Javier Omar Lopez

Javier Omar Lopez left us earthside on November 21, 2023 at the age of 45. Omar was born on March 4, 1978, in San Antonio, TX to Linda C. Lopez and Henry Lopez, Jr. Omar was a graduate of Tom C. Clark High School and Texas State University - San Marcos.

The simplest pleasures in life brought Omar aka Buddha aka Coach Lopez great joy. He never met a stranger. Conversations with him were never short and he immediately made you feel special. He enjoyed being in the sun, especially at the beach, a good bar-b-que, a good cup of coffee, cold beer or whisky, watching any sports event, going to concerts, and making people laugh. His zest for life was like no other. He had a keen sense of humor and a love for music. He could recall all the lyrics to most songs in any genre from any decade and even tell you about the history of the band. From Dave Matthews Band to Motown hits to Ozzy Osbourne to Texas Country to Sunday morning Jazz and everything in between, he knew them all.

As a young boy Omar tried and enjoyed every sport. He loved the comradery, the competition, the fans, the excitement, but football was life. He went on to play ball through city leagues then middle and high school making it to state with the Clark High School team. After high school he even played on a local semi-pro team, the San Antonio Rush. When his playing days were over the love of the game held strong and soon enough, he began volunteer coaching local youth football leagues such as the Toros and the Bobcats until it was his time to do it for a living.

Through his years at both New Braunfels Middle School and Canyon Middle School he taught history and coached students in football, basketball, track and tennis, but he was far more than a teacher and coach. If you were one of his students, you were his “kid” for life. He, more than anything, wanted to make a difference, be a role model, mentor and truly change lives, and that's what he did. He often said his payday didn’t come monthly; it came when his students walked the stage to graduate.

Omar met Mari, the love of his life, on a night out in San Antonio. The chance encounter led to a 6-year courtship, and they wed on March 15, 2008. A few years later the two would go on to be blessed with their greatest joys, twins, Jacob and Joslin. Jacob “the man” and Joslin his “monkey” were his “why” and he lived every day to be the best for them.

Omar Buddha Coach Lopez is survived by his wife of over 15 years, Marisela, his children, Jacob and Joslin, his parents, Linda C. Lopez and Henry Lopez, Jr., brothers Gabriel Lopez, Misha Lopez, In-Laws Alfredo & Jovita Nieto, Brother-in-law Johnny Aguirre (Falon), Sister-in-laws Stephanie Armendariz (Rene), Olivia Torres (Tony), and several niece, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins in the Lopez, Cobaruvias, Aguirre and Vela families. He is also survived by many friends who he considered family, colleagues who he admired and students and athletes who he truly loved dearly.

He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Johnny “Kono” Aguirre, Sr., his paternal grandparents Henry Sr. and Oralia Lopez, his maternal grandparents Remigio and Mary Cobarruvias and an uncle, Sebastian Lopez.

He made a profound impact on all those he knew, and his legacy of love and kindness will surely live on through his loved ones, friends, colleagues, students, and athletes. To know him was to love him.

Live like Lopez, Love like Lopez.

Carrying him to his final resting place will be dear friends that are family; Derrick Brown, Carlos Campos, Ronnie Piper, Matt Profit, Aarron Scallion and Marcus Torres.

Honorary pallbearers: Darren Brown and the CCC (Cool Cousins Club)

Fly high Angel. Fly High.