to honor Pedro Adan Sandoval, 34, of Renton, who died in a wrong-way crash Feb. 18 on Highway 167.
Sandoval was a regular participant in the dance fitness classes and became an instructor about 16 months ago. He taught Zumba classes from April to July 2024 at the Kent Commons Community Center.
“Pedro’s love for Zumba and his enthusiasm for sharing it with others was always at the heart of his teaching,” said David Heldt, city of Kent Parks recreation facility manager.
A Papa Pedro Memorial Zumbathon is set for 9:30 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 8 at the Sea Mar Museum of Chicano Latino Culture, 9635 Des Moines Memorial Dr. S., in Seattle.
“Join the We Move to Give (WMTG) Familia as we come together to celebrate the life and legacy of our beloved Papa Pedro,” according to a Facebook post. “Let’s honor him with a special Zumbathon Master Class, a tribute to the passion he had for spreading Zumba love throughout our community. Pedro’s heart was always full of energy, joy, and a deep love for bringing people together through dance. This class is free to all, but we will be accepting donations to support his family as we continue to carry forward his spirit of connection, kindness, and love. Let’s dance for him, let’s dance with him, and let’s keep his light shining bright. Oh it will a beautiful sight.”
A Pedro Sandoval Memorial Masterclass is set for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 11 at the Lacey Senior Center, 6757 Pacific Ave. SE.
Sandoval died at the scene of multiple blunt force injuries from a Feb. 18 crash along State Route 167 near South 180th Street in Renton, just south of Interstate 405, according to the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. He was driving alone at about 2:30 a.m. in a 2015 Cadillac SRX SUV that was going the wrong way, southbound in the northbound lanes, and struck a semi-truck, according to the Washington State Patrol. The truck driver suffered a broken leg.
It is unknown if Sandoval was impaired, according to State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson. He said there is no information about why the driver was going the wrong way.
Sandoval worked as an instructor with the Zumba Instructor Network, according to his Facebook profile. He studied at Renton Technical College and went to Lindbergh High School.
A GoFundMe page for Pedro Sandoval was started by his brother Daniel Sandoval, of SeaTac. A funeral mass was held Feb. 24 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Renton.
“He did more in his 16 months as an instructor than anyone I know,” said Diana Yu, of Lacey, a Zumba instructor, in a social media post.
Yu said that Sandoval attended the Zumba convention in 2024 and was scheduled to attend again in 2025. He participated in as many Seattle-area classes as he could get to and some in Lacey, too He attended almost every ZIN jam session held in person in Seattle and multiple master classes.
“I met Pedro in 2023 as an eager Zumba participant in our Pier 62 events,” Yu said. “When he decided to become an instructor, he took his training in Olympia and never stopped dancing. Pedro had an absolute love for Zumba and shared his passion by dancing in as many classes as he could get to. I often joked with him because I saw him dancing everywhere with a lot of different instructors.”
Sandoval will definitely be missed, Yu said.
“With his gentle smile and kindness, and pure joy every time he danced on stage or on the floor, he showed us all how to enjoy life,” Yu said. “Rest in peace and love Papa Pedro.”
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
