Alejandro Acosta Jr.

On May 21, 2021, Alejandro Acosta, Jr., 70, was reunited with his darling parents Alejandro Acosta, Sr., and Lucy G. Acosta. A man with a grand personality, bountiful love of family and others, Alex tackled life with no fear. With a relentless work ethic bestowed upon him by his parents, Alex was a bull with a full head of steam shattering an era of glass-ceilings. He was born in El Paso, Texas on Friday, April 13, 1951 at William Beaumont General Hospital. His dad, Alejandro Acosta Sr. was a master sergeant in the U.S. Army who later went on to work in the data processing department of El Paso Natural Gas for 25 years. His mother, Lucy G. Acosta, who is forever honored in the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame, was a civil and human rights pioneer whose accomplishments include co-founding, developing, and serving as executive director of Project Amistad, and dedicated service as a local, state and national leader in LULAC. Alex attended El Paso’s public schools, including Coldwell Elementary and Austin High School. Alex epitomized “Panther Pride” and in 2005 he was honored with one of his most cherished recognitions, Austin High School’s “Outstanding-Ex” Student. Upon his graduation from Austin High School, Alex attended the University of New Mexico and University of Texas at El Paso where he had an opportunity to wrestle at the collegiate level. He received his Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from George Washington University Law School in 1976. While attending law school, he worked full-time with the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division.

Alex’s professional accomplishments are a testament to his noble aspirations. He blazed the trail not only for his family but for those he mentored and inspired. Alex was admitted to the State Bar of Texas in 1976 and the State Bar of Arizona in 1980. In 1979, he was elected President-Elect of the El Paso Young Lawyers Association and was awarded the Outstanding Young Lawyer Award in 1985. In 1988, he was elected and served as President of the Texas Young Lawyers Association (TYLA). He was the first minority bar president elected to lead a state-wide bar organization in the history of the United States. That year, TYLA was awarded the Comprehensive Award of Achievement for the most outstanding Young Lawyers Association in the country. He also served on the State Bar Board of Directors and its executive committee from 1987 to 1989. He served on the Texas Supreme Court Rules Advisory Committee from 1993 to 1996 and served on the State Bar Judicial Relations Committee. In addition, he was a member of the Product Liability Advisory Council and the International Association of Defense Counsel. Beginning in the mid 1990’s he became involved in “Mass Tort Litigation” involving product liability claims against several pharmaceutical companies in multiple jurisdictions. He was a key part of an all-star defense team. The cases led to proceedings throughout Texas, the United States and even as far away as Copenhagen, Denmark. In 1997, Alex was named one of the top civil litigators by the El Paso judiciary and the El Paso Herald Post. Alex maintained a litigation practice that consisted of commercial, products liability, insurance defense and the representation of El Paso Water Utilities Public Service Board. Alex garnered over 40 years of litigation experience throughout his career. He ended his career as a partner in Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP. Alex was a warrior, entrepreneur, business-owner, and mentor.

Alex strongly believed in the progress of his community. Throughout his life he took action to further El Paso and the well-being of its citizens. In 1997- 98, he served as President of the El Paso Sun Bowl Association. He led a successful effort to pass a rental car tax to support the Sun Bowl game and its activities. In time, the Sun Bowl generated approximately $14 million for the El Paso community each year. He also served on the Board of Directors of the El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the local chapters of the United Way and the American Heart Association, and numerous other community service organizations.

Alex, patriarch and provider, was an extraordinarily successful attorney. Even outside the court room, Alex advocated with passion and had a flair for inspiring everyone around him. His excitement for movement, change and progress could light up a board room or a packed auditorium. Regardless of the setting, the channeled intensity with which he lived his life has left a lasting impact on the community of El Paso.

While Alex fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming a lawyer, anyone that knew him recognized that the twinkle in his eye and the excitement in his voice was never more present than when he spoke of his loved ones. Alex took every opportunity to share the accomplishments of his family with others. His proud and boisterous presence at every football, baseball, basketball, and volleyball game, tennis match, cross-country meet, golf tournament, play, musical performance, graduation, and the countless other school events he attended for his children and grandchildren will always be remembered. Nothing brought out Alex’s magnificent smile like talking about the accomplishments of his beloved family.

Family meant everything to Alex. His day began and ended with the following loved ones on his mind: Alex is survived by his loving and devoted wife of over 37 years, Dani René Acosta; his children and grandchildren, Lisa Maria Acosta and daughter Alissa Nicole Ortiz; Adam Daniel Acosta Sr., spouse Linda and children Adam Daniel Acosta Jr. and Avae Danielle Acosta; Andrea Marisa Chehedeh, spouse Cliff and son Chadi Drew Chehedeh; Alejandro Acosta III, spouse Jessica and daughter Noa Renee Acosta; Ana Lucia Acosta, spouse Jordan and children Lucy Sue Willis and Lily Rae Willis; his brother; Daniel G. Acosta, spouse Susan and daughters Amanda Daniel England Acosta and Alexis Marie England Acosta. Alex was also a caring godfather.

He was an exemplary son, husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, godfather, and an inspiring mentor, friend, and colleague. We love you “Big A.” The endless summer begins, and your favorite tunes will not be changed.

Pallbearers are Daniel G. Acosta, Adam Acosta, Sr., Alejandro Acosta III, Adam Acosta, Jr., Cliff Chehedeh and Jordan Willis.

Honorary pallbearers are Hector Delgado, Mando Nava, Truman H. Wills Jr. and Joaquin Torres.

Funeral mass will be held at 11:30 A.M. on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at Queen of Peace Church located at 1551 Belvidere El Paso, Texas 79912. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens of the Valley located at 4900 McNutt Rd, Santa Teresa, NM 88008.

In lieu of flowers, please consider contributing to the Alejandro Acosta, Jr. Student-Athlete Scholarship Fund at Austin High School. You can make your donation online at episd.org/educationfoundation or mail via check, payable to EPISD Education Foundation, indicating the scholarship fund name (EPISD Education Foundation, 1014 N. Stanton, El Paso, TX 79902).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com for the Acosta family.