Our querido papá, brother, grandfather, great- and great-great-grandfather, uncle, friend, and teacher, Enrique Sánchez, passed away on November 3, 2023. He was 95 years old.

Born on August 11, 1928 in Tampico, Mexico, Enrique worked from a young age to help his family.  Roaming barefoot, Enrique sold cigarettes to sailors on the piers of Tampico, shined shoes, and helped elderly women carry their groceries home, delivering all of his earnings to his mother.

One day, while selling cigarettes, Enrique saw a tall Black Cuban man dancing. This amazing dancer taught the young Enrique how to dance to tropical music–a skill and passion that Enrique continued for the rest of his life. During the same time, Enrique began his life-long love for all forms of music, learning to sing hundreds of Mexican, Cuban and Puerto Rican songs.

When Enrique was 14, his family moved to San Antonio, where his father was born and raised.  Enrique attended Collins Gardens and Johnson Elementary Schools where he quickly learned English, and, in 1945, enrolled at Lanier Middle/High School.  But as soon as he turned 17, Enrique convinced his father to sign the papers allowing him to join the U.S. Navy.

In 1947, after his naval service, Enrique was introduced to Isabel Casillas. Isabel was impressed by this handsome, polite young man; Enrique was intrigued by the beautiful, insightful Isabel. Their courtship included many long walks, punctuated by school and neighborhood dances.  But after only a few months, Enrique had to leave San Antonio to attend school in Chicago.  Isabel expressed her distress at his leaving and they both promised to write often. At this emotional moment, Isabel gave Enrique a first kiss.

Enrique and Isabel wrote to each other for the next two years sharing thoughts of love, family, and the future.   Enrique cherished memories of this time, stressing how he and Isabel developed a "deep friendship, even before we were married." The couple was married in San Antonio, on August 21, 1949, and their love affair lasted throughout their lives, enlivened by Enrique's romantic singing and the couple's joy in dancing together.

In 1951, Enrique returned with Isabel to San Antonio and lived the rest of his life in his beloved Westside. Enrique began his career as a skilled auto painter.  He took pride in his work and in the opportunity to train and promote his crew, including numerous Lanier High School students.  At times, however, Enrique's loyalty to his crew was not appreciated by his bosses.  In the 1950s, Enrique requested pay increases for his crew members, but his boss at the time, Mr. Cavender refused calling him a communist. Enrique and his crew left that job just days before Christmas. Fortunately, Enrique immediately found another job and got jobs for his entire crew.

Enrique loved being a father and made sure that all of his children understood the rich Mexican culture that they inherited.  Days at home began with music flowing from Enrique's large record collection and often included Enrique teaching his children to dance. One Spring, Enrique gathered kids in the neighborhood and taught them several traditional Mexican songs.  On Mother's Day, the group went from house to house in the neighborhood, serenading all of the mothers.

Enrique spent a few years working with Volkswagen, winning an award for best auto painter in a 5 state-area. After several years, he earned enough money to buy the family's first new car, a 1967 VW van.  This van became an important educational tool for the Sanchez children as Enrique used it to drive his family on numerous trips to Mexico and part of the U.S.

Enrique retired after more than 40 years of work, giving him more time to work for his beloved Westside community. In the late 1990s, Enrique, Isabel, and several other parents began the Fuentes-Sánchez Lanier Scholarship Fund. During the past 20 years, the Fund has raised and distributed over $200,000 to recent Lanier graduates.

Over the years, Enrique volunteered at Guadalupe Church, Model Cities, local PTAs, and the Avenida Guadalupe board. He was active in many progressive campaigns in San Antonio, including struggles over cultural arts funding, free speech, protection for the Edwards Aquifer, and preservation of the historic Westside.  Finally, Enrique was a much-treasured member of the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center, the Historic Westside Residents Association and the Westside Preservation Alliance.

Enrique was enormously proud of each of his children: Xavier (Diana); Bernard, Fernando (Margaret), Gustavo, Graciela (Amy), and Leticia. Enrique took great joy in his 10 grandchildren: Xavier Jr., Rhys, Maricella, Danielle, Enrique, Christina, Juanita, Cecilia, Benjamin, and Claudia; 14 great-grandchildren: Shaiann, Jaykob, Juliana, Dominic, Sophia, Jayla, Lilly, Jesalyn, Maxwell, Parker, Camilla, Adelyn, Juliette, and Sydney; and 2 great-great grandchildren Mazikeen and Kairi.

Enrique was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Isabel Casillas Sánchez, father, Adrian Sánchez, mother Victoria Zapiain, and sisters, Lilia, Guadalupe, Juanita, Victoria and Ana. He is survived by his brothers Daniel, Adrian Jr., and Ernesto.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Visitation, rosary, and celebration of life will begin at 3:00pm

the Esperanza, 922 San Pedro Ave

Monday, November 13, 2023

A Mass will be offered at 12:30pm

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church

1321 El Paso St.

followed by burial with military honors at 2:00pm

Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, Shelter #1

1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd.

MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Enrique's memory to the

Fuentes-Sánchez Lanier Scholarship Fund, 1710 Vera Cruz, SA TX 78207.

¡Enrique Sánchez Presente!