Mimi, as her family lovingly called her, died on Nov. 13 at the age of 23 while she was studying industrial design in Paris. She was shot and killed during a series of terrorist attacks while eating dinner with friends at a restaurant.
"When I hear about this, I was feeling my heart in pieces like it was a bad dream," he said.
Reynaldo said Nohemi helped turn his life around. He grew up on the streets and got involved in gangs at a young age. But the girl he called his little princess and Pocahontas - because of her straight hair - changed all of that.
"The most greatest thing happened to me in my life. I always thought that I was nobody. I didn't deserve nothing, but she was the best surprise that anybody can have," he said.
He said she always pushed him to do better.
"She always made me feel like a hero but at the same time gave me a lesson that 'you had to do this,'" he said.
He said he was proud that Nohemi, a first generation daughter of immigrants, had accomplished so much. Reynaldo added that he will use all the lessons he learned from his daughter as a way to do well for his other children.
"She made me feel better person, better father and she made me feel like I can do much better," he said.
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He had come down from Seattle to wish his daughter a final farewell. The family will be holding her funeral services Friday at Calvary Chapel in Downey, 12808 Woodruff Ave.