JUAN RAMIREZ GARCIA
Juan Ramirez Garcia, known as a beloved father, teacher, and ardent supporter of the arts, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2006, at the age of 61.
He is survived by his father Jesus Garcia, Sr., of Kingsville, Texas, his daughter Nora Michelle (Miki) Garcia of Santa Barbara, Calif., his son, John Michael Garcia of Brownsville, his sisters and brother, Mary (Don) Nicholas, Jesus (Sylvia) Garcia, Jr., Elena (Eliseo) Comino Cuellar, all of Kingsville, Texas and Margarita (Baldomero) Alvarado of Mathis, Texas. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Garcia, originally from Kingsville, Texas, graduated with a Master’s Degree in Art with a Minor in Education in 1977 and later received a Professional Life Principal Certificate in 1980. He served in the U.S. Army from 1970-1971.
Most recently, Mr. Garcia served as the Specialist for Fine Arts for the Brownsville Independent School District since 1992. Previous to that Mr. Garcia touched many students’ lives through his 23-year teaching career at elementary, middle school and high school levels, particularly as the Department Head of Art at Pace High School. Since 1984, Mr. Garcia had been a respected Instructor of Art Education at the University of Texas, Brownsville.
Locally, as well as nationally, Mr. Garcia was a passionate advocate of arts education in public schools. He was an active member of the National and Texas Art Education Association as the Regional Representative, garnering numerous honors such as Outstanding Art Educator/Supervision (1997). He was a member, juror, panel member, and/or advisor to the Rio Art Association, Texas Educational Theater Association, Association of Texas Professional Educators, Texas Education Agency for Assignment to the Fine Arts Essential Knowledge and Skills Clarification Team, and Texas Commission on the Arts Education Advisory Panel, among others.
Here in Brownsville, Mr. Garcia was actively involved in the Brownsville Art League, Brownsville Childrens’ Museum, Odyssey of the Mind, Destination Imagination, and a valued Board Trustee of Amigos Artistas, the non-profit arts organization which promotes the visual arts (with an emphasis on Latino and Latin American art) and involves youth in artistic endeavors.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Amigos Artistas at 1424 W. Price Road, No. 227, Brownsville, TX, 78520 (info@amigosartistas.org).
See the BISD Memorial Page by clicking here.
9 comments:
As an administator, a lot of Mr. Garcia's work was behind the scenes but by no means has it gone unnoticed nor unappreciated. Mr. Garcia always had an open door to the local community and his ultimate passion was art education, to make students feel special and empowered through their talent- an experience that so many children in our community need. My own memories of him will always be positive and most appreciated as he always welcomed me to work with the students in the district, even if I was just some college kid with big ideas with little clue. He was and will always remain a cornerstone in the art community through our hearts and through our work. Mr. Garcia, thank you for dedicating your life and your work to the art education of so many students and to art community at large. You will not be forgotten and your legacy will continue as a beacon for our dreams and goals, for ourselves as artists and for our community as adovocates. We will miss you.
First let me apologize for this hasty message as my sister and I are busy trying to finalize things.
Juan Garcia was my father. Art was his life. He touched soo many people with his special gifts. I want everyone to know that he loved you all as student and peers as much as he loved my sister and I as family. Art is important in our lives as well and we will continue to honor his memory in this way.
Thank you all for the love you gave to him. I know that he wanted all of us to be happy. We hope to see you at his service. More information will be announced as we finalize the details.
John Michael Garcia
binaryfiend@gmail.com
The viewing will be held @ Darling Mouser from 5PM to 7PM and there will be a short service after that. For more details please call Darling Mouser.
First of all, I would like to thank you, his children for sharing your father with us. Juan was the kind of man who always had a smile to share with everyone no matter what kind of day he was having. My memories of him are endless and I will miss getting playfully scolded by him when I wouldn't behave during our inservices. Yes, Juan always put me on the spot all because I had an instigator sitting next to me, yes you D!. Hey, it wasn't my fault! :-) I know Juan loved us all, so much that he would stick around another year and another and another. Now he is retired in this wonderful heaven that none of us can begin to imagine its beauty. I know he will be watching over us everyday. Thank You Juan for all the love and support you gave me, and for believing in me. I will miss you dearly, but I carry wonderful memories of you in my heart.
Juan has a very extensive family.......all of us whom he touched in one way or another which made us better people. His support for the arts was extensive but his love for all of us who knew him was enormous. I first met Juan in college where he was my instructor and from there it blossomed into a relationship that will last forever. Thank you Juan for everything you did for me and I know that you will still be with us during our inservices and conferences........you will just have a better view and making sure we behave. May God Bless you and your loved ones.
I met Juan my first year teaching art at Egly Elementary and he put up with me for 10 long wonderful years…later teaching Middle School and then High School.
He always visited my classroom throughout the years. I loved his visits so he can see my art students working on new creations. I always called him…almost everyday with good news about my art program and also when I was upset. He always listened and taught me how to be patient, how to keep my cool and always, always be professional. He taught me to be more outspoken so I can enrich others and become an advocate of the arts.
But most of all, he taught me how to help other art teachers in need of support.
He was like a father to me…I trusted him with my life. We both got along so well because we have the same passion for art education. Juan went to every art event I had with my students. He even attended my wedding 7 years ago. I even took my baby daughter to his office because he wanted to meet my first born, Frida. We attended many conventions and always kept in the loop of new Art trends in our Nation. I’ll always remember when we sat for over an hour in front of one of Van Gogh’s portraits in Chicago’s Art Museum. We stared at it and we enjoyed how it invited us to see its realism through his impressionistic brush strokes. I could not have had a wonderful career if it wasn’t for his warmth, his passion and his teachings. Juan will always be a part of me and I will always be grateful to have been part of his beautiful life. I’ll miss him walking through my classroom doors throughout the years….
Love you Juan…love you always.
Juan Thank you for your wonderful friendship your commitment to education and your LOVE FOR art, but most important for sharing your life with us your second family. We watched your children grow and develop into successful adults. Miki, Michael you know you ARE the PRIDE and JOY and LOVE OF HIS LIFE. He will continue to protect, guide & watch you from above. We had great times working on our higher education our master programs and traveling to our numerous conventions with one vision in mind our community of artist and ART FOR ART SAKE LOVE IT! And yes, THANKS for your advice and encouragement and concern for all of us in the Art Department and finally, THANKS for your suggestions on what to order in China Town San Francisco, and Little Italy, New York yum yum!!!
Marsha Betancourt
I met Mr. Garcia when I was around 11 years old. Our families became friends, and we knew of each other through out the years, later in my High School years he was the sponsor of several ogranizations that I belonged to. He was always there to help me in whatever I needed. Later he moved to BISD Main Offices as a Specialist for Fine Arts. I was working at BISD Finance when a position for his secretary appeared. I jumped at the opportunity to work for him. He was a wonderful boss. The most patient man ever. He was organized and knew his work, and his priority there was to serve the Children, and their needs. He was so passionate about Art like no one else. But he was available for any educational endeavor, if it was to benefit the children he was there. So many kind comments and beautiful memories of him I could write forever. But after these past couple of days and having to deal with the grief, it has been very hard. I was fortunate enough to have seen several phases of his life. His happiest, his saddest and most of all, his professionalism. He had integrity, honor, kindness, genorosity, courage, wisdom, and much much love for not just his two adoring and beautiful kids, Miki and Michael, but for everyone that he came across. People that would knew him, just for a few moments, felt a connection with him. Not only did the School District lose this wonderful person but these community as well. He will live in our hearts forever. He will be greatly missed. Miki and Michael, Thank you for sharing him with me and the rest of us. I adored him with all my heart. And I feel honored to have worked with him all these years. He brought joy and happiness to our office. His smile was unique, we love you Mr. Garcia! You are now our angel watching over us.
God bless you Mr. Garcia, you will live in our hearts forever!
Mandy Gamez
agamez@bisd.us
When it was time for me to do my student teaching in art, Juan came through and took me on. He had had already gained my respect and gratitude for having been such an encouragement as he taught many of my art education classes. We became friends during my student teaching experience with him. Little did I know, that it was the beginning of a fulfilling career, that would be threaded with Juan's constant efforts to help me realize my potential as an art teacher and an artist.
Many successful events in my career began with a visit to Juan's office to see what he thought about my idea. The invariable response would always begin with his quiet, but forceful, "Yes, yes!" This would be followed with his complete support and any resources he could raise. As our BISD Art Specialist, he was always there to encourage and facilitate our growth as professionals at every turn.
His was the task of weaving a golden thread, his love of art, throughout the community he served. He has left us with a richly woven, gilded tapestry of the hearts and lives he touched during his journey with us.
We are left blessed with the results of his endearing, "Yes, yes!"
Caroline Hack
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