Dr. Jorge German De la Torre

Jorge was charming, intelligent and debonair, with a smart sense of humor. He was also kind, generous and caring, but above all, loving.

He loved his faith--his Ignatian spirituality was the foundation of the way he lived his life. He was a parishioner of St. Michael Catholic Church and a member of the ACU.

He loved his family--his wife, Julie, and their children. He instilled in the children the principles of good morals and a good education. Neither can be taken away from oneself, unlike material possessions. These are the same gifts his parents gave him.

He loved his friends and was always warm and welcoming to them. The family especially appreciates the friends who stopped by for a visit during his lengthy illness. We know how difficult it was to see Jorge in decline and we thank them for their love and compassion.

He loved his profession—he was a medical doctor, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, and educator. He was devoted to his patients and students.

Jorge was born on the 6th of September 1934, in Camaguey, Cuba. He was the only child of Esther Puentes and Diego de la Torre. They moved to Havana so Jorge could attend Baldor Academy and Havana University School of Medicine. Jorge chose a career in psychiatry.

In 1960, Jorge left Cuba for an internship at Mercy Hospital in Toledo, Ohio, not knowing that he would never be able to see his lovely Cuba again. Within a few months his parents were forced to leave Cuba. Leaving everything behind, they joined Jorge and from that point forward would always live near Jorge and his family. As his aunts, uncles and cousins left Cuba, Jorge invited them to spend time at home while they became accustomed to this country.

At Mercy Hospital, Jorge met Julia McDermott who had just graduated from Mercy School of Nursing. It was love at first sight for both. They were married for 54 years, with four children and twelve grandchildren.

Upon completing his internship, Jorge went to Topeka, Kansas to begin his psychiatric residency at the Menninger School of Psychiatry and stayed to complete his psychoanalytic training at the Topeka Institute for Psychoanalytic Training.

In 1976, the de la Torre family moved to Houston when Jorge was appointed Director of Baylor College of Medicine Psychiatry Clinic. He was Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science at Baylor since 1996 and in Private Practice of Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis for thirty-two years. Jorge was named a 50-Year Distinguished Life Fellow with the American Psychiatric Association. He received the Menninger Hope Award, the Baylor College of Medicine Faculty-Supervisor Award, and BCM Psychiatric Residents Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award. He was a member of the American Psychoanalytic Association; International Psychoanalytic Association; Houston Psychiatric Society; Texas Medical Association; Harris County Medical Society and the Texas Society of Psychiatry Physicians.

Jorge eagerly tried many hobbies: English horseback riding, racquetball, scuba diving, skiing, sailing, and cycling and running – he completed the New York and Houston Marathons.

His passions included a great Cuban cigar; a vodka martini; singing Cuban songs in the shower; dancing; photography; travel and celebrating any occasion as often as possible with family and friends.

His parents, Esther Puentes and Diego de la Torre, predecease him. He is survived by his wife, Julia and their four children: son Jorge Ignacio and wife Carol (Beauchamp), children Mary Margaret, Anna Cristina and Jorge Augustin; son Martin John and wife Stacy (Wadsworth), children Oliver, Juliette, Sebastian and Leopold; daughter Julia Maria Geer and husband Lale, children Gabriel Lewis and Noah McDermott; and daughter Cristina Maria Cox and husband Stephen, children Esther Teodora, Hulda Elisabeth and Lawrence Diego.

The family wishes to express deep gratitude to Rev. Msgr. Frank Rossi for his caring support in helping Jorge return to his Jesuit foundation and in Msgr.’s compassion shown to Jorge during his lengthy illness.

Also, the family sincerely thanks his loving caretakers: Odessa, Tonya, Melanie, and Raystene.

A memorial mass will be celebrated at ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 14th of January, at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1801 Sage Road in Houston, where Fr. Wayne Wilkerson, Pastor, is to officiate. Immediately following, all are invited to greet the family during a reception to be held in the nearby Parish Life Center.

The family will gather for a private interment at Forest Park Westheimer Cemetery in Houston at a later date.

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to Houston Food Bank, 535 Portwall, Houston, TX 77029; Meals on Wheels of Greater Houston, 3303 Main St., Houston, TX 77002; Amazing Place Scholarship Fund, 3735 Drexel, Houston, TX 77027; or the charity of one’s choice.