Luis Delclos

Dr. Luis Delclos passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at the age of 90, surrounded by his family, after a long and plentiful life. He was born on March 4, 1926 in Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain, a city founded over 2000 years ago. Although life would have him leave and live far from there, his heart never left Tarragona, where its golden coast meets that special blue of the Mediterranean, and the salty air is spiced with hints of rosemary and thyme. His love of the sea sparked a desire to become a naval engineer and build boats. But inspired by his grandfather and father, both physicians, he studied medicine at the University of Barcelona, graduating in 1950. Specialized residency training after medical school did not exist in Spain at the time, but he had the opportunity to train in radiation oncology at Christie Hospital and Holt Radium Institute in Manchester, England. In 1955 he married his hometown sweetheart, Maria Teresa. In 1960 the couple and their three children emigrated to Houston, where he spent nearly 4 decades working at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, building an international reputation as a gifted clinician, teacher and researcher, recognized as a pioneer of modern radiotherapy but, above all, loved by his patients, colleagues and trainees. In 1996, he retired from MD Anderson as Professor Emeritus. He will be remembered for many things, both professionally and personally, but most importantly for his generosity, integrity, boundless curiosity for even the simplest of things, and love of family, friends and life. And food.

He is survived by a large, loving family, now headed by his wife of 61 years, Maria Teresa, their six children, George, Luis, Henry, Martha, Marc and Sandra; daughters-in-law Conchita, Maria José, Susan and Blanca; son-in-law Khush, Juan Mangini, sister Maria Dolores, in-laws Eva, Gabriel, Lore and Ramona, numerous grandchildren, nephews and nieces, and an endless list of devoted friends.

A Mass will be offered in his memory on Thursday, June 30, 2016 at 6 pm at the Lahart Chapel of Saint Ignatius at Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, 8900 Bellaire Blvd., Houston, TX 77036.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Luis Delclos’ name to Strake Jesuit College Preparatory, Attn: Development Dept., 8900 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77036 or to MD Anderson Cancer Center at https://www.mdanderson.org/donors-volunteers.html .