Ernesto Alfredo Guzman, a retired professor of Spanish at Tarrant County Junior College, passed away on Wednesday, September 22^nd.  Ernesto was born July 29, 1932 in Edinburg, Texas, the youngest son of Santiago and Delores Guzman.  A memorial service will be held at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery on Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 3:30 p.m..

Following graduation from Edinburg High School, Ernesto (Neto to his friends) joined the Air Force and was trained in radio communications.  He flew numerous missions in the Pacific during the Korean War while stationed at Hickam AFB in Hawaii.  After the war, he returned to Harlingen AFB Navigator School and flew for the Military Air Radio Service.  While stationed in the Valley, he met a “pretty, feisty and witty young teacher” named Aileen Morgan, who taught 3^rd grade in Ernesto’s hometown of Edinburg.  Six months later, the two were married.  Their 41 years together produced three children, Gina, Stephanie and Michael.  Neto lost the love of his life in 1996.

While awaiting his overseas assignment following radio school in Biloxi, Neto spent five weeks in California and visited the Army’s Language School.  This experience led the native Spanish speaker to pursue a profession in education that would last almost 40 years.  The young couple moved to Aileen’s hometown of Fort Worth in 1956, and Neto attended TCU on his GI Bill, where he received a B.S. in Spanish in 1960.   The young couple moved to Lubbock, where he attended Texas Tech, acquiring his Masters Degree in Spanish and Mexican History in 1963.  Doctoral work began at the University of New Mexico, and he later received his Ph. D. from the University of North Texas.  Ernesto was teaching at Lee College in Baytown in 1966 when he received a call from Fort Worth.  Tarrant County planned to open a junior college, and was searching for department chairmen to begin the staffing process.  For the next 30 years, Ernesto served as chairman and head of the foreign language department at TCJC’s South Campus (now TCC).  He served as president of the Association of Departments of Foreign Languages, served on the board of the Modern Language Association, was chairman of Alianza, a local alliance of Mexican-American organizations, was on the executive board of the National Mexican-American Education Fund and the Ft. Worth chapter of LULAC, was appointed by the Fort Worth City Council to serve on the Human Resources Developmental Committee, and for eleven years was a trustee on the Board of Directors of United Way of Tarrant County.  He worked with Ft. Worth ISD, helping with ESL teacher certification and appraisal and with Texas Wesleyan’s bilingual teacher program.

Leisurely, Ernesto was an avid golfer and worked as a marshal at Z. Boaz, where he was a member of the Senior Golf Association and had many dear friends.  He loved to work in his yard, an endeavor he fondly referred to as “a work in progress”.  He loved music – from Willie Nelson to jazz to the Fort Worth Symphony.  He was a proud supporter of Fort Worth’s museums and he wrote and recorded Spanish audio tour narrations for the Amon Carter Museum.  He was an artist, poet, lyricist and essayist; a dreamer, a liberal and a social crusader; an avid reader, news junkie and a movie buff.  He spoke English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, Italian, and a little Swahili.  He was a member of St. Rita’s Catholic Church.  Neto was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend.  It is with sadness in our hearts, but happiness in our souls that we say adios to Ernesto.  To say you will be missed is an understatement. 

Ernesto was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Aileen Morgan Guzman, his father, Santiago G. Guzman, and his mother, Delores C. Guzman.  He is survived by his children: Gina Kesner and her husband, Fred, Stephanie Guzman and Bobby Pickard, and his son, Michael Guzman.  He was the proud grandfather of three wonderful grandsons:  John and Travis Patten and Burke Reese Guzman.  He also is survived by his dear sister, Marie Vento, as well as brothers Santiago Jr. and Samuel.  Last, but certainly not least, he leaves his dear friend, DeLu Arnold, and many, many friends and loved ones.

We would like to express our gratitude to the staff of Universal Hospice of Fort Worth.  The professionalism and the comfort they provided to Dad and our family are beyond measure.  Thank you, also to Dr. Daud Ashai and Dr. Mary Milam and their caring and helpful staffs.

In lieu of flowers, please generously donate to the TCC Foundation, where a scholarship will be endowed in Ernesto’s name.  You may make your donations by mail or on-line. 

TCC Foundation

1500 Houston Street

Fort Worth, Texas 76102

tccd.edu/x84.xml